It’s estimated that up to 20 percent of people who are diagnosed with breast cancer have a specific type – triple-negative breast cancer. According to the statistics, about 150,000 Americans died from this condition in the last year. Given how small that number may seem when compared to breast cancer in general or other illnesses, it’s understandable that people are shocked when they receive a diagnosis of triple-negative breast cancer. Here are a few ways to cope with it.
It can be good to talk to persons who have dealt with the same diagnosis as you. They can give you advice and help you to get some of the resources you need because of what they’ve dealt with. Studies show that having a good support system can help your mental health.
According to researchers, it’s important to move quickly and work with doctors who are familiar with triple-negative breast cancer. This is also significant for African Americans as they have a higher chance of being diagnosed with this condition while being 28% more likely to die. One reason for this is that they often don’t get the treatment they need or as quickly as they should.
Your diagnosis can seem even scarier when you’re dealing with the unknown so it helps to find out what the condition is and what the likely next steps will be. This information will also help you to write down questions that you should ask your doctor the next time you see them.
RELATED: Triple Negative Breast Cancer: What Black Women Need To Know
As you’re doing research, you’ll likely come across a lot of statistics. Those numbers might not help you to feel better so it’s best not to dwell on them. Cancer is an individual journey and you should focus on talking to your doctor about getting the best care.
While a support group is helpful, your loved ones are the ones closest to you. They can support you more closely. Telling them about your diagnosis means they won’t be caught off guard when your life starts to change and offer help as needed.
Though the diagnosis may have thrown you, stress will only make things worse. The best thing you can do is 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.
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.
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.
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