More information about hormonal therapy can be found in the Treatment section. Other lab tests are sometimes done to help the doctor predict whether the cancer is likely to grow slowly or quickly. The doctor may order x-rays and blood tests. The doctor may also do special exams of the bones, liver, or lungs because breast cancer may spread to these areas. The patient's doctor may refer her to other doctors who specialize in treating cancer, or she may ask for a referral.
Treatment generally begins within a few weeks after the diagnosis.
There will be time for the woman to talk with the doctor about her treatment choices, to get a second opinion, and to prepare herself and her loved ones. This information was reprinted in whole or in part from the National Cancer Institute's booklet, What You Need to Know About Breast Cancer.