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Breast Cancer Specialists at Strong Health

Breast Care Specialists at Strong Health

Questions To Ask Your Doctor About Breast Care:

1. Can you or someone in your office work with me to make sure I’m doing my breast self exams correctly?
2. Are there changes in my breasts I should expect when I’m close to my menstrual period?
3. What does it mean if I have breast pain?
4. What does it mean if I have nipple discharge or inflammation?
5. If I feel something during my self-exam, have breast pain or nipple discharge/inflammation, should I see you immediately or should I wait for a time to see if it resolves? If so, how long?
6. Are any medications I am taking likely to cause breast problems?
7. What are the pros and cons of having a mammogram at my age?
8. What is your recommendation on mammograms?
9. Is there anything in my background that indicates:
   • I should have mammograms more often than your usual recommendations?
   • I should see a specialist?
10. Where should I have my mammogram?
11. What do you recommend to women to prevent breast cancer?
12. For women who have found a lump in their breast:
• What tests should I have?
  • Mammogram?
  • Ultrasound?
  • Needle aspiration?
  • Biopsy?
• How likely is it that the lump is a:
  • Cyst?
  • Warty growth?
  • Fatty lump?
  • Clogged mammary duct?
  • Calcium deposit?
  • Tumor?
  • Other?
13. If a biopsy is recommended:
• What type of biopsy are you recommending and why?
  • Needle biopsy
  • Incisional biopsy
  • Excisional biopsy
• What is involved in the type of biopsy you are recommending?
14. If I have non-cancerous lumps:
    • How confident are you in your diagnosis?
    • What treatment options do I have?
    • Does this problem mean I am at a higher or lower risk for developing breast cancer in the future?
    • How can I tell which lumps are normal and which are not?
    • Can diet or dietary supplements help?
    • Can medications or homone therapy help?
    • Should I consider surgery?
    • Are there other measures I can take to reduce my symptoms?
15. If diagnosed with breast cancer:
    • How confident are you in your diagnosis?
    • Have my tests been reviewed by more than one specialist?
    • How can I get a second opinion?
    • Should I have another test to confirm the diagnosis?
    • What type of breast cancer do I have?
    • Do you know if the cancer is limited to one area of one breast or is it more widespread?
    • Do I need other tests to determine whether my breast cancer has spread?
    • What are my treatment options?
      • Radiation?
      • Chemotherapy?
      • Lumpectomy?
      • Mastectomy?
      • Removal of lymph nodes?
    • What are the potential risks and benefits of the treatment you are recommending?
    • If I have a mastectomy, can I have immediate breast reconstruction?
16. What kinds of specialists should I see?
17. What will testing and/or treatment cost?
18. Where can I go to learn more about breast care and breast cancer?