* . *
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact
Saturday, September 6, 2025
Earth-News
  • Home
  • Business
  • Entertainment
    ITV Studios Launches New Entertainment Label – Global Bulletin – IMDb

    ITV Studios Unveils Exciting New Entertainment Label

    TS Entertainment bringing Malibu Jack’s to former Owensboro mall – Lane Report

    TS Entertainment Launches Malibu Jack’s at Former Owensboro Mall Location

    Jenny Han Dropped a Major ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’ Easter Egg Revealing [SPOILER] – yahoo.com

    Jenny Han Just Unveiled a Huge ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’ Easter Egg That Changes Everything [SPOILER]

    Liam Payne’s Cousin Ross Harris Honors Late Singer With Emotional Song ‘Bones’ – yahoo.com

    Liam Payne’s Cousin Ross Harris Honors Late Singer with Emotional New Song ‘Bones

    Country music star apologizes after drunken show ends with cops taking him down: ‘I’m not OK’ – PennLive.com

    Country Music Star Apologizes After Drunken Show Ends in Police Intervention: ‘I’m Not OK

    Comanche Nation Entertainment closes casino near Devol – KSWO 7News

    Comanche Nation Entertainment Closes Casino Near Devol in Surprising Move

  • General
  • Health
  • News

    Cracking the Code: Why China’s Economic Challenges Aren’t Shaking Markets, Unlike America’s” – Bloomberg

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Trending Tags

    • Trump Inauguration
    • United Stated
    • White House
    • Market Stories
    • Election Results
  • Science
  • Sports
  • Technology
    Coherent Joins LLNL’s STARFIRE Diode Technology Working Group to Advance Inertial Fusion Energy – GlobeNewswire

    Coherent Partners with LLNL’s STARFIRE Team to Drive Breakthroughs in Inertial Fusion Energy

    Gene Associated With Deadly Heart Disease in Golden Retrievers Identified – Technology Networks

    Breakthrough Discovery Uncovers Gene Behind Deadly Heart Disease in Golden Retrievers

    Monkey Island LNG Picks ConocoPhillips’ Liquefaction Technology – Hart Energy

    Monkey Island LNG Selects ConocoPhillips’ Advanced Liquefaction Technology for Next-Gen Energy Solutions

    Credo Technology Group Holding Ltd. (CRDO) Surpasses Q1 Earnings and Revenue Estimates – Yahoo Finance

    Credo Technology Group Surpasses Q1 Earnings and Revenue Expectations

    The Economist is hiring a science and technology correspondent – The Economist

    Exciting Opportunity: Become Our Next Science and Technology Correspondent!

    Blockchain lender Figure Technology seeks to raise up to $526M in IPO (FIGR:Pending) – Seeking Alpha

    Blockchain Lender Figure Technology Sets Sights on $526M in Thrilling IPO Launch

    Trending Tags

    • Nintendo Switch
    • CES 2017
    • Playstation 4 Pro
    • Mark Zuckerberg
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Business
  • Entertainment
    ITV Studios Launches New Entertainment Label – Global Bulletin – IMDb

    ITV Studios Unveils Exciting New Entertainment Label

    TS Entertainment bringing Malibu Jack’s to former Owensboro mall – Lane Report

    TS Entertainment Launches Malibu Jack’s at Former Owensboro Mall Location

    Jenny Han Dropped a Major ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’ Easter Egg Revealing [SPOILER] – yahoo.com

    Jenny Han Just Unveiled a Huge ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’ Easter Egg That Changes Everything [SPOILER]

    Liam Payne’s Cousin Ross Harris Honors Late Singer With Emotional Song ‘Bones’ – yahoo.com

    Liam Payne’s Cousin Ross Harris Honors Late Singer with Emotional New Song ‘Bones

    Country music star apologizes after drunken show ends with cops taking him down: ‘I’m not OK’ – PennLive.com

    Country Music Star Apologizes After Drunken Show Ends in Police Intervention: ‘I’m Not OK

    Comanche Nation Entertainment closes casino near Devol – KSWO 7News

    Comanche Nation Entertainment Closes Casino Near Devol in Surprising Move

  • General
  • Health
  • News

    Cracking the Code: Why China’s Economic Challenges Aren’t Shaking Markets, Unlike America’s” – Bloomberg

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Trending Tags

    • Trump Inauguration
    • United Stated
    • White House
    • Market Stories
    • Election Results
  • Science
  • Sports
  • Technology
    Coherent Joins LLNL’s STARFIRE Diode Technology Working Group to Advance Inertial Fusion Energy – GlobeNewswire

    Coherent Partners with LLNL’s STARFIRE Team to Drive Breakthroughs in Inertial Fusion Energy

    Gene Associated With Deadly Heart Disease in Golden Retrievers Identified – Technology Networks

    Breakthrough Discovery Uncovers Gene Behind Deadly Heart Disease in Golden Retrievers

    Monkey Island LNG Picks ConocoPhillips’ Liquefaction Technology – Hart Energy

    Monkey Island LNG Selects ConocoPhillips’ Advanced Liquefaction Technology for Next-Gen Energy Solutions

    Credo Technology Group Holding Ltd. (CRDO) Surpasses Q1 Earnings and Revenue Estimates – Yahoo Finance

    Credo Technology Group Surpasses Q1 Earnings and Revenue Expectations

    The Economist is hiring a science and technology correspondent – The Economist

    Exciting Opportunity: Become Our Next Science and Technology Correspondent!

    Blockchain lender Figure Technology seeks to raise up to $526M in IPO (FIGR:Pending) – Seeking Alpha

    Blockchain Lender Figure Technology Sets Sights on $526M in Thrilling IPO Launch

    Trending Tags

    • Nintendo Switch
    • CES 2017
    • Playstation 4 Pro
    • Mark Zuckerberg
No Result
View All Result
Earth-News
No Result
View All Result
Home Health

Metastatic Breast Cancer: Raise Your Voice

October 23, 2023
in Health
Metastatic Breast Cancer: Raise Your Voice
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Breast cancer is a common diagnosis for women of all races. But there are differences along racial lines when it comes to early detection, treatment, and survival rates.

The disease is deadliest for non-Hispanic Black women. They’re more likely than women of other races or ethnicities to get diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer (cancer that has spread to other parts of the body), and they have higher odds of having triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). TNBC is a hard-to-treat form of the disease that spreads fast.

Genes and biology play a role in breast cancer. But racial and ethnic minorities face barriers to health care. People of color tend to have less access to health insurance and get fewer referrals to specialty medical care.

There’s also evidence that some doctors spend less time with Black people, says Andrea Silber, MD, a breast oncologist and assistant clinical director for health equity and diversity at Yale Cancer Center and Smilow Cancer Hospital.

Early breast cancer treatment can help you live longer. But if you’re a Black, Asian, Hispanic, or Latina woman, communication problems might stand in the way of your care.

Here’s some advice from medical experts for getting the most out of your doctor’s visit.

Know What You Want Answered

Prepare a list of specific questions or general topics you want to talk about. Write everything down before your visit. Experts agree you should be persistent and firm about getting answers.

Christine Ko, MD, is a professor of dermatology and pathology with Yale Medicine and author of How to Improve Doctor-Patient Connection: Using Psychology to Optimize Healthcare Interactions. She says the most important thing you can do at the doctor’s office is simple.

“It’s just to remember that you have more power than you might think,” Ko says. “You have to make sure that you’re heard.”

If you have metastatic breast cancer, here are some questions medical experts think you should ask:

What kind of breast cancer do I have?What are all of my treatment choices?What is the treatment schedule?How will I feel during treatment?How will we check to see if treatment is working?

You can also ask:

Who should I contact about side effects and symptoms?What should my caregiver expect?What will we do if this treatment doesn’t work?Can I join a clinical trial?

If your doctor dismisses any of your concerns, “ask them to tell you why,” Ko says. “Then you still get your question answered.”

Avan Armaghani, MD, a breast oncologist with Moffitt Cancer Center, says to bring a friend or family member along. Brief them on everything you want to discuss and ask them to take notes. “Having that extra set of ears is vital.”

Ask Follow-Up Questions

Metastatic breast cancer is a complex illness. But you should leave your visit with a good understanding of your diagnosis, treatment options, and what to expect from an advanced disease, Silber says.

Ask for more explanation if something doesn’t make sense, even if it means your doctor has to repeat themselves. And if you run out of time at one appointment, “it may mean that the initial visit needs to be broken into two visits,” Silber says.

Ask your doctor to use simpler language if they say a medical term you don’t understand. “A lot of times we get caught up in talking about pathology,” Armaghani says.

Be Honest About Your Life Situation

You should “introduce yourself” the first time you meet your cancer doctor, Silber says. “I don’t mean by saying your name, but what are your concerns and your barriers?”

Big and little things can affect the timing and quality of your metastatic breast cancer treatment. You may not be able to control all of them. But your doctor won’t know what’s standing in your way if you don’t tell them.

Ask if there’s a social worker or patient navigator on your cancer care team. Silber says some things they can help you with include:

Child care or eldercareTransportation to and from treatmentHelp getting a medical excuse from workIssues around disability or housing discriminationFinancial help to cover health care costs

Breast cancer treatment is covered under Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurers. But tell your doctor if you don’t have much or any health coverage. There are programs and clinics that work with people who are underinsured and uninsured.

Ask About National Treatment Guidelines

Grace Suh, MD, medical director at the Northwestern Medicine Cancer Center Delnor, says she understands why people are worried their race or ethnicity might affect their treatment. Studies show people of color often get a lower quality of care compared to other races.

It’s OK to ask your doctor to show you the typical standard of care for the kind of breast cancer you have. 

“I try to bring in objective treatment guidelines that are accessible to everybody, not just doctors or people who have money,” Suh says, “so they feel comfortable that they’re receiving the proper care that’s expected for their condition.”

Tell Your Doctor What’s on Your Mind

It’s important for your doctor to know where you’re coming from, Suh says, especially if you don’t share the same racial, cultural, or ethnic background.

In a respectful way, you can:

Talk about your values and beliefs. Discuss any complementary or alternative medicine choices you’d like to try. Tell your doctor if you have fears about traditional cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery. Give them a chance to explain why they want you to try one treatment over another.Name your feelings. When emotion is high, Ko says, it can be hard to process what your doctor is telling you. Tell them if you’re afraid, scared, or mad. It may be easier to communicate if they know your state of mind. Bring up racial bias. It’s OK to discuss issues around race. Feel free to open up about negative health care experiences that you or your loved ones have had in the past. “If someone says, ‘My mother died of cancer and the doctors were horrible. They let her die in pain,’” Silber says, “that’s something I need to know.”

Ask for an Interpreter

People who are not native English speakers often have trouble accessing health care services. On top of that, if you’re from another culture or country, you may not know what’s appropriate to ask a doctor in the U.S.

An interpreter who speaks your language can help “open up the dialogue,” Suh says.  

“Over time, that can put the patient at ease,” Suh says, “and help them feel comfortable about bringing up topics that are very difficult and, culturally, may have felt couldn’t be answered in their own countries.”

By law, most doctors have to provide a trained interpreter for people who have limited English proficiency (LEP). It’s not something you need to pay extra for or find on your own. But you’ll need to let someone on your cancer care team know you or a loved one need LEP services.

Advocate for Yourself

Think of the relationship with your doctor as a partnership. They have a lot of expertise in breast cancer, Ko says, but you’re an expert in your own experience. “In that sense, there are at least two authorities in the room,” she says. 

But if you feel like your voice isn’t being heard, it may be helpful to find a different doctor.

And be honest and direct with your health care team about anything that’s bothering you. “We appreciate that feedback,” Armaghani says. “It’s going to help improve the relationship and the overall treatment trajectory.”

When to Get a Second Opinion

Some evidence shows that racially “concordant” medical care may come with health benefits. For instance, studies show Black people may get better care when they go to Black doctors. But no matter who you see, there should be a sense from the get-go that your health is a priority.

“You’re dealing with a life-threatening disease. You need an ally,” Silber says. “Someone who’s disinterested in you is not an ally, regardless of their race.”

Give your doctor a chance to earn your trust. To do that, Silber says, they should:

Introduce themselvesLook you in the eyeTry to make a connection about something besides cancerAnswer your questions in a way you understand

They should also:

Give you follow-up information when you ask for itBe honest about the seriousness of your illnessReassure you without trivializing your concerns

You can get a second or third opinion anytime you want. If you feel comfortable, ask your current doctor for a referral to someone at another clinic who specializes in metastatic breast cancer. A social worker or nurse could be another good source.

You can search for a cancer center through the website of the National Cancer Institute. Call 800-4-Cancer or chat with someone on LiveHelp.cancer.gov for more information. 

Photo Credit: FatCamera / Getty Images

Yale School of Medicine

Northwestern Medicine Cancer Center Delnor

Moffitt Cancer Center

SOURCES:

Andrea Silber, MD, assistant clinical director for health equity and diversity, Yale Cancer Center and Smilow Cancer hospital; professor of clinical medicine (medical oncology), Yale School of Medicine.

Christine Ko, MD, professor of dermatology and pathology, Yale School of Medicine.

Avan Armaghani, MD, assistant member, Department of Breast Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center.

Grace Suh, MD, medical director, Northwestern Medicine Cancer Center Delnor.

American Association for Cancer Research: “AACR Cancer Disparities Progress Report.”

Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology: “Health and Racial Disparity in Breast Cancer.”

Breast Cancer Research and Treatment: “Racial/ethnic differences in the outcomes of patients with metastatic breast cancer: contributions of demographic, socioeconomic, tumor and metastatic characteristics.”

Frontiers in Oncology: “A Review of Research on Disparities in the Care of Black and White Patients With Cancer in Detroit.”

JAMA Internal Medicine: “Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Outpatient Visit Rates Across 29 Specialties.”

JAMA Network Open: “Assessment of Racial Disparities in Primary Care Physician Specialty Referrals.”

Population Research and Policy Review: “Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Insurance Coverage: Dynamics of Gaining and Losing Coverage over the Life-Course.”

Journal of Clinical Oncology: “The Effects of Oncologist Implicit Racial Bias in Racially Discordant Oncology Interactions.”

Frontiers in Public Health: “Racial Disparities in Triple Negative Breast Cancer: A Review of the Role of Biologic and Non-Biologic Factors.”

Breastcancer.org: “Options for People Without Health Insurance,” “Where Should I Go for a Second Opinion.”

American Medical Association: “Reducing disparities in health care.”

HHS.gov: “Civil Rights — Health Disparities,” “Civil Rights – Limited English Proficiency (LEP).”

American Economic Review: “Does Diversity Matter for Health? Experimental Evidence from Oakland.”

National Cancer Institute: “Find a Cancer Center.”

>>> Read full article>>>
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source : WebMD – https://www.webmd.com/breast-cancer/features/metastatic-breast-cancer-speak-up?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Tags: BreasthealthMetastatic
Previous Post

Breast Cancer and Best Practices: Factors That May Affect Care

Next Post

Should You Stay or Go? When to Change Treatments

Blending art, culture and native plants at Wakamatsu – Mountain Democrat

Discover the Harmony of Art, Culture, and Native Plants at Wakamatsu

September 6, 2025
The Two-Body Problem for Women in Science – Nautilus | Science Connected

The Two-Body Problem for Women in Science – Nautilus | Science Connected

September 6, 2025
How AI and Automation are Speeding Up Science and Discovery – Berkeley Lab News Center (.gov)

How AI and Automation Are Accelerating Breakthroughs in Scientific Discovery

September 6, 2025

American Trust Investment Services Serves as Exclusive Placement Agent in $9 Million Follow-On Offering for Nova LifeStyle, Inc. – Morningstar

September 6, 2025
Coherent Joins LLNL’s STARFIRE Diode Technology Working Group to Advance Inertial Fusion Energy – GlobeNewswire

Coherent Partners with LLNL’s STARFIRE Team to Drive Breakthroughs in Inertial Fusion Energy

September 6, 2025
EA SPORTS™ and New York City FC Extend Partnership to Power the Future of Football Fandom in NYC – New York City FC

EA SPORTS™ and New York City FC Join Forces to Transform Football Fandom in NYC

September 6, 2025
News – Ancient DNA Pinpoints Culprit Responsible for World’s First Pandemic – Archaeology Magazine

Ancient DNA Reveals the True Cause of the World’s First Pandemic

September 5, 2025
Fears of US recession as economy adds just 22,000 jobs – The Times

Fears of US recession as economy adds just 22,000 jobs – The Times

September 5, 2025
Musiq Soulchild Surprises Fan’s Bride With “Dontchange” Wedding Serenade – yahoo.com

Musiq Soulchild Captivates Wedding Guests with Heartfelt Serenade of “Don’tchange

September 5, 2025
States fight feds over future of school mental health services – Courthouse News Service

States Clash with Federal Government Over the Future of School Mental Health Services

September 5, 2025

Categories

Archives

September 2025
MTWTFSS
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
2930 
« Aug    
Earth-News.info

The Earth News is an independent English-language daily published Website from all around the World News

Browse by Category

  • Business (20,132)
  • Ecology (809)
  • Economy (827)
  • Entertainment (21,704)
  • General (16,879)
  • Health (9,868)
  • Lifestyle (840)
  • News (22,149)
  • People (829)
  • Politics (834)
  • Science (16,038)
  • Sports (21,326)
  • Technology (15,808)
  • World (808)

Recent News

Blending art, culture and native plants at Wakamatsu – Mountain Democrat

Discover the Harmony of Art, Culture, and Native Plants at Wakamatsu

September 6, 2025
The Two-Body Problem for Women in Science – Nautilus | Science Connected

The Two-Body Problem for Women in Science – Nautilus | Science Connected

September 6, 2025
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact

© 2023 earth-news.info

No Result
View All Result

© 2023 earth-news.info

No Result
View All Result

© 2023 earth-news.info

Go to mobile version