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October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Breast Cancer Diagnosis: Now What?

About one in eight American women will develop breast cancer during her lifetime. What happens when you or a loved one is among them? Breast cancer treatment is a journey. Here are some guideposts and resources to help you or a loved one along the way:

  • Share news about your diagnosis- Remember, it’s healthy to talk about it with your friends and family. Sharing the news can help you cope. It can relieve feelings of isolation and frustration.
  • Take good care of yourself- The steps you take to nurture your physical, emotional and spiritual well-being are vital during this time. 
  • Prepare for treatment- There are many choices when it comes to cancer treatments, so decisions may not always be straightforward. Learn as much as you can about your cancer and the treatment options available to you. When you’re actively involved in the decision-making, it will help you better understand your treatment. 

Here are some tips to help you cope better:

  • Get enough rest, eat healthy foods and stay physically active.
  • Stay involved with the activities and things you enjoy. Not all parts of your life need to be put on hold.
  • Find quiet time for reflection and relaxation.
  • Get help from your doctor if you feel anxious, hopeless or depressed for more than two weeks.

When you're ready, tell your loved ones about your diagnosis:

  • Use words that are comfortable for you. There’s no one right or wrong way to discuss your disease.
  • Get help. Make a list of people you want to tell personally. Then ask a family member or trusted friend to talk with others.
  • Plan ahead. Most people will have questions about your prognosis or next steps. Think about how much you want to share — it’s up to you. There may be topics you aren’t ready to talk about. Think about ways to change the subject if something you don’t want to talk about comes up.
  • Be gentle, but honest when talking with children. They may sense something is wrong and should hear about your cancer from you. Stay calm and assure them they’ll be cared for.

Learning you have cancer can be an emotional rollercoaster. Although “cancer” is easy to pronounce, it can be the hardest word to say when you’ve just been diagnosed. Hopefully, the tips provided can help assist you and relieve some frustration.

For information about being recently diagnosed with breast cancer, visit here.

Brought to you by:

Useful links:

  1. Breast Cancer | Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois (bcbsil.com)
  2. Supporting a Loved One with Cancer - Connect Community - BCBSIL
  3. The Truth Behind 8 Common Breast Cancer Myths | Aetna
  4. Breast & Ovarian Cancer Resources | Aetna
  5. Breast Cancer Support Center (hcpss.org)
  6. Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Education Resource | CVS Specialty
  7. Spread the word – mammograms save lives. - Hally Health