Understanding Breast Cancer

About the author vii

Acknowledgements ix

1 Introduction 1

2 What is breast cancer? 3

3 Who gets it? What are the risk factors? 9

4 Symptoms and diagnosis 19

5 Psychological impact – coming to terms with breast cancer 29

6 The role of family, friends and health professionals 41

7 What are the treatment options? 49

8 Surgery 59

9 Breast reconstruction or prosthesis? 71

10 Radiotherapy 77

11 Chemotherapy 85

12 Hormonal therapies and immunotherapy 97

13 Breast cancer, pregnancy and fertility 103

14 How does it feel to live with breast cancer? 109

15 Complementary therapies, holistic practice and diet 115

16 Frequently asked questions 125

Glossary 129

Useful addresses and contacts 133

References 139

Index 141