You Are Not Alone

TIP: Don’t dwell on the statistics. Learn what you can about breast cancer and then look forward, not backwards. It’s not healthy to dwell on what you cannot control. You need to be relaxed throughout this entire process. Stay positive and keep your mind off of the diagnosis by doing things that keep you calm. Focus on getting better.

TIP: I have met a handful of women, including myself, that were diagnosed of having low Iron in blood results before learning of their cancer. And, we were put on Iron supplements. Beware that this could be a symptom or sign of cancer. Check with your physician and get a mammogram done regardless of your age. It seems that Iron can either cause cancer or feed existing cancer cells.  The surgeon of one breast cancer patient I had met asked why her physician did not tell her to get a mammogram right away when her Iron levels were low. He said that cancer cells feed off of Iron, and can contribute to its growth or faster growth. Low Iron results could indicate that the cancer is eating the Iron up resulting in low Iron levels. Discuss this with your physician. My physician did not connect the dots either. Since breast cancer is so prevalent these days, it is better to be safe and get it checked out right away.

TIP: It’s important that you feel comfortable with your Oncologist. From diagnosis to treatment and beyond, this is a long process. You need to feel comfortable with your oncology team from the get-go. It is important to be as stress-free as possible during this time. You do not need the added stress or anxiety working with someone that, in some way, puts you off or you do not feel you can trust. It’s your body. Take control of it from the beginning.