According to the American Cancer Society, 1 in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point in their life. All of these women benefit from having a strong support system. Along with family and friends, breast care specialists provide supportive education and expert care. If you’re starting your breast cancer journey, here are some types of breast cancer specialists and staff to have on your side.
What Is a Breast Care Specialist?
A breast care specialist is a medical expert who concentrates on the care of breast diseases. After completing general medical education, they undergo additional training to better understand women’s health issues. With them on your side, your care team can provide the best care for you.
Breast care specialists help with every stage of your cancer journey and may include:
- Patient navigators. These professionals join you along every step of your care journey. They answer questions, help schedule appointments, and connect you to resources. Certified breast patient navigators, like those at Windsong Radiology, have in-depth knowledge of every aspect of breast care. One of their main goals is to help you take control of your breast health.
- Radiologists. Imaging experts perform a variety of diagnostic breast imaging tests. Those with specialty training in women’s imaging know how to detect abnormalities that may otherwise be missed. At Windsong, our radiology breast care specialists offer 3D and digital mammography, breast ultrasound, breast MRI, and breast biopsies. This variety of screening and diagnostic tools provides clear images that allow radiologists to make an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment plan.
- Surgeons. Along with radiation and chemotherapy, breast surgery is often part of the treatment of breast cancer. Breast surgeons remove cancerous cells and surrounding tissue. Surgical options include removing only the cancerous tissue (lumpectomy), the entire breast (mastectomy), and the breast and surrounding muscle and lymph nodes (radical mastectomy). Breast surgeons also offer preventive mastectomies for women at high risk for breast cancer. Surgery may take place before other treatments to reduce the area treated with radiation or other therapies.
The breast care specialists stay updated on the latest in breast cancer care and work together to ensure every aspect of your care is managed effectively.
Other Members of Your Support Team
Breast care specialists answer your questions, provide a clear diagnosis, and develop and carry out your treatment plan. However, even when you don’t meet with these experts, you still need support. That’s where family and friends can help.
Your breast cancer journey may affect you in unexpected ways. It’s important to ask loved ones for help and support when needed.
Breast Cancer Now suggests several ways family and friends can help you during your journey, including:
- Driving you to and from medical appointments
- Giving you space to be alone when desired
- Joining you at medical appointments to take notes and ask follow-up questions
- Offering a listening ear, letting you drive the conversation, and refraining from giving unsolicited advice
- Helping with daily tasks, such as cooking, cleaning, and grocery shopping
- Updating others on your health status
Looking for extra support? Join a support group. Many organizations offer online and in-person groups. These groups can connect you with others at different stages in their breast cancer journeys. By interacting with them, you can learn what to expect moving forward. You also have the opportunity to encourage others just beginning their journey.
You Run the Team
No matter who has the privilege of being part of your breast care team, you’re the captain. That means your family, friends, and breast care specialists take orders from you.
To make sure your support team knows how to serve you, do the following:
- Make a plan. Your cancer journey is as unique as you are. Think about how you want your journey to go. When loved ones disagree with your choices, remind them it is your health, and you’re in charge of the decisions.
- Tell others your plan. Your entire support team should know about your preferences. Talk to your medical team and family and friends about what form of treatment you’d prefer and how support team members can best care for you.
- Update your plan as necessary. You may change your mind about the care you want or how your support team can serve you, and that’s OK. Let your caregivers know about these changes so they can accommodate your requests.
