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Breast Cancer - Step 4: Ask Your Doctor About Breast Cancer Risk
You and your doctor need to work as a team to reduce your cancer risk. Here are some tips to help you talk with your doctor about risk.
  • Know your risk factors and take your risk factor list with you to the doctor's office.
  • Prepare your list of questions before your visit (see below).
  • Know what behaviors you are willing to change.
  • Take one step at a time-be realistic about what you can do.
  • Add your concerns to the doctor's intake form if they are not listed.
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Read the Doctor's Comments

Questions For Your Doctor
Click on the questions below that you would like to ask your doctor.  Take your list when you visit your doctor.

Do you think I should be worried about breast cancer?

What puts me at risk for breast cancer?

How often should I get a mammogram?

I heard there are different types of mammograms. Can you explain them to me?

Are there other things I can do to reduce my risk of breast cancer?

I noticed a change in my breast. (Describe it.) Should I be worried about breast cancer because of this change? What should we do to watch it over time?

What are the benefits of menopausal hormone therapy (hormone replacement therapy) for me? What are the risks? Do the benefits outweigh the risks?

No one in my family has had breast cancer. Does that mean I won't get it?

Here is my family history. What are the chances that a gene alteration is involved in the breast cancer that has been in my family? Do I need genetic counseling?
 
   
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