Providing Support to a Family or Friend Diagnosed with Breast Cancer

There will always be an initial state of shock for most patients. Some may feel a sense of anger of what has happened. The most worrying state to be in is to be in the state of denial, where patients may refuse treatment. But generally, most will come to an acceptance of the illness and accept appropriate treatment.

After diagnosis, a comprehensive discussion of the treatment plan needs to be discussed with the patient. First of all, we need to stage the patient, that is, we need to do some imaging to ascertain if the disease has spread to other parts of the body. Following this, we need to decide if the patient should go for upfront surgery to remove the breast, or if the patient need some treatment, such as chemotherapy and targeted therapy to optimise the condition prior to surgery. 

With modern surgical techniques, surgery is not disfiguring as one would imagine. Depending on the type of surgery, there may also be an option for breast reconstruction which can produce good results. When a patient is undergoing chemotherapy, there may be a possibility of hair loss but this is only temporary.

The diagnosis of cancer and the treatment that one has to undergo is often a daunting experience for many. As a family or friend, it is important to provide emotional and moral support for the patient. I would try to avoid offering medical advice as this may confuse the patients. If the relative or friend is keen to know more, it is best to accompany patient to the treating physician and discuss. With the availability the internet, patients and relatives have easy access to information about medical conditions but often these information are misinterpretated or misconstrued. Hence, my advice is just to be sensitive to the patient’s feelings and needs, lend them a shoulder to cry on, and offer a listening ear if necessary.

The diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer have evolved to offer treatment with lesser side effects and minimal disruption to patients’ lifestyle. When the patient undergoes surgery or chemotherapy, they may feel slightly more lethargic than usual, limiting their activities but this is a temporary problem. One’s appetite may be affected during chemotherapy and therefore we encourage food with more nutritional value. We advise everyone, not only breast cancer patients to maintain a healthy lifestyle of exercise, food consisting of more fruits and vegetables and abstain from alcohol and smoking.

Common Myths about Breast Cancer

Myth 1: All breast lumps are cancerous.

This is not true. About 80% of breast lumps are usually benign (non-cancerous). The important thing is to get it evaluated, and catch it early if it is truly something serious. It is also important to note that sometimes breast cancer may manifest as skin changes such as skin irritation, redness or dimpling, breast pain, nipple retraction (turning inward) and nipple discharge

Myth 2: Annual mammogram exposes one to too much radiation.

The radiation used in mammogram is very small. Any associated risks are minimal compared to the potential benefits that it can offer to detect breast cancer. Mammograms can detect lumps before they can be felt or noticed and the earlier cancer is detected, the better the chance of survival. All women should undergo a screening mammogram every year, starting from age 40.

This article was contributed to Tab A Doctor by,
By Dr Wong Chiung Ing, Medical Oncologist, The Cancer Centre, a subsidiary of the Singapore Medical Group