Breast cancer treatment alternatives: the patient decision-making process.

Today, a woman with breast cancer has many treatment alternatives. To undertake the decision-making process, she must be provided with information, support, and a health care network capable of meeting her needs. Surgeons are now faced with new roles in the decision making process as the choice is no longer theirs. They must be educated not only to keep up with the technical aspects of breast surgery, but also to modify their behavior in order to become more flexible and open-minded.