Start With the Basics

Breast Cancer Action believes that women can and should educate themselves about their disease. Some women may find that they prefer to have more information than others. In some cases, too much information can be as frustrating as too little. Try to focus on the decisions you need to make now, rather than ones that you may confront in the future. While gathering information is important, a lot of materials are available about breast cancer, and you may find it difficult to decide what is or isn’t relevant. Over time this will become easier as you learn whom to trust and where to go for information. Start by learning to understand the basics, and then slowly build on that knowledge so you can make sound decisions about treatment options. Gather the information that you need, not what someone else thinks you need.

As you do your research, ask friends and family who have gone through a similar experience about what to do next and where to find information. Remember, however, that every person’s experience is different. What worked for one person might not work for you.

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