, contents
Contents
Foreword vii
Part 1: Suspicions of Metastatic Breast Cancer 1
Questions 1–8 cover topics related to the initial diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer,
including:
• Does the diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer mean an instant death sentence?
• How will my oncologist decide to treat my metastatic breast cancer?
• I want to get under way with treatment immediately and everything is taking too
long. Why can’t I start treatment immediately?
Part 2: E
nsuring You Are in Good Hands—
Selecting the Oncology Team to Take Care of You 13
Questions 9–18 discuss the selection of your oncology team, and important criteria
to look for, such as:
• How do I know I’m receiving the best and most appropriate care for my current
situation?
• How can I participate in the decision making about my treatment?
• How do I select a medical oncologist who will be primarily responsible for my care
and treatments?
Part 3: D
ecisions Regarding Surgery and Radiation
for Treatment of Metastatic Disease 23
Questions 19–25 share information regarding surgery and radiation, with topics
such as:
• My cancer has spread to my brain and is located in one spot. What are the treat-
ment options for this type of metastasis?
• How is radiation used for treatment or control of metastatic breast cancer?
• I’ve had radiation already to shrink my cancer in the spine and it has regrown. Can
I have radiation again?
61837_Shockney_v1.indb 3 8/20/08 12:32:26 PM
, 1 0 0 Q & A A B O U T A D VA N C E D A N D M E TA S TAT I C B R E A S T C A N C E R
Part 4: Chemotherapy for Treatment of Metastatic Disease 29
Questions 26–46 are concerned with the details of chemotherapy treatment:
• How will my oncologist decide how much chemotherapy to give me?
• How will the doctors determine if the chemotherapy is working?
• What are my chances of remission, and how long it will last?
Part 5: Hormonal Therapy 51
Questions 47–50 discuss hormonal therapy as a treatment option:
• How does the doctor determine if I should get hormonal therapy instead of
chemotherapy?
• Are there different types of hormonal therapies? How does my doctor decide
which to use?
• I am taking hormonal therapy for treatment of my metastatic breast cancer. I
thought chemotherapy was “better” than hormonal therapy since it is given
intravenously. Is that true or a myth?
Part 6: S
ide Effects of Metastatic Breast Cancer
and Its Treatment and How to Control Them 57
Questions 51–70 address emotional and physical changes that occur after diagnosis and
treatment of metastatic breast cancer, as well as management strategies, including:
• What kind of side effects might I expect to experience as a result of getting treat-
ment for my metastatic breast cancer?
• My chemotherapy and hormonal therapy have caused me to develop symptoms of
menopause. How can I manage these symptoms and feel more like myself again?
• I am feeling more joint pain and backaches that make it difficult to walk around.
What can I do to manage my pain?
Part 7: Targeted Therapy 77
Questions 71–74 reviews information based on targeted therapy for metastatic
breast cancer, such as:
• What is a monoclonal antibody?
• What is targeted therapy, and how does it work?
• I have been taking trastuzumab (Herceptin), but the doctor says that my cancer is
not responding to this treatment anymore. Do I have any other options?
Part 8: Clinical Trials 83
Questions 75–78 help decipher the pros and cons of participating in a clinical trial:
• What is a “Clinical Trial,” and am I a candidate to still participate in one if I have
metastatic breast cancer?
• What questions should I ask the doctor about a specific clinical trial he has recom-
mended for me?
• How do I find out about clinical trials that might be appropriate for me to consider?
iv
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, 1 0 0 Q & A A B O U T A D VA N C E D A N D M E TA S TAT I C B R E A S T C A N C E R
Part 9: Complementary and Alternative Medicine 89
Questions 79–85 describe alternative treatment methods, such as:
• What are examples of some complementary and alternative treatments that I
might hear about or want to learn more about?
• I want to try some complementary therapies while receiving my chemo treatments.
How do I go about deciding which therapies to do?
• Where can I go to get credible information that is up-to-date related to research
studies that have been done regarding complementary and alternative medicine?
Part 10: Other Common Questions 97
Questions 86–90 answer common concerns of cancer patients, including:
• My family wants me to stop smoking, but I already have incurable cancer.
Do I have to stop?
• A friend of mine who has metastatic disease says that periodically she gets to stop
treatment for a while. How does my oncologist decide if I can have a drug holi-
day? How long does it usually last?
• Should I still get my annual screening mammogram?
Part 11: E
nd of Life, Treatment, Crossroads, Making Plans 105
Questions 91–100 help guide you through decisions regarding end-of-life plans, such as:
• I don’t know how to approach talking about such decisions with my family. How
do I do this?
• How and when will the doctor recommend that I stop treatment?
• I feel very stressed about my medical situation and need time to clear my head and
think about what I want to do. How can I do this?
Drug Tables 119
Appendix 127
Glossary 131
Index 141
v
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Contents
Foreword vii
Part 1: Suspicions of Metastatic Breast Cancer 1
Questions 1–8 cover topics related to the initial diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer,
including:
• Does the diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer mean an instant death sentence?
• How will my oncologist decide to treat my metastatic breast cancer?
• I want to get under way with treatment immediately and everything is taking too
long. Why can’t I start treatment immediately?
Part 2: E
nsuring You Are in Good Hands—
Selecting the Oncology Team to Take Care of You 13
Questions 9–18 discuss the selection of your oncology team, and important criteria
to look for, such as:
• How do I know I’m receiving the best and most appropriate care for my current
situation?
• How can I participate in the decision making about my treatment?
• How do I select a medical oncologist who will be primarily responsible for my care
and treatments?
Part 3: D
ecisions Regarding Surgery and Radiation
for Treatment of Metastatic Disease 23
Questions 19–25 share information regarding surgery and radiation, with topics
such as:
• My cancer has spread to my brain and is located in one spot. What are the treat-
ment options for this type of metastasis?
• How is radiation used for treatment or control of metastatic breast cancer?
• I’ve had radiation already to shrink my cancer in the spine and it has regrown. Can
I have radiation again?
61837_Shockney_v1.indb 3 8/20/08 12:32:26 PM
, 1 0 0 Q & A A B O U T A D VA N C E D A N D M E TA S TAT I C B R E A S T C A N C E R
Part 4: Chemotherapy for Treatment of Metastatic Disease 29
Questions 26–46 are concerned with the details of chemotherapy treatment:
• How will my oncologist decide how much chemotherapy to give me?
• How will the doctors determine if the chemotherapy is working?
• What are my chances of remission, and how long it will last?
Part 5: Hormonal Therapy 51
Questions 47–50 discuss hormonal therapy as a treatment option:
• How does the doctor determine if I should get hormonal therapy instead of
chemotherapy?
• Are there different types of hormonal therapies? How does my doctor decide
which to use?
• I am taking hormonal therapy for treatment of my metastatic breast cancer. I
thought chemotherapy was “better” than hormonal therapy since it is given
intravenously. Is that true or a myth?
Part 6: S
ide Effects of Metastatic Breast Cancer
and Its Treatment and How to Control Them 57
Questions 51–70 address emotional and physical changes that occur after diagnosis and
treatment of metastatic breast cancer, as well as management strategies, including:
• What kind of side effects might I expect to experience as a result of getting treat-
ment for my metastatic breast cancer?
• My chemotherapy and hormonal therapy have caused me to develop symptoms of
menopause. How can I manage these symptoms and feel more like myself again?
• I am feeling more joint pain and backaches that make it difficult to walk around.
What can I do to manage my pain?
Part 7: Targeted Therapy 77
Questions 71–74 reviews information based on targeted therapy for metastatic
breast cancer, such as:
• What is a monoclonal antibody?
• What is targeted therapy, and how does it work?
• I have been taking trastuzumab (Herceptin), but the doctor says that my cancer is
not responding to this treatment anymore. Do I have any other options?
Part 8: Clinical Trials 83
Questions 75–78 help decipher the pros and cons of participating in a clinical trial:
• What is a “Clinical Trial,” and am I a candidate to still participate in one if I have
metastatic breast cancer?
• What questions should I ask the doctor about a specific clinical trial he has recom-
mended for me?
• How do I find out about clinical trials that might be appropriate for me to consider?
iv
61837_Shockney_v1.indb 4 8/20/08 12:32:26 PM
, 1 0 0 Q & A A B O U T A D VA N C E D A N D M E TA S TAT I C B R E A S T C A N C E R
Part 9: Complementary and Alternative Medicine 89
Questions 79–85 describe alternative treatment methods, such as:
• What are examples of some complementary and alternative treatments that I
might hear about or want to learn more about?
• I want to try some complementary therapies while receiving my chemo treatments.
How do I go about deciding which therapies to do?
• Where can I go to get credible information that is up-to-date related to research
studies that have been done regarding complementary and alternative medicine?
Part 10: Other Common Questions 97
Questions 86–90 answer common concerns of cancer patients, including:
• My family wants me to stop smoking, but I already have incurable cancer.
Do I have to stop?
• A friend of mine who has metastatic disease says that periodically she gets to stop
treatment for a while. How does my oncologist decide if I can have a drug holi-
day? How long does it usually last?
• Should I still get my annual screening mammogram?
Part 11: E
nd of Life, Treatment, Crossroads, Making Plans 105
Questions 91–100 help guide you through decisions regarding end-of-life plans, such as:
• I don’t know how to approach talking about such decisions with my family. How
do I do this?
• How and when will the doctor recommend that I stop treatment?
• I feel very stressed about my medical situation and need time to clear my head and
think about what I want to do. How can I do this?
Drug Tables 119
Appendix 127
Glossary 131
Index 141
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