Breast Cancer - What Next?

- Dr Sarah Jarvis

1 in 8 UK women will be diagnosed with breast cancer during a lifetime. The good news is, the long term outlook is the best ever. Improved treatment and earlier diagnosis mean 8 in 10 women diagnosed with breast cancer survive at least 5 years; it was just half 40 years ago.

But what does treatment look like today? How can you stack the odds in your favour?

You may have been diagnosed when you saw your doctor about a breast lump, or perhaps you noticed nipple discharge or turning in, or a change in the size, shape or skin of your breast. Maybe you had a mammogram and were called back. And you’ve now heard the chilling words, “I’m afraid it’s cancer.”

So what next? You’ll probably already have had a mammogram, ultrasound and biopsy by the time you’re diagnosed. The next stage is likely to be tests to see if the cancer has spread: these may include a chest X-ray, a bone scan, ultrasound scan of your liver and blood tests. This will guide your doctors on the best treatment options for you.