Holiday 2004 Newsletter: Changes

By Sylvia M. Watson, R. N. Clinical Nurse, Department of Medicine, Section of Hematology Oncology

We have gone from an age of keeping our Breast Cancer illness behind closed doors to telling family, friends and coworkers.

We have gone from accepting what the physicians states as “this is the way” to asking about other modalities. And when not satisfied with his or her response, we aggressively seek other opinions. We have evolved to a very savvy clientele that now wants to know about all aspects of our disease.

We have demanded from the medical community better surgical options. We know what we want in terms of treatment modalities, how we want to be treated, and where we will be treated.

In regard to treatments, we now have clinical trials available for our particular Breast Cancer. Whether it’s ER/PR/Her 2 neu +/-, we are asking the questions that 20 years ago we never would have considered. What are my chances with my family background of getting this disease? We have opened the doors of knowledge by wanting to know. To this the medical community has responded by complying with all the genetic markers of assisting us in making pertinent decisions regarding our care. We now are in command of our own destiny. We have come a long way in opening the doors of knowledge for ourselves and furure persons with this disease. It is a disease that has made women strong, assertive, powerful, and energized to live long, productive lives. And that we’re doing everyday.