Breast Cancer Basics and Beyond TREATMENT, RESOURCES, SELF-HELP, GOOD NEWS, UPDATES DELTHIA RICKS, M.S. Medical Writer, Newsday Foreword by Clarence H. Brown III, M.D. President of M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Orlando, Florida A COMPLETE GUIDE WRITTEN IN PATIENT-FRIENDLY LANGUAGE L basics: diagnosis; surgery, chemotherapy, radiation and hormone therapy; follow-up care; recurrence; and long- term survival L updates: obesity and breast cancer; ethnicity and breast cancer; HRT; environmental factors; genetic factors; and myths and urban legends about breast cancer HEALTH / CHRONIC ILLNESS / BREAST CANCER This book separates the facts and proven research from myths and misinformation. Read it first. “Because of the enormous amount of helpful information and ‘directories’ of resources related to breast cancer, this is a book I recommend to all who must confront the disease in one or another capacity.” — CLARENCE H. BROWN III, M.D., FROM THE FOREWORD Having breast cancer can be devastating for the woman affected — and for her family and loved ones. It can also be confusing, because there are many variations of the disease and at least as many treatments. By bringing together comprehensive information on the subject, Breast Cancer Basics and Beyond helps women better understand their illness and participate in making decisions about all aspects of their treatment and care. In this book, award-winning medical writer Delthia Ricks tells you all about ➻ common and rare types of breast cancer, their causes and symptoms ➻ diagnosis, including mammography and different kinds of biopsies ➻ treatment options, including lumpectomy, mastectomy, chemotherapy, radiation and hormone therapy ➻ benefits and side effects of the most commonly used drugs ➻ your risk factors, including ethnicity, genetics, hormones and diet ➻ life after cancer, follow-up care and dealing with recurrence ➻ reasons for hope: breast cancer research and treatments in development Breast Cancer Basics and Beyond also gathers opinions and testi- monies from top breast cancer specialists and researchers. It includes personal stories from breast cancer survivors and care- givers to remind readers that they are not alone. It is the one book that breast cancer sufferers and their loved ones need to make knowledgeable choices about their care, from diagnosis to recovery. DELTHIA RICKS, M.S., is a senior medical writer for Newsday in New York, where she has been on staff since 1997. She has also been a medical writer for The Orlando Sentinel in Florida and a national science correspondent for United Press International. Ms. Ricks has received numerous awards for science and medical writing as well as fellowships to study medical journalism, cancer biology and genetics. CLARENCE H. BROWN III, M.D., is President and CEO of the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Orlando, Florida. Books for health, family and community Distributed to the trade by Publishers Group West For more information on Hunter House books visit www.hunterhouse.com Paperback: $15.95 U.S. COVER DESIGN: Brian Dittmar Graphic Design Breast Cancer Basics and Beyond TREATMENTS, RESOURCES, SELF-HELP, GOOD NEWS, UPDATES Delthia Ricks, M.S. Karp front:Layout 1 7/31/08 2:59 PM Page ii Breast Cancer Basics and Beyond bcb text+index.qxd 7/11/2005 10:56 AM Page i DEDICATION To all whose lives have been touched directly or indirectly by cancer Ordering Trade bookstores in the U.S. and Canada please contact: Publishers Group West 1700 Fourth Street, Berkeley CA 94710 Phone: (800) 788-3123 Fax: (510) 528-3444 Hunter House books are available at bulk discounts for textbook course adop- tions; to qualifying community, health-care, and government organizations; and for special promotions and fund-raising. For details please contact: Special Sales Department Hunter House Inc., PO Box 2914, Alameda CA 94501-0914 Phone: (510) 865-5282 Fax: (510) 865-4295 E-mail: