The NCCN Provides Free Information to Help Women with Breast Cancer Make More Informed Treatment Decisions

American Cancer Society
Monday, 7 October 2002

Being diagnosed with breast cancer can be a frightening experience. Added to the stress of the diagnosis is the burden of trying to make the best, most educated health treatment decisions. Doing so is not often an easy task because breast cancer is a complex disease and treatment discussions may include confusing terms such as "carcinoma in situ," "nodal status," and "adjuvant therapy."

To help patients with breast cancer and their families make more informed treatment decisions, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) and the American Cancer Society have teamed to produce Breast Cancer Treatment Guidelines for Patients.

"The collaboration between the NCCN and the American Cancer Society provides patients with direct access to the guidelines and information that oncologists use. We are committed to providing the most-up-to-date, scientifically valid information to help better inform decision-making," said William T. McGivney, PhD, Chief Executive Officer of NCCN.

These reliable, easy-to-understand booklets are based on the NCCN clinical practice guidelines used by doctors nationwide. Among the topics covered are: types of breast cancer, tests and exams, types of treatment, clinical trials information, and a helpful glossary of breast cancer terms. Patients are also provided with the same decision trees used by their doctors. These flow charts represent the appropriate course of treatment for each stage of breast cancer. These charts are invaluable in determining the most effective course of treatment, helping women take a more active role in the decision-making process with their health care providers.

"Not all women with breast cancer should have the same treatment, and these patient guidelines will help women better understand their cancer treatment options," said Robert C. Young, M.D., national volunteer president of the American Cancer Society and president of Fox Chase Cancer Center, a founding member of the NCCN. "This information will facilitate the process of informed decision-making and help make sure women select the best possible treatment for them."

The Breast Cancer Treatment Guidelines for Patients are part of an informational series to help patients and their families make more informed decisions regarding their treatment. Other guidelines cover supportive care topics such as nausea and vomiting; fever and neutropenia; cancer-related fatigue; and cancer pain. Other items in the series provide information on cancer of the prostate, ovaries, lung, and colon and rectum. Many titles are available in Spanish as well as English. These materials are available free of charge on NCCN's Web site at www.nccn.org and by calling NCCN toll-free at 1-888-909-NCCN – or on the American Cancer Society's Web site at www.cancer.org or by calling 1-800-ACS-2345.

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), an alliance of 19 of the world's leading cancer centers, is an authoritative source of information to help patients and health professionals make informed decisions about cancer care. Through the collective expertise of its member institutions, the NCCN develops, updates, and disseminates a complete library of clinical practice guidelines.

For more information, or to contact American Cancer Society, see their website at: www.cancer.org