Your new world will seem to be made up of so many appointments, cancer treatments, and follow-up appointments that it will be hard to keep track. The medical world that may have been so foreign to you except for your regular yearly checkups is now consuming your life. You are very busy with coordinating your medical care, participating in medical decisions, and just going to appointments. It is hard to believe that you can fit in the day-to-day responsibilities of your work and family life.

When receiving cancer treatment, whether it is chemotherapy, radiation, or hormone therapy, you will be in contact with many doctors, nurses, and health care professionals. If there is a major breast cancer center in your area, you may want to visit and tap into its resources. For example, breast centers usually have social workers who can help you deal with some of the emotional issues that arise from breast cancer treatment. The hospital where you are receiving treatment will have personnel who will help with insurance coverage issues and in-house social workers or case managers who will be available to you. Often you have to be proactive and ask the question for the support to be activated.

These health care professionals, whether they are dietitians, nurses, physical therapists, or doctors, are there to be your partners during your breast cancer treatment and recovery. You need to think of them in a way that promotes communication and relationship-building so that the partnership will work. Again, the partnership is as good as all the partners and their ability to work together. Remember that you are the only consistent partner and at the center of the health care team — the true expert on what your needs will be.