If you’ve just been diagnosed with breast cancer, you’re not alone. Since 1 in 8 women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime, each diagnosis is as unique as the person receiving it; breast cancer isn’t one-size-fits-all. Your breast cancer experience will not be the same as your aunt’s, friend’s or friend-of-a-friend.
Because of incredible advances in our understanding of breast cancer over the past several decades, treatment for breast cancer is more personalized than ever before. As a 30-year breast cancer survivor, Komen Scientific Advisory Board Member Dr. Sandra Finestone has witnessed these advances first-hand. While treatments have improved, she explains that a breast cancer diagnosis is just as overwhelming now as it was 30 years ago.
“I tell patients when I meet with them, the good news is you have options. The bad news is you have options because you as a patient are expected to make those decisions. But you take someone who’s not been in this arena before and drop them in and the amount of information that’s available is as overwhelming as the diagnosis, and they feel this urgency to make a decision as well,” says Finestone.
As a patient advocate for more than 25 years, Dr. Finestone is a firm believer that patients need access to information about their diagnosis that they can easily understand.
According to Finestone, “I just feel very, very strongly that patients need the information they need, not all of the information, but they need the information that’s particular to their diagnosis.”
Komen is aiming to meet this need through our Know More series. We’ll explain the basic concepts of breast cancer so that you’ll feel confident to dig deeper into our other breast cancer information and be empowered to discuss your concerns with your doctor. Breast cancer is not one disease, but a family of diseases. Below you’ll find the top 4 factors that make your breast cancer as unique as you are.
- Biomarkers. Biomarkers are molecules that can be measured in your body – and they can tell your oncologist a lot about your breast cancer. Researchers have discovered three key biomarkers that ultimately determine the types of treatment you’ll receive. The three main breast cancers that are defined by these biomarkers are: hormone receptor-positive, HER2-positive, and triple negative. Everyone diagnosed with breast cancer will fall into one or more of these categories, and your doctor can tell you what biomarkers your cancer contains.
- Stage. The stage of your breast cancer refers to how far your breast cancer has progressed. If your breast cancer is small and confined to the breast, you may need a less intensive treatment compared to someone whose tumor has spread to the lymph nodes or beyond that may need more aggressive treatment. Ask your doctor about your breast cancer stage.
- Mutations. Mutations are a type of biomarker, and there are some key mutations your doctor may look for to further customize your treatment plan. Some mutations can be inherited from your mother or father, but most happen spontaneously. In addition, some mutations may also be found in the tumor itself. Genetic testing can be used to identify which treatments might be right for you.
- Biology. Doctors are getting better and better at predicting the behavior of your tumor. In addition to looking at individual biomarkers, doctors sometimes use tumor profiling tests to look at how your tumor cell’s genes work together to make them grow, divide and spread. This can give your doctor important information about your risk of recurrence or how likely you are to respond to certain treatments.
If you’re facing a breast cancer diagnosis and not sure where to begin, you’ve come to the right place. Our Know More series will continue to help educate you and arm you with the tools you’ll need to feel empowered to advocate for yourself through your experience.
Read More:
Factors that affect prognosis and treatment
Contents of a pathology report
Hear More:
Watch Breast Cancer Breakthroughs to learn about the latest breast cancer advancements for patients.
Read and listen to our Spotlight on Clinical Trials Series.
More Actions You Can Take:
Questions to ask your doctor if you’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer
Visit Komen’s Patient Care Center for support.
Join ShareForCures. ShareForCures is Komen’s Breast Cancer Research Registry that will be answering some of the most pressing questions in breast cancer. Anyone over age 18 in the United States is eligible to participate.
