Straight Talk about Breast Cancer

Book excerpt: This medical handbook serves as an accessible resource for answering the questions of women with breast cancer as well as easing the concerns of their spouses and family members. Drawing on the personal experiences of a breast-cancer survivor and the professional expertise of breast-cancer specialists, this guide outlines the various treatment options for cancer patients—including lumpectomy and mastectomy surgeries, radiation treatment, and chemotherapy—both in terms of how they work and the toll they take on a patient's life. Updated information and photographs on breast reconstruction are included along with a complete list of resources and an open discussion of hereditary and reoccurrence risks.