Recently
diagnosed

Quick facts

• About 300,590 Americans will be diagnosed with stage I, II, III, and IV breast cancer in 2023, including 2,800 men (ACS, 2023)
• About 55,720 new cases of ductal carcinoma in situ, also called DCIS or non-invasive breast cancer, will be diagnosed in 2023 (ACS, 2023)
• By 2025, an estimated 169,347 people in the U.S. will be living with stage IV breast cancer (ACS, 2022)
• As of 2022, an estimated 4.1 million women in the U.S. have a history of breast cancer (ACS, 2022)
• You are not alone.

Things to consider if you’ve just been diagnosed

There’s a lot to think about if you’ve recently been diagnosed with breast cancer. Some decisions need to be made quickly. Others don’t need to be made right away. However, there may be some options you’ll want to think about right from the beginning, including:

• Additional testing you may need to learn more about your diagnosis
• Your surgery options, including mastectomy, lumpectomy, and localization procedures you may have before lumpectomy
• Your pre- or post-surgery treatment options, including chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and radiation therapy
• Your options for fertility preservation if having children in the future is important to you

Learning more about your diagnosis

Understanding more about your diagnosis and treatment options can help reduce anxiety and uncertainty. At the same time, each person has their own preference for what and how much they want to know. Some want to understand everything about breast cancer as soon as possible. Others may only want the basics now and to learn more later. Take time to figure out how much you’re comfortable knowing before you meet with your medical team.

Here are some ways to get the information you need when you meet with your doctor:

• Write questions down ahead of time and bring them to your appointment.
• If you’ve just been diagnosed, it can be challenging to retain all the new information your doctor is sharing. Having a second pair of ears can help. Bring a friend or loved one along to listen and take notes.
• Let your doctor know what’s important in your life. Maybe it’s family, being able to work through treatment, or upcoming events that are special to you. Often, treatment can be arranged around many of these things.

If you have a concern and your doctor seems to minimize or dismiss it, don’t hesitate to speak up. Let your doctor know if you are not feeling heard. If you continue to feel like your doctor is not listening, ask to meet with the social worker at your cancer center and voice your concerns. It’s also important to know that you always have the option to seek a second opinion at another hospital.

We know that a new diagnosis is a lot to process. We’re here for it, and we’re here with you. On these pages, learn how to prepare for treatment, ways to manage the emotional impact of diagnosis, strategies for finances, and more.

At Living Beyond Breast Cancer, our mission is to provide trusted information and a community of support through emotional, practical, and evidence-based content that’s meaningful to people living with all stages of breast cancer. We invite you to explore all we offer: personal stories, expert advice, videos, our Breast Cancer Helpline, and more.