Advocating for the woman with breast cancer.

Abstract

Health care workers and breast cancer survivors have an important role to play as advocates for breast cancer patients. At the most basic level, advocates must ensure that the patient has access to medical care. In addition they must help to ensure that the quality of care is optimal, enhancing the likelihood of survival, rehabilitation, and psychological adaptation. This article describes important advocacy issues for women with breast cancer, including informational needs, patient-physician communication, choice of primary surgical treatment, reconstructive surgery, adjuvant therapy, psychosocial issues, and employment and insurance problems.