Breast health: Your questions answered

Don't let doctors rush you. A deliberate approach to prevention and treatment is best.

Anxiety about breast cancer can prompt many women to make rushed decisions about prevention and screening. For example, they might make drastic changes to their diet or opt for aggressive tests without adequately researching the pros and cons.

Even more disturbing are the quick decisions made by many of the estimated 240,000 American women diagnosed with breast cancer this year. Many had to choose between getting a mastectomy or lumpectomy, or had to select among various chemotherapy and radiation treatments. Women often make those decisions during their first visit to a cancer doctor, but that's usually too soon, contends Steven J. Katz, M.D., a professor of health management and policy at the University of Michigan. "Too often, it's a rush job," Katz says, adding that breast cancer is rarely "an imminent danger" that requires immediate treatment.

Here are the key questions about breast cancer prevention, screening, and treatment for which it's especially important to use a slow, deliberative approach to reach the right answer for you.

This article first appeared in the October 2008 issue of Consumer Reports on Health.