Breast Cancer infographic
Breast Cancer infographic
Vital Signs
Breast Cancer Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment
Women
1. Before testing (screening)
- Know if you should be tested and why.
- Know the right age to start getting tested.
- Make an appointment with your doctor, or find one, to talk about the test.
- Talk with your doctor or nurse about any concerns.
- Have close friends and family support you in getting tested.
- Schedule your mammogram appointment, taking work, home, language, and getting there into account.
2. Getting a mammogram test
- Keep your appointment.
- If the doctor does not call you back in a week, call the office to ask for the results
3. If the 1st test suggests cancer
- The results may be normal, not normal, or somewhere in-between. Try not to panic or worry.
- Ask what the mammogram results mean.
- If the results are not normal, a breast ultrasound or biopsy may be recommended. Talk with your doctor and nurses about the results and the next steps.
- Make and keep follow-up appointments.
- Ask your close friends and family for support.
4. If the doctor tells you it’s cancer
- Ask all the questions you want. The doctor, nurse, and staff are there to help you understand and make good decisions about next steps.
- Expect to be referred to a cancer specialist who will discuss the best treatment options and take over your care for a while.
- Ask your close friends and family for support.
Doctors and Nurses
1. Before testing (screening)
- Have a good clinic record system that reminds you which patients are due for testing.
- Talk with each patient about her risk of breast cancer, the benefits and risks of testing, and the right age to start testing.
- Answer questions from your patient about her concerns—costs, cultural barriers, fears, etc.
- Identify where she can get the test done.
- Have the office staff remind your patient of her upcoming appointment.
2. Getting a mammogram test
- Help your patient understand what she needs to do during the test.
- Answer her questions before and during the test.
- Get results quickly and promptly call your patient.
3. If the 1st test suggests cancer
- If possible, assign a patient navigator to your patient.
- Talk with your patient about the next set of tests.
- Answer questions about your patients’ concerns.
- Refer her promptly for the next test or to the next doctor.
- Remind your patient of her upcoming appointments.
- Schedule a follow-up appointment, regardless of the results of the next test.
4. As soon as you know it’s cancer
- Know the next step(s) and why they are needed.
- Refer your patient promptly to a cancer specialist.
- Keep track of her progress so she continues to see the cancer specialist(s) and gets all necessary therapy.
- Work with a patient navigator, if possible.