Emotional And Physical Impacts Of Breast Cancer Affect Patients And Caregivers (NAPSA)—According to the American Cancer Society, three Black-Hardaman began the treatment regimen her doctor recommended. After a mastec- out of four American families have a family member with cancer. Families, including those of breast cancer patients, can experience emotional and physical stress dur- tomy, she received a combination of chemotherapy and Herceptin (trastuzumab), a targeted therapy used to treat HER2-positive journey. Spouses are especially tinues today. ing their loved one’s treatment cancer cells. Her treatment con- “Because each womanis different, it’s important to speak with prone, as they often balance caregiver responsibilities with career and parentingroles. “After diagnosis, stress can slowly build for a spouse or family member managing the care of their loved one,” said Dr. Anne Coscarelli, psychologist and direc- tor of the Simms/Mann—UCLA Center for Integrative Oncology at UCLA’s Jonsson Cancer Center. “It’s important that a caregiver seek out information on what to expect and know that they will play a critical role in how this event impacts their family. Seeking professional assistance can help optimize psychological well- ness and allow caregivers to develop effective coping strategies during the process.” Chinayera Black-Hardaman, 34, is thankful every day for the love and support of her husband through her breast cancer experience. “I am so grateful for his listening ear, attendance at my doctor’s appointments, and will- ingness to take on tasks at home,” Black-Hardamansaid. “Most of all, he is a terrific father and helps manage our son’s activities, which is a top priority in our lives.” Chinayera and Andre Hardaman, Breast Cancer Survivor and Care- your doctor about the right treat- Black-Hardaman, who is the that caregivers communicate openly, respect the patient’s deci- giver Husband. executive director of a nonprofit organization that helps improve the lives of children, found a lump while performing a breast selfexam. She saw her doctor and was diagnosed with HER2-positive breast cancer. HER2-positive breast cancer is an aggressive form of the disease that affects approximately 25 per- cent of breast cancer patients and is caused by an overexpression of a protein called HER2 in tumor cells. Research shows women with HER2-positive breast cancer have a greater likelihood of recurrence, poorer prognosis and decreased survival compared to women with HER2-negative breast cancer. Special testing is required to iden- tify women whohavethe disease. “Experiencing an aggressive breast cancer was scary, so having family by my side was extremely important,” Black-Hardamansaid. Through the support of her husband, family, and co-workers, ment regimen for you,” said Coscarelli. The Hardamans recommend sions and space, and rely on other friends and family for help. They believe a focus on spending qual- ity time together also made their marriage stronger. “The most important coping strategy for caregivers is to remember to take care of themselves,” said Coscarelli. “Caring for your partner is important, but don’t let it consume you. You are a better support system if you take time to care for yourself—physically and mentally. Exercise, meditation and small amounts of time for pleasurable activities can have positive effects on one’s well-being.” For additional breast cancer sur- vivor and co-survivor tips and resources call Network of Strength’s YourShoes”™ 24/7 Breast Cancer Support Center at (800) 221-2141 or visit www.networkofstrength.org. Patients and caregivers also can visit www.herceptin.com for more information. Editor’s Note: Whois Herceptin for? 9697200 Herceptin is approved for the adjuvant treatment of HER2-overexpressing, node-positive or node-negative (ER/PR-negative or with one high-risk feature) breast cancer. Herceptin can be used several different ways: As part of a treatment regimen including doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, and either paclitaxel or docetaxel With docetaxel and carboplatin As single agent following multi-modality anthracycline-based therapy Herceptin in combination with paclitaxel is approved for the first line treatment of HER2-overexpressing metastatic breast cancer. Herceptin as a single agent is approved for treatment of HER2-overexpressing breast cancer in patients who havereceived one or more chemotherapy regimensfor metastatic disease. What important safety information should I know about Herceptin? Herceptin treatment can result in heart problems, including those without symptoms (reduced heart function) and those with symptoms(congestive heart failure). Some patients have had serious infusion reac- tions and lung problems; fatal infusion reactions have been reported. Worsening of low white blood cell counts associated with chemotherapy has also occurred. The most commonside effects associated with Herceptin were fever, nausea, vomiting, infusion reactions, diarrhea, infections, increased cough, headache, fatigue, shortness of breath, rash, low white and red blood cells, and muscle pain. Because everyoneis different, it is not possible to predict what side effects any one person will have. If you have questions or concerns about side effects, talk to your doctor. Please see the Herceptin full prescribing Information for Boxed WARNINGSandadditional important safety information.
