NCCN Breast Cancer Guidelines

[Joan M]

Here are the guidelines from the National Comprehensive Cancer Center, which are used more or less by oncs:

http://www.nccn.com/cancer-guidelines.html

Joan

[Rich66]

(less when Joan takes the wheel;)

[NEDenise]

Joan!
What a fabulous resource!!! I wish I had had this little booklet 10 months ago. I would have made some better, more informed decisions. All's well that ends well...but there's a LOT of great info for me to keep in mind for the future too!
Thanks for posting this! I recommend it highly to anyone on this journey.
Denise

[AlaskaAngel]

It is interesting to see that the "health care" practice by oncology specialists continues, of not providing newly diagnosed patients with the simple and considerate courtesy of informing patients that this information exists online for them to consider. It existed in 2002 also when I was diagnosed, but no information regarding it was provided to me about it back then, either, and I discovered it on my own only after beginning a particular recommended treatment plan.

There are advantages to providers in avoiding providing patients with reasonable information to assist them in making decisions about the basis for the various options they are expected to choose from.

Whatever your decision process is based upon, a helpful book to read is "Your Medical Mind", by Jerome Groupman and Pamela Hartzband.

http://her2support.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=51449

or

http://www.npr.org/2011/09/21/140438982/becoming-mindful-of-medical-decision-making

AlaskaAngel

[ElaineM]

Thanks.
It is good for patients to be informed as much as possible.

[rhondalea]

I highly recommend clicking the download button (7th icon from the left at the bottom left after the book finally loads).

It is much easier to navigate as a PDF than it is in book form. Also, saving the PDF means offline access as well as the ability to print if you're inclined to read in computer-unfriendly places.

I mention this because the online format had me tearing my hair out...well, it would've had me tearing my hair out if I still had hair (way too slow).

Finally, thank you for posting this. I've read the Clinical Practice Guidelines, and the way the NCCN put it all together is ridiculous. The Patient Guidelines are a much less frustrating, but equally informative, read.

Thanks again.