Tennis Mom Betty Agassi On Her Breast Cancer Journey

ns' risk of getting and dying from cancercancer treatment and tips for healthy living, which
continues to decline and survival rates for manymay help women to protect themselves after
cancers continue to improve, according to thetheir surgery.
American Cancer Society. That's encouragingMrs. Agassi recently sat down to discuss her own
news for those who are cancer-free, as well asjourney with breast cancer and her personal
the more than 10 million Americans living asmission of educating other women with breast
cancer survivors.cancer on ways to reduce breast cancer
In fact, the largest group of cancer survivors isrecurrence.
breast cancer patients, who representQuestion: Obviously, this is a personal cause, one
approximately 20 percent of all cancer survivors.that lies close to your heart. Can you tell us more
Early detection and more treatment options haveabout your own experience?
contributed significantly to these improvedBetty Agassi: In 2000, when my doctor told me I
statistics.had breast cancer, I was truly devastated. Now,
But even for those living with breast cancer andsix years later, I feel great and have a good
celebrating survivorship-more than 2 millionprognosis. But, that said, I know that there is a
women in the United States-prevention ofpossibility of my breast cancer coming back. I'm
recurrent breast cancer is a critical priority. Breastlucky to have the support of my family, in
cancer may not just come back in the breast: Itparticular, but I do understand that working to
can come back in other tissues and organs suchprevent breast cancer recurrence is part of my
as the stomach, brain and liver. Now more thaneveryday life. Part of my journey and the reason
ever, breast cancer patients are not onlyI'm doing this is that I'd like to make sure that
celebrating life, but focusing their attention onother women do the same.
becoming champions of their own health.Q: What is your most urgent message?
In 2000, Betty Agassi, mother of world tennisBA: Never stop learning, never stop questioning
champion Andre Agassi, was diagnosed withyour doctor and never lose hope. It really is so
breast cancer. Now six years after her breastimportant for women to understand that the
cancer diagnosis, Mrs. Agassi focuses her energybreast cancer journey does not stop after initial
on encouraging other breast cancer survivors totreatment. I would think that any woman who
stay on top of their health and get informedhas been diagnosed with breast cancer and gone
about advances in the disease. As part of thisthrough her treatment regimen would want to
commitment, Mrs. Agassi partnered with Novartistake any necessary precautions to make sure the
to launch an education initiative at the U.S. Open incancer does not return.
2006-Andre Agassi's last as a professional tennisQ: If you could offer three tips to those doing
player.everything they can to minimize the chances of
"I want women to get as much information astheir breast cancer coming back, what would they
they can about what's new in breast cancer.be?
Speak to your doctor; find out what new andBA: Knowledge, communication and support are
existing treatment options are available and askthe keys to staying on top of your health and
the right questions to help minimize the risk ofminimizing the chances of your breast cancer
your breast cancer returning."coming back. Staying informed about new and
Through this initiative, Mrs. Agassi is directingexisting treatment options and knowing which
women and their families to a Web site thatoptions you may be a candidate for are vital. So,
provides information about progress in breastcommunicate with your doctor.