Talking with your doctor

Learning about metastatic breast cancer and available treatment options may help you to make decisions about your care. The first step in the learning process begins with talking to your doctor. Every woman is different. What a doctor recommends for one woman may not be right for another. Developing a list of questions to ask is a good step to address concerns and get information.

Questions to ask your physician

You can play an active role in your health by talking to your doctor or nurse about breast cancer. Here are some questions to ask that you may find helpful. You can easily print this page, which includes space to write down the answers your doctor gives you.

FASLODEX is indicated for the treatment of hormone receptor-positive metastatic breast cancer in postmenopausal women whose disease has returned or progressed following antiestrogen therapy.

Questions about breast cancer

  1. Is my breast cancer hormone receptor positive?
  2. Why has my breast cancer recurred or progressed? Does this mean my breast cancer treatment will have to change?
  3. What are my chances of responding to treatment?

Questions about breast cancer treatment options

  1. What are the treatment options for my stage of breast cancer? Why or why not would these treatments help me?
    • Surgery
    • Radiation
    • Chemotherapy
    • Hormonal treatment
    • Biologically targeted therapy
    • Clinical trial participation
  2. What treatment options, oral or injectable, are available to me as an advanced breast cancer patient?
  3. What treatment do you feel will work best for me? Why are you recommending this treatment?
  4. What are the possible side effects of this treatment? Will it make me feel sick?
  5. Will the treatment affect my family? What do they need to know?
  6. Will the treatment affect my appearance? If so, are there other options that will not change the way that I look?
  7. What if my current therapy does not continue to benefit me? Are there any other options?
  8. What types of hormonal treatments are available to me? Will any be beneficial? Is there any treatment I could be prescribed that does not have to be taken daily?

If your doctor recommends FASLODEX as a treatment option

  1. How will I know if FASLODEX is working?
  2. What are the side effects?
  3. How can I manage side effects?
  4. What side effects should I tell you about?
  5. Will I need follow-up care?

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.FDA.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Other considerations

  1. What studies are currently under way for women with advanced breast cancer?
  2. Do you recommend a clinical trial for me? How can it help?
  3. Where can I get further information on advanced breast cancer?
  4. Where can I find additional support?

Please be sure to let your doctor know about all the medications (prescription, over-the-counter, and herbal supplements) you currently take. Also, check with your doctor before starting any other medication.

To get the conversation started with your physician, download this list of questions.

To view the download, you need Adobe® Acrobat® Reader® installed. If you do not have Adobe Acrobat Reader on your computer, you can download it from the Adobe Web site.

Adobe Acrobat Reader is a registered trademark of Adobe Systems Incorporated.