Whether you are facing a cancer diagnosis and the challenges of treatment, or wish to prevent the disease if you're at high risk, this book brings you the most accurate, reliable and up-to-date information available.

You'll discover a story rich in hope, with accounts of women who've successfully confronted this difficult disease.

The knowledge you'll gain will help you be a more informed patient in communicating with your doctor, in selecting among treatment options. In this thorough book, Mayo brings you critical knowledge in many key facets of breast cancer.

• Prevention What can you do to decrease your risk of getting breast cancer? While there's still no guaranteed way to prevent it, several lifestyle factors can be modified to reduce your risk, especially if you are in a high-risk category.

• Treatment After diagnosis comes a flurry of questions: "Now what?" "How do I deal with this?" "Do I have options?" "What's my prognosis?" The good news is that breast cancer is now considered a highly treatable disease with good results. Survival rates keep increasing. The book reviews the full range of treatment options, and the pros and cons of each.

• Care and Coping Life goes on after diagnosis. Our doctors share their best options for dealing with feelings and emotions ... for coping with treatment side effects ... for women who want to consider complementary therapies. A separate chapter offers helpful guidance to the patient's partner.

• Living With Hope It bears repeating: Breast cancer is highly treatable. You have every reason to live with hope. This book offers key support for every woman.

The book is a tribute to many, especially the extraordinary women who've taught us about breast cancer. Each has added to our knowledge of the disease, and advanced your ability to respond to any diagnosis or risk.