Navigating Breast Care: I Am Newly Diagnosed With Breast Cancer

Receiving a breast cancer diagnosis means also receiving a great deal of information. We know it's a lot to absorb at once, but our team at the UCSF Breast Care Center is here to help you navigate the entire process.

Below, we've gathered the information you're most likely to need at this stage.

How to get care at the UCSF Breast Care Center

If you were diagnosed at the UCSF Breast Care Center, you will be referred directly to one of our breast surgeons.

If you were diagnosed elsewhere (including within another UCSF department), please contact the Breast Care Center directly to make an appointment.

You will need to provide the following records:

• All breast pathology reports, including results on tumor biomarkers (estrogen, progesterone, Her2/neu receptor status)
• All breast imaging reports (mammogram, ultrasound, MRI)
• Any genetic testing results

These can usually be obtained from the facility where you currently receive care.

We aim to see patients with a new breast cancer diagnosis within one week. The sooner we get your records, the sooner we can meet with you.

What to expect at a new patient appointment

Most newly diagnosed patients meet with a breast surgeon first. During this visit, the surgeon will go over the details of your cancer diagnosis, present treatment options and place referrals to other health care providers.

Here are some topics you're likely to discuss:

• Pathology results. Breast cancer is not one disease – every cancer is different, every patient is different. Your biopsy results provide information on the biological characteristics of your tumor, which helps the team design a treatment plan that will give you the best possible outcome.
• The type and order of treatments you'll have. Most breast cancer patients receive both local treatments (which target a specific area, such as the tumor) and systemic therapies (which affect cells throughout the body). Local therapies include surgery and radiation therapy. Systemic therapies include hormone therapy, chemotherapy and biological therapy.
• Surgical options. If your treatment plan includes surgery, we may discuss whether you're a candidate for a lumpectomy, which preserves as much healthy breast tissue as possible, or would be better served by a mastectomy (removal of all breast tissue). We'll also go over your options for breast reconstruction.
• Clinical trials. Along with leading-edge treatments, we offer access to promising experimental therapies through numerous clinical trials. Learn how clinical trials work, and explore a database of breast cancer clinical trials available at UCSF. If you're interested in participating in a clinical trial, the care team will provide more information.
• Additional assessments and next steps. The surgeon will describe any further testing you need and place referrals to other specialists, such as a medical oncologist or a plastic and reconstructive surgeon. We can also give you information about cold caps, devices that reduce hair loss caused by some types of chemotherapy.