Breast Cancer Survivors And Health Care Professionals (NAPSA)—According to a recent nationwide survey, many women said they want information about their risk of breast cancer recurrence, yet some of these women also say they have not discussed their long-term risk of recurrence with their oncologists. Nearly half of the 8300 women surveyed remain unaware of the statistics surrounding ongoing breast cancerrisk. In an attempt to bridge this communication gap, the Society for Women’s Health Research, with support from Novartis Oncology, launched an educational cam- Many Breast Cancer Patients Are Not Well Informed About Breast Cancer Recurrence % whoincorrectly believed the following to be false or don’t know Approximately one-third of women with hormone dependentearly breast cancerwill experience a recurrence In those womenwith hormone dependentearly breast cancer whose cancerwill return, more than half of these recurrences happen 5 years or more affer surgery Lo Receiving Tamoxifen 154% as 54% ps 50% |__| 42% Breast Cancer: Improving Your Chance of Staying Cancer Free (Life ABC). Life ABC is designed to raise awareness of the risk of recurrence for women with early breast cancer and encourage an ongoing discussion about this risk between women and their health care professionals. Approximately one-third of tain an ongoing discussion with their oncologist about their personal risk for recurrence beginning at diagnosis, through treatment and beyond. Women should also discuss with their health care professionals treatment options and lifestyle modifications to help improve their chance of staying cancerfree.” Life ABC focuses on ongoing tive early breast cancer experience a recurrence and over half of those recurrences occur more than five years after surgery. Many factors play a role in breast cancer recurrence; therefore, the ongoingrisk is different for every woman. “Communication about the ongoing risk of recurrence needs to happen early and often,” said Phyllis Greenberger, president and chief executive officer of the Society for Women’s Health Research. “Each woman’s cancer and risk of recurrence is different, making it very important for women to main- and health care professionals about such issues as risk of recurrence, as well as the importance of proper diet, exercise, and regular follow-up examinations in helping to reduce the risk of breast cancer recurrence. A summary of the Life ABC Impact Report, which includes the survey results and the latest breast cancer recurrence research, as well as a checklist to help patients navigate a conversation about their risk of recurrence with health care professionals, are available on the Life ABC Web site, www.lifeabc.org. paign called Life After early women with estrogen receptor-posi- @ Ss Completed Tamoxifen communication between patients Questions To Ask Your Health Care Professional Aboutyourrisk of recurrence: In what stage would you classify my breast concer? What is my nodal status, and how does it affect my risk of recurrence? Amestrogen-receptor-posifive or negative? Am1HER2/neupositive or negative? Con youtalk to me about my personal risk of recurrence? Aboutreducing recurrence: Whatcan | do to help reduce the chance of a recurrence of my cancer? Howoffen should| visit you and for what types of exams(physicals, breast exams, checkups, efc.)? Whot cancer screening tests (e.g., mammography) should | have and how often? Are there treatmentoptions available that may reduce the chance of cancerreturning?
