A compassionate and uniquely authoritative guide to surviving breast cancer Dr. Carolyn M. Kaelin is nationally recognized as a leading expert on breast cancer. At the age of 42, this highly respected cancer surgeon and the director of the prestigious Comprehensive Breast Health Center at Brigham and Women's Hospital, one of Harvard Medical School's main hospitals, had a young family and demanding career. When she discovered that she had breast cancer, she was suddenly transformed from doctor to patient--and learned firsthand just how this terrible disease makes women question their sense of self. Now, following a mastectomy and an ongoing course of chemotherapy, her prognosis is good and her passion and commitment to helping other women with breast cancer is greater than ever. In a book that will be a source of priceless information and much-needed understanding and support for women with all forms of breast cancer, Dr. Kaelin provides the most up-to-date information on virtually every aspect of the disease, both as a top specialist in the field and as a survivor. Compassionate, comprehensive, and uniquely authoritative, Living Through Breast Cancer provides women with: State-of-the-art medical knowledge interwoven with hard-won advice on dealing with the emotional and aesthetic ramifications of breast cancer and its treatment The most complete guidance on treatment options, maintaining health after cancer, feeling and looking good, and keeping one's sense of self while getting through each day Groundbreaking information on exercise techniques that can significantly reduce the chance of recurrence and nutritional advice to improve overall health
Author(s): Carolyn M. Kaelin, Francesca Coltrera
Edition: 1
Publisher: McGraw-Hill
Year: 2005
Language: English
Pages: 386
Terms of Use......Page 3
Want to learn more?......Page 4
Contents......Page 7
Preface......Page 11
Introduction......Page 15
Part I Getting Your Bearings: Diagnosis, Treatment, and Drawing Together Your Medical Team......Page 17
The Starting Line......Page 19
Anatomy of a Breast......Page 20
Common Breast Cancers......Page 22
Less Common Breast Cancers......Page 24
Diagnosis: Breast Cancer......Page 27
Images of Cancer: The First Step......Page 28
Biopsy: The Next Step......Page 31
Understanding Your Pathology Report......Page 35
Building a Strong Team......Page 43
Comprehensive Center or Nearby Hospital?......Page 46
Gathering Recommendations and Assessing Specialists......Page 48
Why Get a Second Opinion?......Page 51
Jumping Hurdles......Page 53
When to Lead, When to Follow......Page 54
Gathering Emotional Support......Page 55
Handling Distress, Depression, and Anxiety......Page 58
Partners, Family, and Friends......Page 60
Making Your First Treatment Decisions......Page 65
Breast-Conserving Surgery......Page 68
Mastectomy......Page 70
Lymph Node Surgery......Page 76
Recovery After Surgery......Page 82
Lymphedema......Page 86
4. Radiation Therapy......Page 91
Making Decisions About Radiation Therapy......Page 92
Standard Therapy: External Beam Radiation......Page 95
Handling Possible Side Effects......Page 99
Promising, Not Proven: Partial-Breast Radiation......Page 102
5. Blocking Cancer with Chemotherapy, Hormonal Therapy, and More......Page 107
The Basics: How Breast Cancers Grow......Page 108
Overview: Anticancer Medications......Page 109
Chemotherapy......Page 111
Hormonal Therapy......Page 128
A Targeted Therapy: Herceptin......Page 135
Part II Preserving Your Sense of Self: Responding to Treatment Challenges......Page 137
6. A Change in Looks: Breast Appearance......Page 139
What Will I Look Like?......Page 140
Consider Your Choices......Page 143
What to Wear......Page 156
Overview: Reconstructive Surgery......Page 163
Reshaping the Breast: Implants......Page 166
Reshaping the Breast: TRAM Flap......Page 177
Reshaping the Breast: Latissimus Dorsi Flap......Page 187
Additional Concerns......Page 193
Who Pays?......Page 194
Skin and Surgery......Page 197
Skin and Anticancer Drugs......Page 201
Skin and Radiation Therapy......Page 211
Who Pays?......Page 216
9. Your Hair......Page 217
Breast Cancer Treatments and Hair Loss......Page 218
Hair Care During Chemotherapy......Page 220
Complete Hair Loss......Page 222
Wigs......Page 225
Body Hair: Brows, Lashes, and More......Page 233
When Will Hair Grow Back?......Page 238
Before You Start Treatment......Page 241
Embarking on Treatment......Page 244
Brightening Your Teeth......Page 252
Easing Aftereffects......Page 255
Part III Regaining Your Balance: Exercise, Nutrition, Sexuality, and More......Page 257
11. Get Moving: Any Activity Is Better Than None......Page 259
Easing Side Effects of Treatment......Page 260
Get Started and Keep Moving......Page 268
12. Now Serving: A Healthy Approach to Eating......Page 283
Eating Well During Treatment......Page 284
Eating Well After Active Treatment Ends......Page 293
13. Mending the Mind: Cognitive Changes......Page 305
Overview: A New Field of Study......Page 306
Culprits Behind the Changes......Page 307
The Real World: How Women Are Affected......Page 314
Honing the Studies......Page 317
Anticancer Treatments and Menopause......Page 319
Handling Changes......Page 321
15. Fertility and Pregnancy After Breast Cancer......Page 337
Choices to Make Before and During Treatment......Page 338
Pregnancy After Treatment......Page 343
Who Pays?......Page 347
16. Sexuality: Changing Body, Changing Needs......Page 349
Questions, Fears, and Feelings......Page 350
The Obstacles......Page 353
Pleasure and Comfort......Page 357
Partners......Page 360
On Being Single......Page 361
Epilogue: Moving Forward......Page 363
Moving Forward After Breast Cancer......Page 364
Planning for the Future......Page 365
Resources......Page 367
Credits......Page 379
Index......Page 381
