On the roller coaster

Hi everyone. Waiting for my biopsy results. Left breast with one huge 6cm and few smaller ones. Ultrasound showed no lymph nodes affected. So as I’m trying to prepare. I am in NT and would like to know about your breast surgeons etc. I’m thinking of travelling interstate for the surgery. My reason is our public hospital made a huge error with my colleague. The path results showed she had reoccurring bc and they booked her in for mastectomy. Only to find out 2 weeks later there was no bc and she did not need the mastectomy and their pathology made the mistake. So having said that you can imagine my gut is saying no, no to the hospital and all it’s bc staff. If you’re comfortable to share your experience and surgeon info etc, is really appreciate that. Putting it blunt, I don’t have control of the lumps but at least I can have control of choosing the hospital and surgeon. Thanks. Would love to hear your thoughts.
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That's a shocking story about your friend
My surgeon, Dr James French, is Head of Breast Surgery at Westmead Breast Cancer Institute, Sydney, and works out of Westmead, Norwest and Lakeview Private Hospitals in Baulkham Hills/Norwest. He is terrific & is very mindful of an aesthetic outcome, using breast conserving surgery & immediate reconstruction whenever he can.
https://lakeviewprivate.com.au/specialist/dr-james-french/
All the best for your decision making. take care xx
I had Invasive Lobular Cancer & had breast conserving surgery/lumpectomy with immediate reconstruction. I was lucky not to need chemo - but had 4 weeks of radiation (prone position) & have been on AIs for about 9+ months now. I started on Letrozole for 6 weeks, then Exemestane for 6 months & now on Arimidex.
My surgery was private ($2000+ gap) and my radiation was public (free - with just a small cost for accommodation at the hospital - most was subsidised by the Gov), as the treatment is daily & I had it at Port Macquarie as it was not available locally.
take care xx
No wonder you are gun shy about having surgery locally, though there is nothing like a massive cock up to make a hospital get its act together.
Good luck. MXX
But he is always out to get the best visual effect from any surgery that he does, for your long term benefit.
As @Sister says - you will have to hang around at least til after the Path Reports come in, in case further surgery is required. Do you have family or friends in any of the major cities that you have on your short list? I would think a lot of NT people would go to Adelaide?
take care xx