June 5, 2007, WASHINGTON (Reuters) - As a journalist, I know how to dig into a topic, ask questions and call complete strangers for advice. Never did I think I would use those skills to understand a disease that might kill me.

When I discovered I had breast cancer, I realized I had to learn all I could about it so I could make intelligent decisions and ensure I received the best medical care.

Doctors no longer just dictate treatment. Instead they outline options and list the pros and cons of each type of surgery, drug or course of treatment. That makes a patient like me more in charge of my own care.

At times, though, it was overwhelming. Especially on the day I was diagnosed.

read the article at https://www.reuters.com/article/us-witness-cancer-discovery-idUSN0522918120070605