Dr. Jay Harness introduces himself and discuss what he tells patients who ask if they need chemotherapy.

Watch Dr. Harness, President American Society of Breast Surgeons and Medical Director of the St. Joseph Hospital Comprehensive Breast Center in Orange County California.

Dr. Jay Harness: I am Jay Harness. I am a Surgical Oncologist, and I serve as a Medical Director of the St. Joseph Hospital Comprehensive Breast Center in Orange, California. In addition to that I have a national role as a President of the American Society of Breast Surgeons.

One of the most common questions that I am asked by newly diagnosed patients with breast cancer is, “Doctor, do I need chemotherapy?” and I think the reason the patient ask that question is the inherent fear of chemotherapy. I immediately tell them to please hold off on worrying about their fears and allow us to figure out what is really needed so that they receive a contemporary state of care. That might include chemotherapy, but chemotherapy today is not as bad as patients think and once we are able to sort of ease patient’s fears, they do a lot better.