Understanding Your Breast Cancer Care Team

Finding out you have breast cancer can be overwhelming on so many levels. In the midst of all of the initial appointments, it can be difficult to understand which providers you need to see and how each one is involved in your care.

Here are some of the breast cancer providers who may be a part of your breast cancer care team (everyone’s situation is a little different, so you may not need all of them):

For many women, a radiologist is the first doctor they meet with, usually to review an abnormal mammogram or ultrasound and to perform a breast needle biopsy. Depending on your follow-up plan, radiologists will likely be a part of your ongoing care after your breast cancer treatment as well, continuing to evaluate any follow-up mammograms, ultrasounds, or MRIs you may have.  

Not all centers have nurse navigators, but in the ones that do, they play a huge role in helping women get through finding out about their diagnosis and coordinating their care. Nurse navigators will often set up appointments for patients to meet with a surgeon or a medical oncologist and provide information on important resources and support services.

Meeting with a breast surgeon is usually your first appointment after finding out you have breast cancer. Your breast surgeon will talk to you about surgical options and discuss any other tests you might need before surgery. After surgery, they will review your pathology results with you and the next steps in treatment.