Be a Survivor: Your Guide To Breast Cancer Treatment

by Vladimir Lange, MD

Overview

THE ONLY BOOK THAT IS MULTIDISCIPLINARY

This book is not just a single author’s opinion. It presents the combined expertise of dozens of nationally recognized experts in surgery, oncology, radiation therapy, nurse navigation and survivorship for a truly multidisciplinary overview of options.

AN IDEAL TOOL FOR NURSE NAVIGATORS

The information is presented in the order corresponding to the patient’s course through treatment. List of questions to ask optimize patient-provider encounters. Superb graphics help explain difficult concepts.

When Dr. Lange’s wife, also a physician, was diagnosed, both were overwhelmed by the complexity of the information they had to process. BEASURVIVOR was inspired by their desire to make the journey easier for others.

This book has been an award-winning bestseller, edition after edition, and on the “recommended” lists of all major breast cancer organizations.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780692177242
Publisher:	Lange Productions
Publication date:	10/29/2018
Series:	Be A Survivor
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	180
Sales rank:	1,062,947
Product dimensions:	7.40(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Vladimir Lange, MD, is a graduate of Harvard Medical School and a leading expert in helping patients and their families in their journey with breast cancer. When his wife Mandy, also a physician, was diagnosed with breast cancer, both were overwhelmed by the complexity of the information they had to process. This book was inspired by their desire to make this emotional and physical process easier for others.

Read an Excerpt

Facing Breast Cancer

Understanding Your Feelings

"You have breast cancer." These may be the most frightening words you've ever heard. You may feel scared, angry, crushed—or in complete denial. You probably won't remember anything your physician tells you, and will have no idea how to begin with your problem.

First of all, realize that a diagnosis of breast cancer is not a death sentence. Breast cancer is a very treatable disease, and survival rates today are higher than ever before. There are more than two and half million women who have been handed the same diagnosis many years ago and are still leading happy, productive lives.

The best approach you can take is to resolve, right now, that you will do everything you can to be successful in your battle against breast cancer. Tell yourself that losing this battle is simply not an option. This positive attitude will be your best ally.

Telling Your Children

This is one of the more challenging tasks you and your partner will have to handle. Your first impulse may be to attempt to shield your children from pain by downplaying or withholding information. Don't underestimate their insight. Children's ability to pick up signals is greater than most adults realize, and trying to keep a complex situation such as cancer a secret, is practically impossible. More than likely, they will sense that all is not well, and wander away imagining horrors far worse than reality. The next day they will get a dose of misinformation from their classmates, which will only fuel their fears.

A much better approach is a simple and straightforward explanation, geared to each child's age and ability to understand. Conveying the impression that you are comfortable and that you trust them, will help them deal with the situation.

Vladimir Lange, MD Biography

A graduate of Harvard Medical School is a leading expert in helping patients and their families in their journey with breast cancer. When his wife Mandy, also a physician, was diagnosed with breast cancer, both were overwhelmed by the complexity of the information they had to process. This book was inspired by their desire to make this emotional and physical process easier for others.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments 1

Introduction to the Seventh Edition 3

A Thirty-Year Retrospective 3

How to Use This Book 5

Breast Cancer Facts to Remember 6

Chapter 1 Facing Breast Cancer 7

Understanding Your Feelings 8

Sharing the News 9

Assembling Your Support Network 16

Gathering Information 19

Overview of Treatment Options 20

Chapter 2 Breast Cancer Basics 23

Breast Anatomy and Function 23

How Breasts Grow and Change 25

What is Breast Cancer? 25

Types of Breast Cancer 28

How Cancer Spreads 30

Chapter 3 Diagnosis and Staging 31

Diagnosis 31

Tumor Testing 32

Genomic Testing 33

The Pathology Report 34

Additional Tests 34

Staging 36

Chapter 4 Surgery 39

Lumpectomy 40

Is Lumpectomy Right for Me? 43

Mastectomy 45

Recovery After Mastectomy 48

Exercises After Mastectomy 50

Is Mastectomy Right for Me? 51

Lumpectomy or Mastectomy? 52

Axillary Lymph Node Dissection 54

Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy 56

Chapter 5 Reconstruction 57

Choosing a Plastic Surgeon 58

Reconstruction Options 58

Reconstruction With Implants 59

Reconstruction With Your Own Tissues 62

Which is Right for Me? 67

External Breast Forms 68

Chapter 6 Radiation Therapy 69

What is Radiation Therapy? 69

External Beam Radiation Therapy 70

How Treatment is Given 70

Side Effects of External Beam Radiation Therapy 72

Brachytherapy 73

Intraoperative Radiation Therapy, IORT 73

Chapter 7 Chemotherapy 75

What is Chemotherapy? 76

How Chemotherapy Works 76

How Chemotherapy is Given 77

Side Effects of Chemotherapy 79

Other Side Effects 86

Common Chemotherapy Drugs 88

Do you need chemotherapy 89

Chapter 8 Hormone Therapy 91

How Does Hormone Therapy Work? 92

Side Effects of Hormone Therapy 94

Who Should Be Treated? 94

Chapter 9 Targeted Therapy 95

What are Targeted Therapies 95

Herceptin 95

The Future 97

Chapter 10 Complementary and Alternative Therapies 98

Complementary Therapies 99

Alternative Treatments 103

Chapter 11 DCIS 104

What is DCIS? 104

Mastectomy or Lumpectomy? 105

Radiation Therapy or Not? 105

Treatment of DCIS 106

Your Team 106

Chapter 12 Clinical Trials 107

How are Trials Conducted? 108

Participating in a Trial 109

Is a Trial Right for Me? 110

Chapter 13 Life After Cancer 111

Emotional Recovery 111

Clinical Depression 113

Physical Recovery 114

Intimacy and Sexuality 117

Side Effects of Treatment 117

Fertility 118

Resuming Sexual Activity 119

Single After Breast Cancer 120

Being a Young Survivor 122

New Beginnings 123

Getting Involved 124

Recommendations for Your Family Members 124

Genetic Testing 125

Chapter 14 A Guide for Your Partner 126

What is Breast Cancer? 127

Understanding Your Feelings 127

What Do I Do Now? 129

What She Needs from You 130

Meeting Your Own Needs 135

Chapter 15 Advanced Breast Cancer 138

Recurrent Breast Cancer 138

Treatment of Advanced / Metastatic Breast Cancer 139

Coping with Advanced Breast Cancer 141

Glossary 142

Questions to Ask Your Healthcare Providers 146

Index 157

Notes to Self 162

My Healthcare Team 163

Editorial Reviews

"This book is a breath of fresh air for the newly diagnosed breast cancer patient struggling to understand her disease." —Juliann Reiland MD, FACS, Avera Medical Group



"This book is up-to-date, relevant and easy to follow, and the survivor stories make it personal. We provide this amazing resource to all of our patients." —Jen Steen-Reavis, RN, Nurse Navigator, Compass Oncology

From the Publisher