Key Questions for Breast Cancer Treatment Decisions

Hey RJS, sorry to hear about your friend. I personally used the question guide from this app (you can find it somewhere in the resources) and then just asked some of the follow-up questions. Also bringing someone with me to the appointment really helped me. English isn’t my native language and with a lot of medical terms in discussion it was so confusing, I’m so thankful to my friend who helped me with it.

It's completely understandable to feel overwhelmed when treatment decisions seem to be left entirely up to your friend. Some key questions that can help clarify the best path forward include asking about tumor size, location, and whether lymph nodes are involved, as well as requesting information about long-term outcomes and recurrence rates for each option based on the specific characteristics of the cancer. Encouraging your friend to ask for a second opinion or to speak with a breast surgeon who can explain how factors like breast size, tumor location, and personal risk factors influence the choice between lumpectomy and mastectomy might provide the clarity needed to make this important decision with confidence.