Towne Post Network

Top Menu

  • Indiana
    • Avon
    • Broad Ripple
    • Brownsburg
    • Carmel Magazine
    • Center Grove
    • Fishers
    • Geist
    • Greenwood
    • Kokomo
    • Noblesville
    • Plainfield
    • Westfield
    • Zionsville Magazine
    • Lakes Region
  • Kentucky
    • Jeffersontown
    • Middletown
    • St. Matthews

Main Menu

  • View Magazines
  • Franchise Info
  • Advertising
    • Avon Magazine
    • Brownsburg Magazine
    • Carmel Magazine
    • Center Grove Magazine
    • Fishers Magazine
    • Geist Magazine
    • Greenwood Magazine
    • Kokomo Magazine
    • Noblesville Magazine
    • Plainfield Magazine
    • Westfield Magazine
    • Zionsville Magazine
  • Subscriptions
  • Contact Us
    • Framing
    • Townies Local App
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Service
  • Indiana
    • Avon
    • Broad Ripple
    • Brownsburg
    • Carmel Magazine
    • Center Grove
    • Fishers
    • Geist
    • Greenwood
    • Kokomo
    • Noblesville
    • Plainfield
    • Westfield
    • Zionsville Magazine
    • Lakes Region
  • Kentucky
    • Jeffersontown
    • Middletown
    • St. Matthews

logo

Towne Post Network

  • View Magazines
  • Franchise Info
  • Advertising
    • Avon Magazine
    • Brownsburg Magazine
    • Carmel Magazine
    • Center Grove Magazine
    • Fishers Magazine
    • Geist Magazine
    • Greenwood Magazine
    • Kokomo Magazine
    • Noblesville Magazine
    • Plainfield Magazine
    • Westfield Magazine
    • Zionsville Magazine
  • Subscriptions
  • Contact Us
    • Framing
    • Townies Local App
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Service
  • Avon Town Council Approves $24M Budget For 2020

  • Move It!

  • The More You Know

  • Hamilton County Schools Onboard PREPaRE Curriculum

  • Walking in a Winter Wonderland

  • Aurelio’s Pizza a Hit with Fishers Families

  • Fishers Holiday Farmers’ Market Returns With 25 Vendors

  • In the Spirit of Giving

  • Coats for Kids

  • Clear Bra Indy

  • Purposity

  • Peterson’s Celebrates 20 Years As One of Indy’s Premier, Family-Owned Steakhouses

  • The Truth About Cigarettes, E-Cigs, Vapes and JUULS

  • Pratt’s Floor Covering

  • Marshall County Council on Aging Enhances Seniors’ Lives

  • Middletown Lions Club Nears 50 Years of Serving the Community

AvonBrownsburgPlainfield
Home›Indiana›Avon›Breast Cancer Diagnosis, Then What?

Breast Cancer Diagnosis, Then What?

By Samantha Kupiainen
October 7, 2019
473
0
Share:

Whether you or a friend have been recently diagnosed with breast cancer, knowing the next steps and understanding the process is essential in the coping process. Meghan McWhirter, RN and patient navigator in the breast clinic at IU Health West Hospital, shares what to expect after receiving a diagnosis.

Staging

Once the diagnosis has been made, your doctor works to determine the extent or stage of the breast cancer. This stage helps establish the best treatment options available. Although you have a diagnosis, some information may not be available until after surgery. Tests used to determine the stage of breast cancer include bone scans, CT scans, PET scans, MRIs, mammograms and blood tests.

Breast cancer stages range from stage zero to stage four. Stage zero indicates that the cancer is noninvasive or within the milk ducts, while stage four shows that it has spread to other parts of the body.

Treatment

After a diagnosis has been determined, the patient is referred to a surgical oncologist who will recommend treatment options, which may lead to a referral with a radiologist, medical oncologist or other specialists. The patient’s goals, along with the side effects of treatment, will help determine the patient’s treatment decision.

Knowing the stage of cancer and what the oncologist recommends, treatment may include surgery, proton beam radiation, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, targeted therapy drugs or immunotherapy.

Support

A new cancer diagnosis can change your life and the lives of those around you. To help patients and loved ones feel in control, McWhirter recommends patients gather information about the diagnosis from their care team and credible websites, such as the American Cancer Society.

“Write questions down in advance of appointments and bring someone with you so that someone else can help you listen to and digest information,” she says.

Lastly, McWhirter advises patients to assemble a solid support team and to ask for help when needed. Anxiety and depression are not uncommon when dealing with cancer, and a solid support system is critical and will help with finding an outlet for stress.

Tagsbreast cancerIU Health West HospitalMammograms
Previous Article

Keeping It Cool

Next Article

Fishers Teen Earns Eagle Scout & Recognition ...

0
Shares
  • 0
  • +
  • 0
  • 0

Samantha Kupiainen

Samantha is the editorial intern at the Towne Post Network. She recently graduated from Ball State University with a degree in magazine journalism and a minor in public health. She is a Geist native and former social media editor and senior editor for Ball State’s student-run publication, Ball Bearings.

Related articles More from author

  • NoblesvilleWestfield

    Breast Cancer Diagnosis, Then What?

    October 1, 2019
    By Samantha Kupiainen
  • AvonBrownsburgPlainfield

    Keep Moving This Summer

    May 25, 2019
    By Valerie Randall
  • Geist

    “Casting” for Recovery

    September 3, 2014
    By Pat Carlini
  • Geist

    Geist Mom of the Year: Nickole Patton

    April 21, 2017
    By Lynda Hedberg Thies
  • Geist

    Teaming Up for a Super Cure

    October 13, 2011
    By Stephanie Carlson Curtis
  • AvonPlainfield

    Women’s Health: Take Control of Breast Cancer

    March 28, 2018
    By Valerie Randall

Leave a reply Cancel reply

0

Local Communities

  • Indiana
    • Avon
    • Broad Ripple
    • Brownsburg
    • Carmel Magazine
    • Center Grove
    • Fishers
    • Geist
    • Greenwood
    • Kokomo
    • Noblesville
    • Plainfield
    • Westfield
    • Zionsville Magazine
    • Lakes Region
  • Kentucky
    • Jeffersontown
    • Middletown
    • St. Matthews

Proud Member

IFA member logo

Text Us

Support Our Sponsors

Copyright 2019 TownePost Network, Inc. - Franchise opportunities available in most states.