10 Questions for Your Breast Cancer Surgeon
- Why are you recommending this procedure? What are the options?
- What are the risks? How do they compare with the benefits?
- How do I prepare for surgery?
- What type of anesthesia will I have?
- What happens during and right after surgery?
- Who do I talk to about breast reconstruction?
- How long will I be in the hospital?
- Are there any complications?
- When can I go back to work and resume normal activities?
- What are the risks of lymphedema?
Before surgery, your surgeon should provide:
- Specific instructions to follow in the days before surgery
- An overview of the surgical procedures
- Information about recovery and follow-up care
After surgery, watch for complications such as infection or lymphedema, swelling in your arm or hand. Call your doctor immediately if you see signs of swelling, a build-up of fluid, redness, or other symptoms of infection.
Hormone Therapy for Breast Cancer
About two-thirds of women with breast cancer have tumors that contain estrogen receptors (called ER-positive). This type of cancer depends on the female hormone to grow. Hormone therapy is given to block the body's naturally occurring estrogen and fight the cancer's growth. Women who are ER-positive are more likely to respond to hormone treatment than women who are ER-negative.
Read the Hormone Therapy for Breast Cancer article > >
Also see:
Breast-Conserving Surgery
Mastectomy
Lymph Node Biopsies
WebMD Medical Reference
Reviewed by
Arnold Wax, MD on June 26, 2012
© 2012 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.
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