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Priorities change after diagnosis?

Page last modified on: August 21, 2008
Question from Nana: It seems that my priorities have changed since I have been diagnosed with breast cancer. Why would this happen?
Answer —Patricia Ganz, M.D.: This is a very common report that women who have had breast cancer tell us. Having this type of experience really sorts out who are your friends and what is important to you. Things get prioritized in a way that you have never thought about them before, having faced such a serious illness. Many women I have taken care of have had complete transformations in their occupations and interests as a result of breast cancer diagnosis, and there is often a sense of freedom to change one's mind about what one is doing on an everyday basis, because life is precious, and you want to live it to the fullest.

On Wednesday, October 17, 2001, our Ask-the-Expert Online Conference was called Quality of Life. Patricia A. Ganz, M.D.,Marisa Weiss, M.D., answered your questions about how breast cancer can affect physical, emotional, social, and sexual aspects of your life.

The materials presented in these conferences do not necessarily reflect the views of breastcancer.org. A qualified healthcare professional should be consulted before using any therapeutic product or regimen discussed. All readers should verify all information and data before employing any therapies described here.

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Meet the Experts

Patricia A. Ganz, M.D.Patricia A. Ganz, M.D. is a medical oncologist and a professor in the schools of medicine and public health at UCLA, and is director of the division of cancer prevention and control research at the Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center there.

Marisa Weiss, M.D. is a radiation oncologist specializing in breast cancer and the founder, president, and guiding force behind Breastcancer.org.

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