Breaking down your larger decisions into steps or parts can be helpful, as can attempting to view your breast cancer situation with a detached perspective. In order to determine a smart and prudent course of action, you have to learn all you can about your breast cancer diagnosis and tumor. Be an expert on your tumor's size, stage, lymph node status, estrogen-receptor status, and HER-2 status, and be knowledgeable on all the treatments available to you as well as possible clinical trials, if you are interested.

Alternatively, listen to what your body is telling you. It is important to realize that for the body to form cancer cells and a tumor, something within the body has changed. Be sensitive to physiological changes that are occurring. You may feel fine now physically, but you may want to choose a course of action that is proactive as opposed to reactive.

Only after you have explored your treatment options; sought the advice of medical professionals, family, and friends; and have looked to the spiritual resources that have helped you in the past will you know your choices are the right ones.

It is only the combination of mind, body, and spirit that makes a decision feel whole and complete. Afford yourself the time to examine each decision in solitude and have peace of mind about your decision before you go forward.