Each breast cancer diagnosis is unique and treated differently. The information below outlines the different physicians and health care professionals involved in diagnosing and treating breast cancer. However, breast cancer is not usually a medical emergency since the majority of breast cancers are detected at early stages before the cancer has spread past the breast.
Most women have a sufficient amount of time to learn about and decide upon treatment options.
Even though physicians administer treatments to patients, each patient is ultimately in charge of her own health. Women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer are encouraged to educate themselves on all aspects of the disease, including the variety of treatment options available. Each patient is also entitled to copies of examination reports, pathology analyses, and mammography films. Patients diagnosed with breast cancer should not hesitate to get a second opinion before beginning treatment. The purpose of a second opinion is to obtain a comprehensive, independent review of breast cancer diagnosis and the planned course of treatment.