Understand the basics, prepare questions, and know when to get help.
Educational summaries based on the linked sources, checked September 27, 2026. Individual clinician review of these summaries is not yet documented. This page does not provide a diagnosis or a personal treatment plan.
Biomarkers are features of cancer cells that help the care team choose treatment. Estrogen receptors (ER) and progesterone receptors (PR) show whether hormones may help the cancer grow. HER2 is another protein tested in breast tumors. These results describe the tumor; they are not the same as its stage.
How they influence care
Hormone receptor–positive cancers may respond to treatments that block hormone effects. HER2 results can help identify people who may benefit from HER2-targeted therapy. Triple-negative means the cancer lacks ER, PR, and HER2 positivity; it does not mean that no treatments are available. Treatment still depends on the complete clinical picture.
Questions for your visit
Ask: What are my ER, PR, and HER2 results? Are any results uncertain or awaiting confirmation? How do they change my options? If cancer returns, would another biopsy help? Biomarkers can change over time.
Iron is needed to make healthy red blood cells. Too little iron can cause anemia. Some people have no symptoms; others notice tiredness, dizziness, pale skin, or shortness of breath. These symptoms have many possible causes and do not confirm iron deficiency on their own.
Find the cause, not just the low level
Blood loss from heavy periods or the digestive tract, and problems absorbing iron, can contribute. Discuss bleeding, diet, digestive symptoms, and medicines with your clinician. Treating the source matters as well as replacing iron.
Treatment and follow-up
Oral iron is commonly used. It can cause constipation, nausea, or stomach discomfort; tell your clinician rather than changing the plan yourself. Some people need intravenous iron. Replenishing iron can take months. Ask what caused the deficiency, which tests will track recovery, and when to repeat them. Do not assume all anemia needs iron.
Type 2 diabetes develops when the body does not use insulin effectively or cannot make enough. Glucose then builds up in the blood. It may cause thirst, frequent urination, fatigue, blurred vision, or slow-healing sores, but many people have few or no symptoms.
Evaluation and care
Diagnosis requires blood testing. A care plan may combine food choices, physical activity, and medicines. Some people need insulin. Treatment needs can change over time; needing additional medicine is not a personal failure.
Protecting long-term health
Care also includes blood pressure, cholesterol, smoking cessation, and attention to eye, kidney, nerve, and foot health. Ask: What are my personal glucose goals? How should I monitor at home? What should I do when I am ill? Which follow-up checks are due? Work with your care team on a plan you can sustain.
High blood pressure often has no warning symptoms. A person can feel well while pressure is too high. Repeated measurements help clinicians establish the diagnosis; one reading is not the whole picture.
Building a treatment plan
Heart-healthy eating, physical activity, and prescribed medicines can help. Some people need more than one medicine. Ask your clinician about your personal target, home measurement technique, and when to share your readings. Report side effects rather than stopping treatment on your own.
When to get urgent help
A reading above 180 systolic or 120 diastolic needs prompt medical attention. If you also have chest pain, shortness of breath, severe headache, or sudden weakness or vision changes, call 911 or your local emergency number. Do not wait for a routine appointment or an online reply.
A head or body impact followed by headache, dizziness, confusion, memory trouble, or changes in balance may indicate a concussion. Remove the athlete from play immediately when concussion is suspected. Do not allow a same-day return. Arrange assessment by a healthcare professional.
Emergency warning signs
Call 911 or seek emergency care for a worsening headache, repeated vomiting, seizures, unusual confusion, slurred speech, weakness, unequal pupils, or difficulty waking after a head injury. Symptoms can appear later; continue watching for changes.
Returning safely
A clinician should guide recovery and clear return to sport. Feeling better for a few minutes is not enough. Ask about school or work adjustments, follow-up, and a gradual return to activity. Do not let the athlete judge injury severity alone or hide symptoms to stay in the game.
Depression can affect mood, interest, sleep, appetite, energy, and concentration. Major depression commonly involves low mood or loss of interest most of the time for at least two weeks, with interference in daily life. Do not wait two weeks to seek help if symptoms are severe or safety is a concern.
Getting help
A healthcare professional can assess symptoms and consider medical conditions or medicines that may contribute. Treatment may include psychotherapy, medication, or both. Ask about expected benefits, side effects, follow-up, and what to do if symptoms worsen. Recovery plans are individualized.
If safety is at risk
In the United States, call or text 988 for suicidal thoughts or a mental health crisis. Call 911 for a life-threatening emergency. Outside the U.S., use local crisis and emergency services. You can seek support before the situation becomes an emergency.