It is important to understand what type of breast cancer you have, because the type has a direct bearing on the treatment options your doctor will consider for you. Here are some questions you may want to ask your doctor to help you gather information about your cancer. Click on the highlighted terms for additional information on what they mean:

• Is my cancer invasive? Or is it an in situ breast cancer?
• Has my cancer metastasized?
• What is my lymph node status?
• How large is my tumor?
• What grade is my tumor?
• What is my hormone receptor status?
• What is my HER2/neu status?
• Is there a way to tell how quickly my cancer is growing?
• How likely is my cancer to spread or return?
• What treatments do you think I will need? What information are you using for each treatment recommendation?
• Will I benefit from chemotherapy?
• Are there tests that can tell me more about my individual cancer? Am I a candidate for those tests?
• How can I get a copy of my pathology report and testing information?

As the last question above suggests, it is important to obtain a copy of your pathology report from your doctor. This is a key step in staying informed about your breast cancer and your treatment. If you need additional information from your doctor, or would like your doctor to rephrase an answer so that it is clearer and easier to understand, be sure to ask. You may also be interested in a brochure from the Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization called "Understanding Your Pathology Report." This brochure is available free of charge on Y-ME's Web site at http://www.y-me.org; it can explain the terminology and information contained in your pathology reports.