All About Telehealth for Breast Cancer Telehealth allows doctors to care for people virtually over a phone call, text message, or most commonly, video chat. Although some situations require an in-person visit, telehealth is a great option when you can't get to the doctor's office for your breast cancer. If you're new to telehealth, here's what you need to know. Medicare will cover telehealth visits just like in-person visits, but state Medicaid programs and private insurers vary, so confirm your coverage in advance. With telehealth, even though you're not in the doctor's office, your private health information is still covered by HIPAA, so it will remain confidential and secure. Although your oncologist can't give you a physical exam via telehealth, they can write you prescriptions and offer quality care, especially if you prepare in advance. Before your telehealth appointment:- List any breast cancer symptoms, including dates and severity- Note any side effects from your breast cancer medications or therapies, like nausea, pain, bleeding, or swelling- Record your vital signs if you own a thermometer, blood pressure monitor, or another device- Compile a list of your health conditions and medications- Write down questions you have for your oncologist about any test results- Charge your computer or phone- Make sure your internet is reliable- Download any telehealth apps your specific provider may require- Find a quiet, private space to conduct the call- Be prepared with pen and paper or a note-taking app Turn to Healthgrades to connect with the right oncologist to treat breast cancer via telehealth. And share this video to spread the word!

Hi. I'm Mai, and this is my breast cancer confession. Breast cancer impacted me most because for the first time in my life, I had to make a decision on whether I wanted kids or not, in an instant of finding out that I had cancer. And from there, I had to rush to the fertility clinics and start making decisions about saving my eggs. I did not even think about kids up until that point. What scares me the most when thinking about my future is that there is still a possibility that I might relapse, and I might get breast cancer again. The silver lining to my breast cancer experience is that we found out when I was only in stage two. So, I thank God so much for a second chance at life. Since all my treatment, I've learned to savor and treasure every day, and I'm so grateful just to be alive.

Dr. Anna Kurzyna:The future for treatment of metastatic breast cancer is amazing, and we're going to be with you on that journey. Dr. Shubhada Dhage:Metastatic breast cancer is cancer that is no longer in the breast alone. The cancer has spread to the lymph nodes or other organs within the body. Dr. Anna Kurzyna:The stigma is, is that the treatment is worse than the disease. That's not necessarily the case. Patients can continue doing what they're doing, get treatment which is highly effective. Dr. Shubhada Dhage:Each individual's therapy is personalized and targeted towards the type of cancer that they have. Dr. Alan Astrow:We look at special markers on the breast cancer cell. Dr. Anna Kurzyna:And then we tailor the treatment to each of those different markers. First off is if the patient's tumor has estrogen receptors and progesterone receptors. Then we generally treat them with hormonal therapy. Dr. Shubhada Dhage:Estrogen causes certain cancer cell types to grow. Blocking the production of estrogen can be an effective way to stop the growth of a cancer cell. Dr. Anna Kurzyna:The next thing we check is a receptor called HER2/neu. Dr. Alan Astrow:It stands for human epidermal growth factor receptor number two. Dr. William Diehl:We designed some antibodies that specifically attach themselves to that protein and kill the cancer cell, so that is what we call a targeted therapy. It only affects cells that over-express that protein. Dr. Shubhada Dhage:Targeted therapies cause less side effects because it's not impacting the normal cells as much as a cancer cell. Dr. William Diehl:And then most recently with what we call immunotherapy. Dr. Anna Kurzyna:Using your own immune system to kill off those cancer cells. Dr. William Diehl:Combination therapy is, as the name implies, when you use several of those different therapies. Dr. Shubhada Dhage:We can utilize these different medications together, allowing women to live longer with metastatic breast cancer and have less side effects. Dr. Alan Astrow:What the patient will expect will depend very much on what type of treatment the doctor recommends. Dr. Shubhada Dhage:You might expect to have symptoms from the therapy that you undergo, or you might not, because every individual experiences the treatment differently. Dr. Anna Kurzyna:Patients are surprised that they're able to maintain their normal life. For a young woman, for example, she can still pick up her kids from school, in some cases still even work a full-time job. It's amazing and it's wonderful when patients realize, "You know what? I can do this." Dr. Shubhada Dhage:There is a very bright future for the treatment of breast cancer. Dr. Anna Kurzyna:Medications for metastatic breast cancer now are just exploding, that prolong survival and patients tolerate very well. Dr. William Diehl:We have been able to identify ways of minimizing treatment but maximizing results.

Dr. Alan Astrow:It's always a shock to be told that you have a diagnosis of cancer. Take a deep breath. There's always hope. Dr. Shubhada Dhage:It's also very important for you to have a relationship that's open with your physician. Dr. Anna Kurzyna:Who answers your questions, who gives you respect and gives you the time. You'll know that that's that right doctor for you. Dr. Shubhada Dhage:You must become educated and you must advocate for yourself. Dr. Alan Astrow:Collect as much information as you can. Dr. William Diehl:Until you have a complete picture of what to expect. Dr. Shubhada Dhage:So that you are making those decisions with your doctor. Dr. Alan Astrow:Once you have a sense of the nature of the problem is and you feel you can have more control over it, it becomes much more of a manageable problem. Dr. William Diehl:To stay strong and stay healthy, simply lead as healthy a life as you can. Dr. Shubhada Dhage:Eating properly, getting a proper amount of sleep. Dr. William Diehl:Get some exercise. Dr. Alan Astrow:A good walk every day. Lifting light weights. Dr. William Diehl:Don't smoke, don't drink excessively. Dr. Shubhada Dhage:And having a stress management plan. What one can do is sit for five minutes in a quiet and calm place. You take five counts in for a breath and seven counts out for a breath. And doing that will automatically train your body to feel calmer and better. Dr. Anna Kurzyna:You need to take that time for yourself, be it that 15, 20 minutes to walk, get a massage, go out and meet with people, to keep remembering that there's a whole world outside of that breast cancer. Dr. Alan Astrow:It's helpful to have family and friends support you and be with you throughout the process. Dr. William Diehl:Patients have to be able to draw on the strength of those people who are helping them. The more supportive your system, it's easier for people to overcome the disease. Dr. Anna Kurzyna:The people that have lived the longest have a strong spirituality about them. Dr. Shubhada Dhage:You should consider a mindfulness practice, a meditation practice. Dr. William Diehl:The other big part about being spiritual is that I think it helps people maintain a positive attitude. Dr. Anna Kurzyna:It is very, very rewarding and gratifying when you're dealing with someone who has a metastatic cancer diagnosis and reaching their milestones. Dr. William Diehl:Some of my patients text me. Most of the time, it's with simple questions. But every now and then, people will send me a happy face emoji just to let me know they're doing well. Dr. Anna Kurzyna:Those are things that keep you going. Dr. William Diehl:There's a natural tendency to imagine the worst, and yet the majority of times, the worst does not materialize. Be as hopeful and as positive as you possibly can. Dr. Alan Astrow:With your relationship with your doctor, nurse, and the medical team, you have to have faith and trust you'll get through this.

Amanda: You hear that word. You hear “cancer” and the world sort of stops spinning. It feels like you're in an alternate reality. Amanda: My name is Amanda, and I have thyroid cancer. Yoohnee: I have kidney cancer. Michael: I have prostate cancer. Alexia: I have breast cancer. Teela: My name is Teela, and I am a cancer survivor. Yoohnee: Mentally and emotionally, I took care of myself by seeing a lot of friends, making sure that I spent a lot of quality time with people I love. Alexia: I'm actually a doctor, so I pretty much practice what I preach, in terms of taking care of myself. From the very beginning, I just took on an attitude of 'No matter what happens, I'm going to choose joy.' Like every day, I'm going to find something to be happy about. Michael: I tend to look at the world with a very, very full and positive perspective. Amanda: I looked online a little for other people who have been through similar things, and I just found that it was helpful knowing I wasn't alone. Alexia: Prayer has been a very big part of my journey. Teela: You know, there's the Serenity Prayer. Basically, be able to recognize the things which I have power over, and be able to change them, and recognize the things I don't have power over, and just let them go. Amanda: I am meditating a lot. Teela: Physically, I stay strong by working out. Michael: I play soccer every single week. I watch what I eat. Yoohnee: I slept a lot, and eating whatever I wanted, although it was pretty unhealthy, it was a way for me to feel like I was living my best life. Amanda: I love going on hikes. I'm just trying to do a lot of really healthy and stress-releasing things to kind of get me through until I'm feeling really good. Teela: What is something that I wish somebody had told me when I'd just been diagnosed? The biggest thing is you're gonna get hit by chemo brain, and you're gonna get discombobulated, and again, that is okay. Start writing things down. I always keep a little planner/notebook on me at all times. I also have a notation app on my phone. Michael: I smile a lot more now. You go out in the world and you're trying to infect other people with that goodness and with that positiveness. You get that in return. Amanda: My advice would be reach out to the people that you love, and lean on them. Alexia: As strong and independent as I am, this is not something that I could do alone, and nobody could do alone, so allow people to be there and be present for you, and acknowledge that you need help. Yoohnee: Also, sharing your story, if you can, without any harm to yourself can uplift your voice. And I think that's so important to have control of when you have an illness like this. Teela: You know, every day is very up and down, but all in all, what keeps me going right now is the promise of being able to get to live.

I'm MaryAnne, and have spent the last four years really dedicated to advocacy work for metastatic breast cancer. When I was first diagnosed with the recurrence ... I ... I'm usually not a person who's very self-critical. I'm very accepting of who I am and what I am, but I found myself blaming myself. I felt I ate right, I did the most aggressive treatments and surgeries that they had, did everything right. So, how did this happen to me? When people say to me, "Well, if you drink baking soda and eat asparagus three times a day out of a can, it cured my friend, and it could cure you." And then people will say, "Oh, it's in your lungs now? Were you a smoker?" People say things that reinforce that, that somehow this is my fault. And that is something that really takes time to get through to understand no one did anything wrong. It just happened. People call me a warrior, and I'm fighting the good fight in my battle. I tell them, "Please don't say that to me, because that means when I die, cancer won, and I won't let cancer win." If that means I've made a difference in funding and research? Then cancer doesn't win. I find my hope in advocacy work, just making as much noise as I can to bring awareness to the lack of funding to research dollars for metastatic disease. That's where I find my hope, because my hope is that this never happens to my daughter. That's what keeps me going on those days where I feel I can't get off the couch, and I can't make dinner, and how am I going to get in the shower and finish a shower because I'm out of breath? I remember that I have work to do.

My name is Shirley. I am originally from Jamaica West Indies. I was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer and it hit me like 10 tons of bricks. But when I was told that I had stage 4, it didn't floor me. I was disappointed, but at the back of my mind I knew that at some place, it was going to come up somewhere. I had a very bad experience at my diagnosis. It was that I didn't ask questions. And specifically, when I was going from my mammograms, I would be told, "Come back in six months." And for two years that happened. I just kept going back in six months. So I went to see a breast cancer surgeon. And the biopsy did show that there was malignancy there. And to boot, my breast cancer could have been diagnosed three years prior. There was evidence. And she kept telling me come back in six months. So this is what I would say: Ask questions. Ask questions. Ask the why's, the if's, the where. I have not cut down on my activities that I'm involved with. I haven't. I am involved with SHARE, the breast cancer help line. I go to two support groups. I go to my prayer group. Just a couple years ago, I started going to the senior center and have been doing crochet. I figure if I stay at home it's like I'm gonna roll over and die. Maybe not physically, but emotionally. I don't want that to happen at all. So I keep myself busy, I keep myself active, and I keep myself involved. A diagnosis of breast cancer, you're not signing a death certificate. There is hope and there is treatment. And if you take care of yourself, you can live, and live, and enjoy, and enjoy.

My name is Chiara, and I am living with stage 4 metastatic triple negative breast cancer. Staying busy is a survival mechanism while I'm going through metastatic breast cancer. Recently I've been noticing how depressed I've been. So I've been making it my goal every day to get off the couch. And I've doing that every day, I think for like the past two weeks. So I've been told to make small manageable goals to set for myself so that I can feel accomplished, that I'm doing something, because I'm still trying to figure out ways to cope. I think for me, staying busy makes me feel like I'm staying active and I'm not watching my life go by. Sometimes I do sit on the couch and I'm depressed and I'm scared. And then I realize that that's probably not a healthy place for me to stay. And so I try and take action and if I need help doing that, I'll reach out to a friend. And then they'll help me get motivated to get off the couch. I've always dreamed about modeling. I've been told that I'm good in front of the camera. But after I had chemotherapy, my hair started growing back the natural color that it is, which is gray. I'd been coloring it blonde. And I got so much attention, and I decided to do something with that attention, and I thought, if I'm not going to follow my dream now, when am I going to follow it? And I went from there. And so I've been doing some modeling. A little bit for breast cancer, and some editorials. And I really like that. It keeps me going. Modeling makes me feel like I have something to look forward to. And it makes me happy. I guess that's enough, because cancer doesn't make me happy.

My name's Rosie. I'm really grateful to be here. Incredibly grateful. I was like, 18 months no evidence of disease for a while. For 18 months I was okay and thought I was recreating my whole life, and I am. I am doing that and I am alive and I am resilient and I'm grateful just to be able to say that. The tools of inspiration, depending on who you are, are surrounding yourself with positive people. Getting into a support group that you can relate too that becomes like your family. What I had to do was, I had to create a family. And one of the things my doctor said about me was, is that I was amazing in creating a network of family, of friends and people. That's how I made it. You have to have ... Surround yourself with a supportive family. You need to find what brings you joy in terms of, what tools are those? Well, it's different for everyone. Art and music was great for me. But you have to have the tools to create joy and hope. Since I moved to New Jersey in September, I've had three progressions. So, I was no evidence of disease up until 2015 and then, before I moved I got a liver met[astases]. So, now I'm advanced cancer stage 4, so that's a whole different world. We need to really look at advanced cancer for what it is because we're alive. We have value. We're not going anywhere, hopefully. Let's put some money into researching that and look at us and see how vibrant we are and that we're thriving. Rosie's thriving and jiving. That's kinda what I want to do. I am resilient. I've learned how to be resilient. I'm lucky to be alive. This has been a long journey for me, it's been 12 years. I just feel that I have this incredible strength that I've been given to move forward and to give a message of hope.

Probiotics are live, beneficial forms of bacteria. Our gut is made up of trillions and trillions of bacteria. But oftentimes, due to stress, antibiotic use, different lifestyles, the bacteria in our stomach can be thrown off. Probiotics are a way of making sure that we have the beneficial bacteria in our bodies and not the negative bacteria. Probiotics are mainly used to help support healthy digestion. A lot of people who experience chronic diarrhea, or constipation, or bloating can really benefit from taking a daily probiotic supplement. Probiotics have also been shown to help with immunity and also to fight cancer. So every single person out there, whether you have GI problems or not, could benefit from probiotic use. The idea of ingesting millions of organisms and bacteria a day might sound a little scary, but the bacteria that you are ingesting through probiotics is the healthy kind. So probiotics shouldn't be scary and you really can't overdo it.

Omega 3s are a type of polyunsaturated fatty acids that are found in high amounts in the oils of certain fish. Now, when you eat omega 3s as part of a generally healthy diet, it can help reduce your risk for heart attack and stroke by reducing inflammation of the arteries, lowering triglyceride levels, and lowering your blood pressure. A lot of people like to get their omega 3s from fish oil supplements. But fish oil supplements lack the lean protein and the iodine that the actual fish provide, and low quality supplements can actually be contaminated with pesticides or mercury. In addition, if you take too many fish oil supplements, it interferes with your body's ability to clot blood. The best sources of omega 3s are fatty cuts of fish, like herring, sardines, tuna, salmon, and mackerel. You're aiming to get 500 milligrams a day combined of EPA and DHA, which are the two best omega 3s for your heart. You can do this by eating two entree sized portions of these fatty fish each week.

Sleep:- We can't live without it, yet most of us don't get nearly enough of it. If you struggle to get a good night's sleep, try these sleep hygiene tips to wake up refreshed and ready to go. 1) Make your bedroom a restful environment. Set the thermostat between 60 and 67 degrees. Close curtains and windows and turn off all lamps. If your partner snores or goes to bed after you, consider using an eye shade and earplugs so you're not disturbed. 2) Stick to the same sleep schedule. Regulate your body's inner clock by going to sleep at the same time every night and waking up at the same time every morning, even on weekends. 3) Zen out with your nighttime routine. Set aside at least 30 minutes to wind down, turn off screens, and focus on relaxing. This sends signals to your body that it's time to end the day and enter restful sleep. If your brain just won't turn off, listen to a guided meditation, calming music, or peaceful sounds. 4) Get your sweat on. As little as 10 minutes of aerobic exercise can improve sleep quality and make it easier to fall asleep. Just walking briskly or riding a bike can have an impact on your sleep and energy level. 5) Make sure it's not a bigger issue. If you've tried these tricks and still aren't sleeping well, talk to your doctor to determine if you need a sleep study.

We all know proteins are essential to good health. Problem is, not all proteins are created equal. Often, they're full of fat. Fortunately, lean proteins can make your taste buds, and your heart, just as happy. 1. Protein plays a crucial role for almost every part of your body. It helps build bone, muscle, skin, and blood. Protein also helps your body repair tissue, fight infection, and regulate your hormones and lean protein provides all these benefits without the extra fat. 2. Meat isn't the only source of lean protein. There are plenty of plant-based sources, including nuts, beans, legumes, soy products, and whole grains. 3. Lean meats have less fat and cholesterol than other meats. For the carnivores, skinless poultry, grass-fed beef, and fish, like salmon and tuna, are healthier options than their higher fat counterparts. 4. Eating plenty of beans, low fat meat, nuts, and soy can help you lose weight. Lean protein makes you feel fuller for longer, so you're less likely to snack. 5. Experts recommend that about a third of your daily calories should come from lower fat proteins. There are endless ways to make delicious meals with lean proteins. Try skinless chicken kebabs, turkey and quinoa meatloaf, spicy baked tofu, and more.

What's New in Treating Advanced Breast Cancer 1. New therapies help patients live longer. Life expectancy for certain breast cancers has nearly tripled. 2. New drugs have fewer side effects. Targeted treatments attack specific cancer cells without damaging normal cells, so side effects are less severe. 3. Some targeted drugs are helping patients avoid chemo. Studies show new drugs work better than chemo in some patients. 4. Many newer drugs come in pill form. New oral medications are easy to take at home, reducing hospital visits and hassle. 5. Breast surgery is better than ever. By using plastic surgery techniques during breast surgery, surgeons can reshape the breast and remove tumors in the same procedure. 6. The future looks bright. Today, patients have more effective therapies than ever before.

7 Ways to Make Life Easier With Advanced Breast Cancer Advanced breast cancer treatment can be stressful, but the right strategies can help make your life easier. 1. Find support. You don’t have to do this alone. Ask for help from loved ones, therapists, and support groups. 2. Eat healthy. Fruits, veggies, protein, and lots of water will help your body stay hydrated and build strength. 3. Exercise. When you feel lousy, it’s tempting to stay in bed, but do your best to be as active as you can. 4. Set realistic goals. When your energy is low, acknowledge your small accomplishments and focus on what really matters. 5. Keep a journal. Record questions for your doctor, side effects, mood changes, and other details to stay on top of your treatment. 6. Fight the fog. Brain fog is common wth cancer, so keep a running to-do list, use sticky notes or phone reminders, and find a cognitive therapist to help your brain work better. 7. Put your care in the right hands. The right oncologist can help make advanced breast cancer easier to live with. Turn to Healthgrades to find the best doctor for you.