Cairns young women?

Thanks for your insight Paula. The situation with your friend is most encouraging to me - in my hopes to have a full mastectomy of the cancerous breast, with the other one being prophylactic.

I have been told my my Breast Care Nurse (over the phone) that Dr Elston is away until Monday 21st July, so I will be seen (at the consultation) by Dr Heathcliff - and that Dr Heathcliff will decide what surgery I require, then he will place me onto one of either Dr Elston's theatre lists OR Dr Angela Robson's theatre list (and I would be very happy with either of these surgeons - as have only heard positive feedback regarding both).

I am just so distraught by my children's concerns (and my husband's and mine, to be honest) and am so uncomfortable with the idea of someone else (the doctor at the consultation) deciding "what is best for me".  And yet, I am fully aware that that is what one must accept, when going through the public system.

It is not the surgeon, per say, that I have concerns about ... it is the extent (or limitations) of the surgery itself. The best outcome I can hope for is that the consulting doctor hears my concerns (yes, I have them listed and ready to present) and grants my family the request of a bilateral mastectomy.

I am considering whether I should make an appt to see Dr Angela Robson at her private rooms on Friday morning, before attending the public appointment at Cairns Hospital .... as Dr Robson performs surgery both publicly and privately in Cairns.  It's not that I need a "second opinion" as such ... we have definitely made our choice for the bilateral ... it's more that I could not cope with getting our request rejected by the public system.  Ohhhh, the anxiety is almost as painful as the diagnosis !!!