Helping Breast Cancer Patients and Caregivers Navigate Care
- Newly diagnosed breast cancer patients often feel overwhelmed. Dr. Denise Garcia shares three grounding questions to ask: “Who will be on my care team?” “Who can I contact if problems arise?” and “What are the next steps in my care?”
- For women with advanced or metastatic breast cancer, Dr. Garcia urges patients to ask about clinical trials, whether certain treatments might exclude them from future trials, and whether their case has been reviewed by a multidisciplinary tumor board — something she says can offer “peace of mind.”
- Protecting your mental health is essential, and Dr. Garcia advises patients to take things one day at a time, bring a trusted friend and a recorder to early appointments because “you will get overwhelmed at a certain point,” and let go of unhelpful “what ifs.”
- A practical checklist can help patients stay organized, from identifying care-team roles to asking about trial eligibility and focusing on actionable steps; SurvivorNet’s My Health Questions tool can also support patients with evidence-based answers from oncology specialists.
Dr. Garcia’s advice comes in three parts: the first three questions for anyone newly diagnosed, three more for women living with advanced breast cancer, and three ways to protect your mental health along the way.
Read MoreNewly Diagnosed: The First Three Things to Ask Your Doctor
Breast cancer care usually involves several specialists, often a surgeon, a medical oncologist, a radiation oncologist, nurses, and navigators. Dr. Garcia says knowing how that team fits together, and how you fit into it, is the first job.1. Who will be involved in my care team?
Many patients aren’t sure who is in charge of what.“Often people get confused about who is the point person, who will be reaching out to them, and what part of the treatment which doctor or nurse is responsible for,” Dr. Garcia explains to SurvivorNet.
Ask for names and roles, and write them down. Knowing who handles surgery, who handles medication, and who schedules your scans saves you from guessing later. If possible, bring a trusted friend, a spouse, or a family member to your appointments with you to help you keep track of everything.
2. Who can I reach out to if I have problems with my care or access to my care?
A single, reliable contact can ease a lot of worry.
“Patients are much less anxious if they have a good contact that is responsive and a name to ask for that will get back to them,” Dr. Garcia says.
She also wants patients to speak up when something goes wrong.
“It’s also helpful for them to know that they should be communicating issues with appointments or imaging so that we can help them navigate and correct them.”
A missed scan or a scheduling mix-up is something your team wants to hear about.
3. What are the next steps in my care, and what is my role in those steps?
You don’t need to understand your whole treatment plan on day one. Focusing on what comes next is more manageable.
“Knowing the next immediate steps gives patients an attainable goal to focus on,” Dr. Garcia says.
“Knowing that they can do something to help reach that goal or to advocate for themselves is empowering.”
Your part might be getting a test done, scheduling a consultation, or gathering records. Each one is a concrete step forward.
Helping Breast Cancer Patients Navigate Treatment and Care
- ‘My Husband Reminds Me I’m Beautiful’ — How To Reclaim Joy, A New Chapter Of The Breast Cancer Dialogues
- The Breast Cancer Dialogues: Hope Lives In Laughter, Love, Finding Meaning, Say Survivors Living Their Amazing Next Chapter
- The Breast Cancer Dialogues: How Women Are Making Empowered Choices To Help Keep Cancer From Coming Back
- A Symbol of Beauty After Going Through So Much: Breast Cancer Survivors Share The Mementos That Kept Them Going Through Treatment
- ‘You Can Do Hard Things’: Breast Cancer Survivors Show Off Their ‘Portraits of Resilience’ — A Reflection of How Far They’ve Come
Living With Advanced Breast Cancer: Three Questions to Ask
For women with advanced or metastatic breast cancer, treatment decisions can open or close doors to future options. Dr. Garcia recommends these three questions.
1. Are there any clinical trials I could benefit from?
Clinical trials can offer access to new treatments, and the search shouldn’t stop at your own hospital.
“Often a provider will look for clinical trials at their institution, but new ones are often about to enroll that are worth looking into,” Dr. Garcia says. In certain cases, she adds, it is also important to consider trials at outside institutions.
It is fair to ask your doctor to look beyond trials open today, including those that will open soon and those at other centers.
2. Will any of the recommended treatments exclude me from clinical trials I might qualify for?
Many trials only accept patients who have, or have not, had certain treatments. That means the order of your treatments can matter.
“Especially in the case of metastatic, or studies that are about to start accruing, this is really important for patients to be aware of,” Dr. Garcia explains.
Asking before you start a new treatment helps make sure you aren’t unknowingly ruling out an option you’d want.
3. Has my treatment plan been discussed at a multidisciplinary tumor board?
A tumor board is a meeting where specialists such as surgeons, medical and radiation oncologists, radiologists, and pathologists review a case together.
“Presenting a complicated case in front of multiple specialties can result in a more comprehensive plan that takes into account all aspects of the patient’s care,” Dr. Garcia says.
There’s an emotional benefit, too. “Having a consensus from multiple providers can give peace of mind.”
WATCH: There Are So Many Other Things That Make Us Sexy: Ann Caruso on Femininity After Breast Cancer
Protecting Your Mental Health: Three Tips
Breast cancer takes a toll on your emotional health as well as your body, whether you were just diagnosed or have been living with advanced disease for years. Dr. Garcia offers three ways to cope.
1. Take it one day at a time
There is no need to absorb everything at once.
“Try not to process it all at once; it can be overwhelming,” Dr. Garcia says. She also reminds patients that the emotional impact “will hit everyone at a different time,” so there is no right way or right timeline to feel what you feel.
2. Bring a trusted friend and a recorder to your first appointments
Early appointments are packed with information, and it is easy to tune out partway through.
“Often you will get overwhelmed at a certain point and stop processing or hearing the information,” Dr. Garcia explains.
She suggests bringing a trusted friend (or two) and a way to record the conversation, so you can revisit what was said later.
It’s a good idea to ask your care team before recording. Most are happy to help you keep track.
3. Let go of the ‘what ifs’
Many people search their past for something they did to “cause” their cancer. Dr. Garcia urges patients not to dwell there.
“Asking ‘what ifs’ will not be helpful in focusing on treating the cancer now,” she says.
“Instead, focus on the good changes that you can make in your life to reduce your risk in the future.”
WATCH: ‘You Have to Pull Out Every Ounce of Strength That You Have’: Sharon Spencer’s Cancer Story
Your Questions Checklist
Print this or save it to your phone for your next appointment.
If you’re newly diagnosed:
- Who will be involved in my care team, and what is each person responsible for?
- Who can I contact if I have problems with my care or getting appointments?
- What are the next steps in my care, and what can I do to stay involved and informed?
If you’re living with advanced breast cancer:
- Are there clinical trials I could benefit from, here or at other centers?
- Will any recommended treatment exclude me from a trial I might qualify for?
- Has my treatment plan been reviewed by a multidisciplinary tumor board?
WATCH: See How SurvivorNet’s ‘My Health Questions’ Is Another Valuable Tool for Your Journey
And for your well-being: take it one day at a time, bring support and a recorder to appointments, and focus on what you can do now rather than the “what ifs.”
SurvivorNet’s proprietary AI tool, “My Health Questions,” can also support you along the way by providing evidence‑based answers aligned with cancer treatment guidelines and informed by oncologists across multiple specialties.
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
