Find A Top Doc

Always get a second opinion—or even a third—from surgeons, oncologists and plastic surgeons. Many health insurance companies require it. The National Comprehensive Cancer Network has standard treatment guidelines that you can compare your proposed treatment plans to.

Before assembling your medical team, you should also know your rights as a patient, and always make sure they're being respected. The Johns Hopkins Breast Center has put together a patient bill of rights on their web site that they ask all of their patients to read. Have them in mind as you speak to specialists.

When looking for the right doctor, ask around. Has someone at your office, church or social club been treated for breast cancer? Tear out articles in magazines and newspapers to see who is most frequently quoted on the subject. Another resource is Castle Connolly's America's Top Doctors, a peer-reviewed book that lists the best physicians in the country by specialty and location. Choose a facility that has better than national average survival rates.