Early breast cancer: a guide for women - Cancer Australia

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We also very much appreciate the contributions made by the followingpeople and organisations:• the many consumer representatives who took the time to reviewand comment on drafts of this guide• the many healthcare professionals who took the time to reviewand comment on drafts of this guide• Breast Cancer Network Australia for review and endorsementof the guide• Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and Associate Professor David Gillettfor providing the photos.NBOCC* StaffMs Caroline NehillMs Emma HanksMs Janelle WebbProgram ManagerSenior Project OfficerProject AssistantProductionDr Alison EvansMr Rodney LochnerMedical Writer, Alison EvansConsultingIllustrations, RodneyLochner.com*On 30 June 2011, National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre (NBOCC) amalgamated with Cancer Australia to form a singlenational agency, Cancer Australia, to provide leadership in cancer control and improve outcomes for Australians affected by cancer.2
IntroductionWho this book is forThis book is for people who have been diagnosed with early breastcancer. It contains information to help you understand your diagnosisand treatment options. It may also be helpful for your family and friends.Everyone’s situation and needs are different. Some of the information inthis book may be helpful now and some may be more helpful later.Men with breast cancerThis book is written for women who have been diagnosed with early breastcancer. Men with breast cancer may also find the information helpful. Moreinformation about breast cancer in men is available atwww.canceraustralia.gov.au/breastcancerinmen.Other types and stages of breast cancerA range of information about different types and stages of breast cancer isavailable at www.canceraustralia.gov.au/resources. Ask your doctor for theinformation most relevant for you.How to use this bookThis book is designed to be read at different points during your cancerjourney. It is divided into sections and chapters to help you find theinformation most relevant for you. You can read the sections in any order.For example, you may find it useful to read the ‘Finding support’ section atan early stage in your journey. At the beginning of each section, there is asummary of key points, and at the end there is space for you to make notes orwrite down any questions for your healthcare team. There is also a glossary ofterms at the end of the book.Guide for women with early breast cancer3
Page 1 and 2: Endorsed by:Guide for women withear
Page 3 and 4: Guide for women with early breast c
Page 5: AcknowledgementsCancer Australia gr
Page 9 and 10: Breast Cancer Network Australia’s
Page 11 and 12: Notes:Guide for women with early br
Page 13 and 14: Breast cancer: the factsThis sectio
Page 15 and 16: Metastasis: the name for cancer tha
Page 17 and 18: Cancer Australia has information fo
Page 19 and 20: You may like to write your own ques
Page 21 and 22: Breast cancer survival is measured
Page 23 and 24: Making sense of test resultsThis se
Page 25 and 26: Hormone receptorsThe report shows w
Page 27 and 28: Stages of early breast cancerStage
Page 29 and 30: You may like to write your own ques
Page 31: Guide for women with early breast c
Page 34 and 35: Surgery to the armpit (axilla) 29Su
Page 36 and 37: Targeted therapies 95Summary ......
Page 38: “I like the way my doctor treated
Page 41 and 42: • oncology nurse: specialises in
Page 43 and 44: “He said, ‘Go away and think ab
Page 45 and 46: Questions to ask about your treatme
Page 47 and 48: Breast surgeryDate of development:
Page 49 and 50: • Compression sleeve — this is
Page 51 and 52: After surgery, the pathologist will
Page 53 and 54: Side effects of breast conserving s
Page 55 and 56: If you are at increased risk of bre
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“After the surgery I couldn’t r
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Rare side effects of mastectomy:•
Page 61 and 62:
Frequently asked questionsHow do I
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If there are cancer cells in the ly
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Things that affect whether you have
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• numbness of the arm, shoulder,
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The aim at this stage is to find th
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Questions yet to be answered about
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Frequently asked questionsWill the
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Choosing a breast prosthesisThere a
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For more information about breast r
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• there is a small risk the tissu
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• Do you specialise in breast rec
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How safe are breast implants?The te
Page 85 and 86:
For more information about the risk
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“If I start to feel tired I’ll
Page 89 and 90:
Other suggestions, based on the exp
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Frequently asked questionsWill havi
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“You can still lead a normal life
Page 95 and 96:
Combinations of chemotherapy are of
Page 97 and 98:
central catheter). This involves pu
Page 99 and 100:
The following are two examples of c
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Common side effects of chemotherapy
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after treatment can help you to fee
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chemotherapy. Talk to your doctor o
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Sometimes chemotherapy can cause ot
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Tell your doctor immediately (or go
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If these signs develop during the n
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You may like to write your own ques
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Hormonal therapiesDate of developme
Page 117 and 118:
• After menopause (post-menopause
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For more information about the side
Page 121 and 122:
Deciding about hormonal therapiesBe
Page 123 and 124:
Questions to ask about hormonal the
Page 125 and 126:
Page 128 and 129:
Targeted therapiesDate of developme
Page 130 and 131:
Side effects of trastuzumabThe most
Page 132 and 133:
Page 134 and 135:
Clinical trialsDate of development:
Page 136 and 137:
It is up to you whether you choose
Page 138 and 139:
Page 140 and 141:
Complementary andalternative therap
Page 142 and 143:
Cancer Council NSW has produced a b
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Frequently asked questionsCan I tak
Page 146 and 147:
When treatment is overThis section
Page 148 and 149:
Follow-up after breast cancerDate o
Page 150 and 151:
Your follow-up schedule will be pla
Page 152 and 153:
Breast cancer and family historyIf
Page 154 and 155:
Page 156 and 157:
LymphoedemaDate of development: Oct
Page 158 and 159:
How to reduce the risk of lymphoede
Page 160 and 161:
How is lymphoedema managed?There is
Page 162 and 163:
There are a range of alternative tr
Page 164 and 165:
• Can you refer me to a qualified
Page 166 and 167:
Frequently asked questionsHow commo
Page 168 and 169:
Symptoms of menopauseWhether your m
Page 170 and 171:
Although hormonal therapies for bre
Page 172 and 173:
Questions to ask about the effect o
Page 174 and 175:
Frequently asked questionsIs it saf
Page 176 and 177:
It can be helpful to talk to your f
Page 178 and 179:
Page 180 and 181:
36Notes:
Page 182 and 183:
Finding supportDate of development:
Page 184 and 185:
“Certainly after the diagnosis I
Page 186 and 187:
Your partnerMany partners also find
Page 188 and 189:
• Give simple, honest answers to
Page 190 and 191:
Same sex couplesYou may feel that a
Page 192 and 193:
Depending on your situation and whe
Page 194 and 195:
Page 196 and 197:
Cancer Council Australia: www.cance
Page 198 and 199:
GlossaryAdjuvant:Alkylating agent:A
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Ductal carcinoma in situ non-invasi
Page 202 and 203:
Mammogram:Mastectomy:Metastasis:Mit
Page 204 and 205:
Transverse rectus a type of breast
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Early breast cancer: a guide for women - Cancer Australia

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