Newly
Diagnosed
Receiving a breast cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming. It’s natural to feel confused or to have a lot of questions — not only about your diagnosis and treatment options, but also about things like health insurance, living expenses, and the impact on your professional and personal life.
We're here to help you find answers to your questions so you can focus on getting the best possible treatment for you.
Understanding your diagnosis
Your pathology report is the key to understanding your diagnosis. After you have a biopsy or surgery to remove the breast cancer, a doctor called a pathologist will do tests on the tissue that was removed. The results of these tests make up your pathology report.
By providing a clearer picture of how the cancer looks and behaves, the test results in the pathology report will help you and your doctor make appropriate treatment choices for your particular diagnosis.
Learn more about understanding your pathology report.
Planning your treatment
Your breast cancer treatment plan may include one or more treatments — including radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, or other therapies. Treatment plans have two main purposes: destroy the cancer cells and reduce the risk of the cancer coming back. Most of these treatments are given after surgery, but some may be given before to help shrink the tumor. You’ll work with your doctor to tailor a treatment plan that’s best for you.
Learn more about treating breast cancer.
If you’d like to have biological children in the future, it’s important to talk with your doctor early on about how treatment may impact your fertility. Some treatments for breast cancer can make pregnancy difficult or impossible after treatment ends. A fertility specialist or counselor can talk you through your options.
Learn more about fertility during and after treatment.
You may feel a sense of urgency about getting your treatment started right away. But usually there’s time to get a second opinion from another doctor. A second opinion may give you peace of mind by confirming your original diagnosis. Another doctor may also recommend treatment options you may not have considered.
Learn more about getting a second opinion.
Surgery to remove the cancer is usually — but not always — the first step in a breast cancer treatment plan. If your doctor recommends that you begin your treatment with surgery, you’ll work with your medical team to decide whether you should have a lumpectomy or single or double mastectomy. You can also discuss your options for breast reconstruction if that’s important to you.
Learn more about surgery.
Paying for your care
The costs of breast cancer treatment and follow-up care can be a source of stress and worry — whether you have health insurance or not. But there are resources available to help you.
Learn more about paying for breast cancer care.
Taking care of your mental and emotional health
It’s understandable if a new breast cancer diagnosis has you feeling stressed and sad. And in the flurry of doctor's appointments and treatments, it can be a challenge to prioritize your emotional well-being. But your mental health is important, too, and there is support out there. If you're unsure of where to begin, talk to your cancer care team.
Learn more about anxiety, depression, and taking care of your mental health.
Talking to your family and friends about breast cancer
Telling your loved ones that you’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer can be difficult. Even after you’ve shared the news, it may be hard to communicate openly about how you’re feeling and what you need for support.
Learn more about talking to family and friends about breast cancer.
Maintaining a healthy routine
With the stress of a new diagnosis, it’s not surprising if your normal sleep, diet, and exercise routines have felt off. But getting enough sleep, taking steps to eat a healthy diet, and adding exercise to your schedule can give you a physical and mental boost during this difficult time. Exercise can also reduce treatment side effects and lower the risk of breast cancer coming back.
Learn more about exercise during treatment.
Managing daily life
After the urgency of getting a diagnosis and figuring out a treatment plan, there can still be many things to manage in your daily life: financial questions, maintaining a job, making lifestyle changes, and managing medical records.
Learn more about managing life with breast cancer.
Connecting with others who understand
Support groups provide an outlet to talk about your experiences and make meaningful connections with others who are navigating similar challenges.
The Breastcancer.org Community provides online discussion boards for you to learn from and connect with people from around the world who understand what you’re going through. Community members also post personal stories on a range of topics and participate in regular virtual meetups.
