Just diagnosed with breast cancer - what’s next?

In 2022, it is projected that over 20,000 people will be diagnosed with breast cancer. 

After finding out you have breast cancer, you may experience feelings of shock, distress, fear and anxiety. You may be unsure about what happens next and what support is available to you. Speaking to your treating team, asking questions and leaning on your family and friends can help you through the initial stages. 

Many people say that when they have a clearer understanding of their type of breast cancer and the treatments available, they feel more in control and cope better, however there is still lots of information to take in to ensure you can make the best decisions for your individual circumstances. 

In this webcast, we heard from specialist breast cancer surgeon Mr Sunil (Sunny) Jassal, breast care nurse Meg McDonald and BCNA Consumer Faye Louey. Sunny is a director and founding member of Melbourne Breast and Endocrine Surgeons and works with leading radiologists, pathologists, oncologists and plastic surgeons. Meg works at Melbourne Breast and Endocrine Surgeons where she is an integral part of the breast cancer care team. Faye was diagnosed with early breast cancer in 2019 and discussed how she took control of her diagnosis after the initial shock. 

The webcast addressed what is important to know in those first few weeks and months after a diagnosis of early breast cancer, including navigating overwhelming information, healthcare system choices, treatment decisions, how to identify the key members of your treating team and the support and resources available.