[Jean]

Education:
I believe education on many levels. Our dr. need to know that todays
women want to understand their bc. Treat All Of Me" My body and
brain.

Education for the newly dx patient. I have found that many woman
until they are dx. know very little about breast cancer until it hits home.
Even with the TV ads etc. many woman are still not having regular
mamograms. It is shocking but true. When most woman leave the
dx. office after their first dx. they are in shock. Professionals need
to understand that the patient will have and should have many questions.
I have found you have to pull out information from doctors. They do not
explain details very well. Maybe they mean well and do not wish to scare the patient - but there should be a introudction level for the newly dx.
woman. Explaining the different types of cancer - in order for them
to uderstand their own bc.

Education for the co-workers, loved ones, friends. After surgery
and healing - many feel it is behind the patient...not so, the mental
strain for the patient of worrying - "FEAR" with each new pain or ache
(which is more than likely nothing) but to the bc survivor there is the constant question, "is this a recurrance?" Doctors need to understand this fear and not push it off as not important. Even in the home - with loved ones, they become tired of hearing about cancer. They just want to move forward (and so does the patient) but that "FEAR" lingers. It needs
to be understood and certainly pay it some attention to ease it.
Most people just don't "GET IT" but the survivor understands the fear.

Fran