New Brochure Available For Advanced Breast Cancer Patients And Their Families (NAPSA)—Upon diagnosis of advanced breast cancer, it is important that a woman communicates with her physician to assess the best treatment options available to her. The questions raised during patient-physician dialogue often impact the patient’s course of treatment. From ques- tions about stage of diagnosis to treatment options, patients need to learn ways to cope, understand and fight the disease. Anewpatient-friendly brochure, Advanced Breast Cancer: A Patient Checklist, helps these women and their loved onesdojustthis. Developed by AstraZeneca, a pioneer in breast cancer treatment, the brochure serves as a tool to increase a patient’s under- standing about living with the dis- ease. It gives patients a special tear-off checklist to take with them to appointments with their oncologist. In addition, the brochure offers information on various treatment options; provides resources available to advanced breast cancer patients; details the stages of the disease; and discusses the impor- tanceofclinical trial participation. The tear-off, entitled “Questions to Ask Your Physician,” helps womenorganize their thoughts and ask appropriate questions about treatment options. It also provides a way to record information that will be beneficial throughout the course of treatment. Every woman’s breast cancer diagnosis is different and the treatment should be tailored accordingly. What a physician rec- Sample Checklist Questions: What stageis my breast cancer? What does this mean? Why has my breast cancer recurred? Doesthis mean mytreatmentwill have fo change? Whatare my chancesof respondingto treatment? Whatare the treatmentoptionsfor my stage of breast cancer? Whattreatmentoptions,oral or injectable, are available for me as an advanced breast cancer patient? Whatare the possible side effects of treatmentoptions? @Q ommends for one woman may not be right for another. Developing a list of questions to ask is a good start to addressing any concerns, getting the proper information and pursing the best course of treatment. For further information or a copy of the brochure, call the AstraZeneca Cancer Support Net- work at 866-99-AZ CSN (866-9929276) or visit www.visions-ofhope.com to download a copy. Copies of the brochure and more information on the disease are also available from: e Cancer Care, Inc. at 800-813HOPEor www.cancercare.org. e The Cancer Research and Prevention Foundation at 800-2272732 or www.preventcancer.org/For Patients/index.cfm. e Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization at 800-221-2141 or www.y-me.org.
