The Diagnosis: 'You Have Breast Cancer' - Cancer Information Service Research Consortium's Healing Choices Study Offers Help

MARLTON, N.J., March 25  /PRNewswire/ -- The words "You have breast cancer" can leave patients and their families in shock, confusion and fear.

Then follows the inevitable: What next?

Recognizing the critically important lapse between the diagnosis and treatment, the Cancer Information Service Research Consortium (CISRC) is conducting a study, Healing Choices for Women with Breast Cancer, to determine the best way to get information to women who have recently been diagnosed with breast cancer.  

The information is about treatment options and it can help women in making important medical decisions.  The researchers want to find out the best way to deliver the information:  by mail in the form of print materials, by the Internet or by CD-ROM.

Patients can call toll-free 866-258-7981 to find out if they are eligible for the study. Those not qualifying will be directed to other resources to help them.

"A patient often feels totally overwhelmed when sitting in a doctor's office listening to various treatment options," says the lead investigator, Dr. Peter Raich, a professor of medicine, University of Colorado, and chief, division of hematology-oncology, Denver Health Medical Center.

"We know that informed decisions lead to better outcomes for our patients; the question is how best to deliver the information to patients at a time when it is most helpful," says Raich.

To participate in the study, the patient must:(1) be recently diagnosed with a first (no recurrence) stage I, II, or III breast cancer; (2) have not yet begun chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or hormonal therapy; (3) not have a history of a previous cancer (only non-melanoma skin cancer and in situ cancer of the cervix will be allowed); (4) have access to a telephone; (5) have access to a computer and (6) speak and read English.

To find out if you are eligible, simply call 1-866-258-7981.

"If you have been recently diagnosed, call," says Raich. "If a family member has received a diagnosis of breast cancer but has not yet chosen treatment, urge them to call."

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) is funding the study with a grant to CISRC.

Denver's AMC Cancer Research Center of the University of Colorado at Denver, New York City's Mt. Sinai Medical Center, Philadelphia's Fox Chase Medical Center and UCLA's Medical Center are participating in the study.

SOURCE Cancer Information Service Research Consortium