Part 1 The Big Shock: First Events

Getting the word that you have breast cancer is surely one of the biggest shocks in
your life. You feel fine. Nothing hurts. You have no fever. But with the four simple
words “You have breast cancer,” your life’s path takes a sharp turn. You’re dumped
unceremoniously into the midst of another world. The folks in this new world come
dressed in white jackets and green scrubs and throw words at you that surely come
from some foreign dictionary. Still, you have the clear understanding that, whatever
the words mean, they all apply to you. And they sound fairly frightening.
As survivors, we’re standing beside you to chant in your ear the mantra we know from
the bottom of our hearts to be true: “You can do this. Yes, you CAN do this!”
This part of the book tells you how the docs determine that you have breast cancer.
Then we’ll help you through sharing your news with family, friends, and colleagues.
Next we’ll work really hard at taking away some of the fears (we hope!) by helping
you figure out what your diagnosis means, suggesting how to put together your med-
ical dream team, and sharing the nitty-gritty about treatment options. Then you’ll be
better prepared to know what to do about your 9-to-5 job.