Tips from a Breast Cancer Survivor
This article is part of an informational series with Dr. S. Brenda Moorthy and her patient, breast cancer survivor, and Sedona resident, Magdalena Romanska. It was originally published in Sedona Monthly magazine.
Tip 1: Find the Right Physician
You don’t have to settle for the first surgeon you are referred to. Here are some questions to ask:
It is not enough if they are nice. Are they resourced? Can they see you quickly and manage your care with a trusted team? My initial surgeon was booked too far out for my comfort, so I shifted my care to the Comprehensive Breast Center of Arizona, where my diagnosis and treatment could be expedited.
Can they coordinate with a plastic surgeon if you decide to go that route?
Can they explain things well in a way that makes sense to you? Are they calm and reassuring?
Some offices will have even greater resources. CBCAZ was able to provide me with:
A patient coordinator who helped manage my insurance options and answer my questions;
An appointment within 72 hours of my first phone call;
A binder filled with everything I needed to know and my reports;
Resources for a psychologist, support groups, post-surgery support, and more.
It doesn’t make a surgeon a bad person if they can’t meet these requirements, but it is so important to find one who can–both for your health and for your peace of mind.
Dr. Moorthy’s Input
Having resources provides better all-around care. Going through cancer treatment isn’t just medical–there are many psycho-social components as well. Your physician should treat you and your family as a whole system and not just focus on your disease. I know we at CBCAZ do a good job now, but there is still a lot of room for improvement in the healthcare field when it comes to meeting the individual needs of every patient. This is a personal goal of ours: we are committed to making this journey as easy as possible.
Tip 2: Life Stops at the Time of Diagnosis, But You Don’t Have to
A cancer diagnosis can change everything, so how can you fight the overwhelm to stay close to what is most essential? These are the tips that helped me:
Take each day and each task one day at a time.
Know that there will be some financial impact, but your health is the most important thing.
Find friends and/or family who will help support you with rides, an extra ear during your appointments, and a shoulder to lean on. It’s okay if not every friend is prepared to do that. People will react in their own ways. Try not to take it personally.
There are great support groups and online communities where you can find people who understand. These groups save lives. They not only remind you that what you are feeling and experiencing is normal, but they can help connect you with new resources and ideas that you may not find on your own.
Share your story with your greater community, if you feel comfortable doing so. Simply by sharing my experiences online and in person, I was able to encourage twenty other women to schedule their mammograms.
Dr. Moorthy’s Input
It takes a village to go through cancer treatment, and patients who have a good support system have an easier time. Every patient will have different needs from childcare to transportation. Organize your village depending on what your needs are.
Most women don’t want to ask for help, but I affirm you for doing it because it will make you stronger and more capable of helping someone else in the long run.
Tip 3: Advocate for Yourself
No one is better positioned to fight for your health and well-being than you are. These tips helped me remember that even with a cancer diagnosis, I was still in the driver’s seat.
Double-check that your mammograms are interpreted by a breast specialist, not just a general radiologist who might not be as highly trained in breast-specific imaging.
Dr. Moorthy’s Input
The radiologists we work with are dedicated to breast imaging and are a high-volume center. However, it can be difficult for a patient to know that, which is why it’s so important to have a healthcare team you can trust to make the right referrals.
Keep your follow-up appointments and do your self-exams.
If you have questions or concerns, ask! Staying quiet won’t assuage your peace of mind and you may be keeping key information from your healthcare team if you don’t let them know what you’re seeing, feeling, and noticing.
Don’t hide from preventative medicine thinking you’ve already been treated. Check in with your primary care physician and stay up-to-date on wellness checks for all other areas of the body as well.
Don’t trust that the schedulers know when you need to be seen. It is okay to advocate for yourself, ask to be put on a waitlist, and call multiple times or to multiple offices or facilities to be seen sooner.
Dr. Moorthy’s Input
I agree and it is also important to know that everything in imaging is about comparison. So switching between imaging facilities can create problems when it comes to comparing current and previous films. If you do end up switching facilities, it is your responsibility to get all of your previous imaging on a CD. An imaging facility can do this for you if you request it, but it does take time.
Magdalena played an active role as a patient, which is what helped enhance the quality of her care. To be an active patient, you need to bring: family history information, your medical history, all of your scans on a CD (not just a report), and accountability for your healthcare. Find this information out before your appointment and have it written down.
Your doctor can treat your cancer, but they cannot make you a well person without your active engagement.
Tip 4: Find the Light at the End of the Tunnel
Find something at the end of treatment that you can look forward to, stick to, and believe in. Healing is possible and it becomes much more manageable when you have a celebration waiting for you at the end.
It’s hard, but trust the process and trust that you are in good hands.
Dr. Moorthy’s Input
I’ve seen mastectomy patients throw a goodbye party for their breasts, or others who plan a big trip after their treatment is over. It helps them get through the experience. The power of hope can never be underestimated. Find what motivates you.
