If you’ve picked up this book, you’ve likely been touched by breast cancer. So many women have. The Mayo Clinic Breast Cancer Book can provide you with information you need to face a cancer diagnosis and the challenges of treatment, or to prevent the disease if you’re at high risk.
What does this book add in today’s information-rich age? It contains the most accurate and reliable information available, reflecting improvements in both the understanding and treatment of breast cancer. It also provides “the why” behind the facts.
The Mayo Clinic Breast Cancer Book is rich in hope, with stories of women who’ve successfully navigated similar waters. It’s also realistic. When a cure may not be possible, the book provides guidance for redirecting hope and priorities toward other goals.
Each chapter was reviewed by multiple experts at Mayo Clinic. We’ve tried to provide you with a balanced account of where things stand — similar to the guidance Mayo Clinic doctors give their patients. Nonetheless, the information in this book isn’t a substitute for the one-on-one relationship between patient and doctor. The purpose of this book is to allow you to discuss treatment options with your doctors in a more informed manner so that together you can make the best choices for your medical care.
This book is a tribute to many, especially the extraordinary women who’ve taught us about breast cancer.
Lynn C. Hartmann, M.D.
Charles L. Loprinzi, M.D.
Charles L. Loprinzi, M.D., is a medical oncologist and the Regis Professor in Breast Cancer Research at Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, Rochester, Minn. He is a past chair of the Division of Medical Oncology at Mayo Clinic. Dr. Loprinzi has authored more than 350 scientific publications. His primary areas of research involve doctor-patient communication and the control of cancer-related symptoms. Dr. Loprinzi is also a recipient of two Susan G. Komen Foundation awards: the Brinker International Award and Komen Foundation Professor of Survivorship Award.
Lynn C. Hartmann, M.D., is a medical oncologist and the Blanche R. and Richard J. Erlanger Professor of Medical Research at Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, Rochester, Minn. Dr. Hartmann led the effort to develop a Women’s Cancer Program at Mayo Clinic to advance the scientific understanding of breast and gynecologic cancers and to educate professionals, patients and the public about these cancers. With funding from the National Cancer Institute, Department of Defense, American Cancer Society and the Susan G. Komen Foundation, Dr. Hartmann has authored more than 200 research articles. Her focus is on the identification and management of women at high risk of breast cancer.