take some time for some self-care. It doesn’t have to be a major event, just something that sets you at ease while you come to terms with your upcoming journey.
Tips For Finding A Specialist
As mentioned earlier, it’s best to work with a doctor who specializes in triple-negative breast cancer. It could even be better for you to find one who works with Black women regularly.
While you can ask your regular doctor for a referral, it’s good to do some research on your own. You can start by doing an online search for specialists in your area or within a region you’re willing to travel to.
Another option is to find online support groups that can give recommendations.
Finally, searching for clinical trials and the doctors involved can be a good guide. This last point can be beneficial in several ways. Not only will clinical trials have the specialists you need but they may also give you access to treatment that you wouldn’t have otherwise.
Since Black people have been shown to have higher diagnoses of triple-negative breast cancer and more negative outcomes, a clinical trial could be exactly what you’re looking for.
Questions To Ask Your Doctor
When it comes to this form of cancer, it’s important to move quickly. Your road to effective treatment starts with asking the right questions so you can get started.
Once diagnosed, you should ask your doctor what stage of the cancer you have, if there’s anything you need to change about your lifestyle, and what your treatment options are. You should also ask about specialists like other oncologists, radiologists, and surgeons.
When discussing treatments, it’s good to ask if you’ll need surgery and if you’re a good candidate for reconstructive surgery. You should discuss if you’ll start with one type of treatment and move on to others or try a combination to see what’s best for you.
Depending on the type of treatment the doctor recommends, you should ask about potential side effects and how to manage them.
Of course, these aren’t all the questions you’ll have your doctor but they’re a good start. What’s important is keeping the line of communication open.
Triple-negative breast cancer affects thousands of Americans every year but that doesn’t mean you’ll always see a diagnosis coming. Having been diagnosed, you should build your support system and get all the information you can about the illness. It can help you to get the treatment you need.