Breast Cancer

Although breast cancer is often thought of as an older woman’s disease, young women can and do get breast cancer. Approximately 10,000 women under the age of 40 were estimated to be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004, and close to 1,500 died of it. Young women should not overestimate their risk, however, as they are the minority of breast cancer patients.

When Someone You Know Has Been Diagnosed With Breast Cancer — Courtesy of Breast Cancer Action

A diagnosis of breast cancer is a very difficult thing to hear. Women, and men, who hear the words “you have breast cancer” can experience a myriad of emotions: fear, anger, betrayal, powerlessness, resentment, loneliness. More than anything, s/he needs support and encouragement. This is where you can make a difference.

If you are reading this fact sheet, you’re already ahead of the game. Your friend is fortunate in that s/he has someone who cares enough to seek out information to aid in this extremely difficult time. You can help your loved one and here’s how:

LISTEN
More than anything, newly diagnosed patients need someone to listen. They need to express their fears and they need to process mountains of information. If you need to freak out — and you will —please don’t do it in front of a newly diagnosed person. Talk to another friend instead.

DO
Offer a shoulder to cry on. At the appropriate time, you might remind her that many people survive diagnosis and many people live to a ripe old age.

DON’T
Ever say what you would do in her situation. The fact is, you’re not in her situation and you really don’t know what choices you would make. S/he will need to talk and be heard. Every situation is different. There are many different kinds of breast cancer and many different decisions to make.

DO
Give advice only when asked. You might instead offer to do research on treatment options and/or for more information on the disease.

DO
Offer to accompany your friend to doctor appointments. Suggest taping doctor’s discussions. Help prepare a list of questions for the doctor. Doctors give a lot of information during those first appointments.

DO
Offer to drive your friend to and from treatments.

DO
Organize friends/family to help with household needs such as, babysitting , housecleaning and food preparation. This will give your friend the personal time she needs right now.

DO
Get support for yourself when you need to. Do something nice for yourself.

DO
Join BCA! Help us change the reality that 1 woman out of every 8 will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. Get involved! Join a task force! Everyone can do something — besides worry — about this dreaded disease

Courtesy of:
Breast Cancer Action
For more information, contact BCA at
55 New Montgomery, Ste. 323
San Francisco, CA 94105
415/243-9301 or toll free 877/2STOPBC.
Or check out our website at http://www.bcaction.org

• Learn how to do a breast self-exam and do it monthly.
• Breast cancer can bring on a whole new set of stressors, find out how to learn to adjust and when to seek help.
• Read about breast cancer and breast cancer screening.
• It can save your life or your mother’s life or someone else’s.
• Helping Someone Diagnosed With Breast Cancer
• Breast Cancer and What You Eat
• Risks of Breast Cancer and Second Hand Smoke
• Some Fast Cancer Facts

Some Web Resources:

• Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation
• The Breast Cancer Research Foundation
• American Cancer Society – Breast Cancer Awareness
• Breast Cancer Advisors.org

Screening for breast cancer and self-exam – >