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The Voice of People With Breast Cancer
helping you understand your surgical options
SurgeryGuide
Welcome to CBCN's SurgeryGuide
Breast surgery is a key component of breast cancer treatment and management, but it can also be one of the most overwhelming aspects of a diagnosis. This guide provides clear, reliable information to help you navigate your options with confidence.
Understanding Your Options
Your surgeon will recommend treatment options based on several factors, including the size of your tumour, its grade, stage, and how aggressive it is. These discussions often happen soon after diagnosis, a time when emotions can make it difficult to process all the information being provided.
This guide allows you to explore your options at your own pace, helping you feel more prepared for discussions with your healthcare team.
How This Guide Can Help
SurgeryGuide is an educational resource to help you understand your breast cancer surgery options and prepare for what’s ahead. It covers:
-
Types of surgery, including lumpectomy and mastectomy
- Breast reconstruction options, including implant-based and autologous reconstruction
- Alternatives to reconstruction, such as living flat or using a breast prosthesis
- Personal stories from individuals who have undergone different types of surgery
Next Steps
Your healthcare team is your best resource for personalized guidance. If you have questions, consider speaking with a surgeon, oncology nurse, or patient navigator.
We hope this guide empowers you to make informed choices about your breast cancer surgery and recovery.
“I had to make a decision very quickly with very little information. When I received the surgery information in the doctor’s office, I wasn’t in a receptive mode because I heard I had cancer. As soon as you hear the word ‘cancer,’ you just shut down. To have a tool you can go to later to research and get all the information would be so helpful.”
~Andrea~
SurgeryGuide was created to offer another resource at the time of diagnosis and beyond. It is not meant to take the place of a medical advice, rather to be used as an educational tool to help support you, the patient, in making a more informed decision for yourself.
Jump to:
Making Decisions
Lumpectomy
Mastectomy
Breast Prosthetics
Living Flat
Breast Reconstruction
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About CBCN
CBCN strives to voice the views and concerns of breast cancer patients through education, advocacy activities, and the promotion of information sharing.
Canadian Breast Cancer Network
185 Somerset St. West Suite 318, Ottawa, ON Canada K2P 0J2
Tel: 613-230-3044
Toll-free: 1-800-685-8820
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