Breast Cancer 101
If you have been recently diagnosed with breast cancer, don’t panic. The uncertainty is often the hardest part of this process. I and the staff at the Lynn Sage Breast Center know how much anxiety uncertainty can cause. We will do our best to keep your evaluation and treatment on track. This section will help you gather necessary information, get appropriate tests and consultations, and make informed and timely decisions.
Some patients will require many months of therapy after surgery. Therefore, you should consider the preoperative evaluation and treatment period a project, and yourself as the project manager.
Remember, you are your own strongest advocate.
EDUCATING AND EMPOWERING YOURSELF: How To Use The Resources On This Page.
Some patients will require many months of therapy after surgery. Therefore, you should consider the preoperative evaluation and treatment period a project, and yourself as the project manager.
Remember, you are your own strongest advocate.
EDUCATING AND EMPOWERING YOURSELF: How To Use The Resources On This Page.
- My Breast Cancer Manual is a printable manual (pdf) that contains all the information contained on this page and much more. Patients that prefer having information related to their care "in-hand" will want to print it and refer to it as needed.
- Familiarize yourself with the Stages of Treatment for Newly Diagnosed Breast Cancer Patients listed near the bottom of this page. It’s a step-by-step breakdown of the treatment process before, up to, and after surgery.
- Refer to our Breast Cancer-Specific Links at the bottom of this page.
INSTRUCTIONAL GUIDES
- 10 Tips for Newly Diagnosed Breast Cancer Patients: Start your journey here.
- The Breast Cancer Manual: A complete guide for the newly diagnosed breast cancer patient — formatted to print easily in pdf form. We will review key points in the manual at the initial consultation.
- Breast Reconstruction Options: For a thorough discussion of reconstructive options with photos, videos and realistic expectations please go to the American Society of Plastic Surgery website.
- Breast Surgery Post-Operative Instructions: A guide to your postoperative recovery
EMPLOYING A PRACTICAL APPROACH TO RESEARCH
Using the internet for breast cancer research is encouraged, but be wary of information overload. A Google search for “Breast Cancer” will return over 30 million results! Instead, limit yourself to two or three highly ranked sites. Some recommended sites are listed at the bottom of this page, under the “links” heading.
Using the internet for breast cancer research is encouraged, but be wary of information overload. A Google search for “Breast Cancer” will return over 30 million results! Instead, limit yourself to two or three highly ranked sites. Some recommended sites are listed at the bottom of this page, under the “links” heading.
OBTAINING SECOND OPINIONS
Sometimes your insurance company requires a second opinion or you may just want reassurance that you’re embarking on the right treatment path. We’re very supportive of second opinions and will provide any necessary test results required by the institution providing the second opinion.
Sometimes your insurance company requires a second opinion or you may just want reassurance that you’re embarking on the right treatment path. We’re very supportive of second opinions and will provide any necessary test results required by the institution providing the second opinion.
Stages of Treatment for Newly Diagnosed Breast Cancer Patients
Prentice Hospital and they will give you special preoperative instructions. You must follow instructions closely, especially diet
instructions. Failure to follow the pre-operative instructions or diet restrictions, or arriving late, may force us to reschedule your
surgery.
- A Consultation Is Scheduled Through the Lurie Cancer Center
- Call the Center at (312) 695-0990 to schedule your appointment.
The call center staff will gather basic information and give you instructions on how to prepare for your initial consultation. - You will be sent (emailed) a Pre-Registration Packet soon after you schedule your clinic appointment. Please print and complete prior to your appointment and bring the completed forms to your consultation.
- Call the Center at (312) 695-0990 to schedule your appointment.
- Breast Imaging and Pathology Review Is Performed
- It is important that your pathology slides and breast imaging studies are reviewed by our breast specialists prior to your visit. The review will take about one week after the studies arrive at Northwestern. Pathologists will confirm the pathology diagnosis and breast radiologists will determine if additional breast imaging studies are necessary before making a final recommendation.
- You will be sent (emailed) an Outside Films Checklist if you had imaging at a center other than Northwestern. Please print and complete prior to your appointment and bring with you to your consultation.
- It contains an itemized list and instructions for obtaining medical information like mammograms. This will help the treatment process run as smoothly as possible.
- Ideally, any additional imaging that is recommended by our radiologists should be completed prior to your initial consultation with Dr. Bethke.
- Initial Consultation with Dr. Bethke
- Review my Breast Cancer Manual prior to your visit
- You will meet with me at the Lynn Sage Comprehensive Breast Center located in the Maggie Daley Center for Women’s Cancer Care on the 4th floor (4-420) of Northwestern’s Prentice Women’s Hospital
- Bring completed Pre-Registration Packet to the consultation
- You will check in at the front desk where demographic and insurance information will be confirmed. All forms will be checked for completion.
- You will meet with myself as well as other Lynn Sage Breast Center staff: medical assistants, nurses, research staff, and others. You may also meet with a medical student, surgical resident or breast surgery fellow. Northwestern is a teaching institution and you’ll find that the trainees are eager to help
- I will review your imaging studies, pathology results, examine you and review your options. We’ll use worksheets, timelines, imaging studies and possibly photos to help illustrate our recommendations and explain the reasons for them. It is always helpful to bring someone with you as “another pair of ears.” If you can't bring someone with you feel free to conference call them in to our discussion or use your smartphone to record. If you require additional breast imaging studies before making a final recommendation the Lynn Sage staff will help coordinate their timely scheduling.
- You’ll have ample opportunities to ask me and other Lynn Sage Breast Center staff questions during and after your consultation.
- Your Healthcare TEAM
- Your healthcare team will include a variety of medical professionals. You may not need all of these medical providers but they are all available to you. Once a week our entire team meets as a multidisciplinary group to review the more unusual patient cases and help formulate a treatment plan. All of your medical records are easily accessible to members of the team via the Northwestern Electronic Medical Record.
TEAM MEMBERS- Surgical Oncologist (Breast Surgeon): Dr Bethke specializes in breast surgery and focuses on breast cancer. He will lead the preoperative evaluation, perform the appropriate surgery and help plan your follow-up care and consultations.
- Medical Oncologist: An MD who specializes in treating cancer with chemotherapy, endocrine therapy and biological therapy.
- Radiation Oncologist: An MD who specializes in treating cancer with radiation.
- Plastic Surgeon: An MD who specializes the reconstructing the breast after a mastectomy.
- Breast Radiologist: An MD who specializes in screening for breast cancer, diagnosing breast cancer with image-guided needle biopsy and preoperative planning using mammography, ultrasound MRI and other techniques.
- Breast Pathologist: An MD who specializes in the microscopic evaluation of any breast tissue removed and provides the diagnosis.
- Oncology Nurse: An RN who provides care, support and education during your cancer treatment.
- Nurse Navigator: An RN who can assist you at every stage of your cancer care, from scheduling treatments to accessing social and financial resources.
- Social Worker: A professional who can help you deal with psychological and social issues as well as financial concerns, including insurance matters
- Rehabilitation Specialist (Physical or Occupational Therapist): A professional who can assist with restoring or improving movement or who can help you perform daily activities more easily.
- Cancer Geneticist: A professional who specializes in diagnosing inheritable cancer syndromes such as the BRCA (breast cancer) gene mutation which predisposes one to a higher risk for breast and ovarian cancer.
- Oncofertility Specialist: Physicians and other healthcare professionals who can help you with fertility issues which arise before, during and after cancer treatment.
- Cancer Survivorship Specialist: Northwestern has created the Northwestern Survivorship Institute in order to care for our many cancer survivors. Their goal is to recognize and treat any special needs related to cancer therapy and help our patients return to their active, joyful lives.
- Your healthcare team will include a variety of medical professionals. You may not need all of these medical providers but they are all available to you. Once a week our entire team meets as a multidisciplinary group to review the more unusual patient cases and help formulate a treatment plan. All of your medical records are easily accessible to members of the team via the Northwestern Electronic Medical Record.
- Surgery
- Once all studies have been completed and a final treatment decision is made the Lynn Sage staff will coordinate the scheduling process.
Prior to scheduling surgery you may require:- Medical clearance for surgery
- Consultation with medical and/or radiation oncology
- Oncofertility program consultation
- Cancer Genetics program consultation
- The Breast Center staff will work with you to optimize scheduling. Please realize that the entire pre-operative evaluation can take three weeks or even longer.
If you’re undergoing immediate reconstruction the surgery date will need to be coordinated with the plastic surgery team.
Prentice Hospital and they will give you special preoperative instructions. You must follow instructions closely, especially diet
instructions. Failure to follow the pre-operative instructions or diet restrictions, or arriving late, may force us to reschedule your
surgery.
- Please be patient. The times you are given are an approximation. Delays can and do occur because preceding operations may take longer than expected for a variety of reasons.
- You will be given post-operative instructions and a prescription for pain medications on discharge
- I will call you with the pathology results usually within 6-7 days of surgery. The need for special pathology studies may delay results.
- Postoperative Care
- Please refer to and familiarize yourself with the Post-Operative Instructions.
- Prior to your surgery you may schedule a follow-up post-operative appointment to see me about one-and-a-half to two weeks after surgery. We’ll examine the incisions, remove drains if present and once again review the pathology results. We’ll also plan any further recommended evaluations or treatment.
- You will most likely need to see a medical oncologist and/or a radiation oncologist for further treatment. You may schedule these appointments prior to surgery but allow a minimum of 10 days between surgery and your appointment (pathology results need to be available). You may see the oncologist of your choice or we’ll recommend one for you. Most physicians at Northwestern have profiles listed at the Northwestern Memorial Hospital website.
- You will be followed closely over at least the next five years by your oncologists. The next appointment with Dr. Bethke after your postoperative check will be six months after surgery.