After a breast cancer diagnosis, here are 10 important things you should do, experts say

One successful 8 women successful nan U.S. will beryllium diagnosed pinch breast cancer astatine immoderate constituent successful their lifetime, statistic show.

The test tin beryllium shocking, scary and overwhelming, leaving nan diligent pinch a agelong database of questions — possibly nan first of which is, "What should I do next?"

"Hearing nan words ‘you person cancer’ is life-changing and brings pinch it galore emotions," Tingting Tan, MD, PhD, a aesculapian oncologist and hematologist astatine City of Hope Newport Beach successful California, told Fox News Digital. 

"Know that your feelings are perfectly normal and springiness yourself immoderate time."

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Fox News Digital said pinch breast crab experts who person helped different women navigate this reliable journey, gathering their guidance astir what to do successful nan days and weeks aft nan diagnosis.

"Hearing nan words ‘you person cancer’ is life-changing and brings pinch it galore emotions," a expert said. (iStock)

1. Take a hit — and breathe

Experts work together that it’s important to springiness yourself clip to process nan news.

"It’s earthy to want to unreserved into action, but taking immoderate clip and letting nan news descend successful is important," Dr. Alyssa Middleton, a psychosocial oncologist successful Louisville, Kentucky, and laminitis of MyCancerResources.com, told Fox News Digital.

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"Allow yourself to consciousness nan scope of emotions that travel pinch this life-altering news."

In astir cases, Middleton said, oncologists will hold respective weeks to statesman curen to let clip for further testing — "so there’s nary request to consciousness panicked astir making decisions today."

2. Write down questions and stitchery information

Once you’ve allowed yourself immoderate clip to process nan diagnosis, it’s clip to study arsenic overmuch arsenic you tin from reliable sources.

"Read nan accusation nan expert provided astir nan type of bosom crab you person and nan shape — a number from 0-4 that describes really large nan tumor is, wherever it is located, and really acold it whitethorn person dispersed from nan breast," Middleton advised.

Experts urge penning down a database of questions to inquire your expert successful nan days pursuing a diagnosis. (iStock)

Next, it’s important to understand nan emblematic treatments for your type and stage, which whitethorn see surgery, chemotherapy, radiation and/or hormone therapy.

Write down each of your questions and bring them to each doctor’s appointment, Tan advised.

"Those first appointments tin beryllium highly emotional, and location whitethorn still beryllium daze aliases disbelief," she told Fox News Digital. "Writing your questions down will guarantee you don’t hide them."

3. Notify — and thin connected — your support team

"You aren’t obligated to pass nan full world astir your diagnosis," Middleton said. "Share nan news pinch those who you consciousness request to cognize and who will beryllium astir supportive."

You tin stock arsenic overmuch aliases arsenic small accusation arsenic you like, she added. "This is your health, and you power what and really overmuch accusation is shared."

"Allow yourself to consciousness nan scope of emotions that travel pinch this life-altering news."

Once you’ve notified your loved ones, it tin beryllium adjuvant to bring a friend aliases family member to your appointments, Tan said. 

"This clip tin beryllium overwhelming, and you want to beryllium judge you understand everything your expert is explaining," she said. 

One successful 8 women successful nan U.S. will beryllium diagnosed pinch bosom crab astatine immoderate constituent successful their lifetime. (iStock)

"Having your support strategy pinch you for an other group of ears tin beryllium adjuvant if you don’t understand thing aliases miss something."

In your day-to-day life, it’s OK to inquire for help, Tan emphasized.

"Loved ones are often fresh and happy to thief pinch preparing meals, taking kids to school, aliases thing and everything successful between," she said.

4. Consider a 2nd opinion

Studies person shown that getting a 2nd sentiment aft a breast crab diagnosis tin beryllium beneficial for nan patient.

"Second opinions tin prevention lives," Tan said.

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"Cancer is unique, and if you are diagnosed pinch bosom cancer, you want to spot an master who specializes successful your nonstop type. Don’t beryllium acrophobic to inquire your expert for a 2nd opinion."

Even if you don’t move oncologists, seeking a 2nd sentiment tin supply reassurance that you person chosen nan correct care team and curen plan, Tan noted. 

Studies person shown that getting a 2nd sentiment aft a bosom crab test tin beryllium beneficial for nan patient. (iStock)

"It is basal to do this earlier starting treatment, arsenic location whitethorn beryllium further options that you should consider," she said.

Another bosom oncologist whitethorn person different recommendations connected really to dainty your bosom cancer, Middleton agreed. 

"If nan curen proposal is nan same, you tin determine which oncologist you consciousness astir comfortable pinch and move guardant pinch them," she said. 

"If nan curen proposal differs, you tin determine which attack you prefer."

5. Build your attraction team

When it comes to seeking care, it’s captious to activity experts who specialize successful bosom cancer, Tan said.

She recommends choosing an oncologist who practices astatine a crab halfway that’s designated by nan National Cancer Institute (NCI).

"When bosom crab is localized – meaning it hasn’t dispersed extracurricular nan bosom – nan five-year endurance complaint is 99%."

"Getting connected nan correct curen scheme astatine nan opening of your travel is very important," she said. "Physicians astatine world aesculapian centers are nan astir up to day connected nan latest treatment breakthroughs and options successful nan field."

Dr. Anjeanette Brown, MD, a board-certified bosom surgeon astatine nan Premier Surgical Network successful New Jersey, emphasized nan value of choosing a wellness attraction master pinch nan due credentials.

Experts urge choosing an oncologist who practices astatine a crab halfway that’s designated by nan National Cancer Institute (NCI). (iStock)

"This personification should beryllium your ‘quarterback,’ directing nan basal steps that request to beryllium taken for due information and imaging anterior to going into surgery," she told Fox News Digital.

It’s basal that nan diligent feels comfortable pinch her provider, Brown noted. 

"This will beryllium a long, aggravated relationship, dealing pinch emotions and beingness changes that are astir to happen, secondary to surgical intervention, arsenic good arsenic imaginable aesculapian management," she added.

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Dr. Lauren Ramsey, a bosom crab surgeon successful Ft. Worth, Texas, specifically recommends seeing a bosom surgeon (surgical oncologist) successful a timely manner — ideally a supplier who has completed a specialized fellowship successful bosom surgical oncology. 

"Other doctors, specified arsenic aesculapian oncologists and radiation oncologists, whitethorn extremity up playing a domiciled — however, nan bosom surgeon will beryllium capable to make those referrals for you," she said.

6. Connect pinch others 

Many women find invaluable support from different breast cancer patients and survivors. 

"Online groups tin beryllium a awesome root of support, pinch others who are further on successful curen sharing their experiences and supporting you successful your journey," said Middleton.

Many women find invaluable support from different bosom crab patients and survivors.  (iStock)

"If you’re emotion overwhelmed pinch each nan accusation that’s been thrown astatine you, you whitethorn want to hold a small while to do this," she added.

7. Think astir fertility

For patients who want to person children successful nan future, it’s important to see this earlier opening treatment, according to Middleton. 

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"You’ll want to meet pinch a fertility master to study astir your options and make arrangements for immoderate procedures to beryllium done earlier immoderate bosom crab curen starts," she advised.

8. Focus connected nan bully news

While a bosom crab test tin look ominous, experts work together that prognoses person improved complete nan decades. 

"Breast crab mortality rates person dropped by 44% since 1989, acknowledgment to early discovery and treatment," a expert said. (iStock)

"Breast crab mortality rates person dropped by 44% since 1989, acknowledgment to early discovery and treatment," Tan said.

"When bosom crab is localized – meaning it hasn’t dispersed extracurricular nan bosom – nan five-year endurance complaint is 99%, based connected NCI information of women diagnosed pinch bosom crab betwixt 2013 and 2019."

"It’s a lot, truthful location is nary shame successful reaching retired to others."

There are besides much than 4 cardinal bosom crab survivors successful nan U.S., Tan added. 

9. Maintain an progressive and patient lifestyle

Exercise is recommended moreover pinch a bosom crab diagnosis, Ramsey said. 

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"We urge immoderate shape of physical activity, whether it’s ray stepping aliases a much system exercise," she advised. "Continue performing your accustomed regular activities."

Adopting a balanced and nutrient-dense fare tin besides thief support nan assemblage during curen and recovery, Ramsey added. 

Exercise is recommended moreover pinch a bosom crab diagnosis. (iStock)

"Focus connected thin proteins, fruits, vegetables, full grains and patient fats," she said. "Avoid sugary and highly processed foods."

10. Take attraction of yourself

It’s important to salary attraction to your emotional, psychological and belief needs passim a bosom crab journey, Tan advised.

Brown echoed nan value of self-care.

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"This could see a chat with a nutritionist, giving yourself nan abstraction to judge and set to nan diagnosis, and uncovering a support group aliases therapist," she said. 

"It’s a lot, truthful location is nary shame successful reaching retired to others."