Choosing a surgeon (Melb) -New diagnosis overwhelm

melsev

Hi there, Im 49 and had my first routine mammogram in September-  no family history or symptoms. They discovered calcifications, had a biopsy then 5 days ago I was told I had breast cancer.  Stage 2-3 6cm aggressive.That’s all I can remember to be honest as I was in so much shock. Got referred to my GP in the afternoon and had to get referrals to a surgeon.  

With no time to think and still in shock our GP recommended Dr Sarah Kemp at Cabrini Malvern and a friend (and gp) recommended Dr. Melanie Walker at the Epworth in Richmond. 

It was so overwhelming and fast. Im
someone who can’t make even the smallest of decisions eg what shoes to wear in the morning! lol  We have met one surgeon as they had an apt the next morning. Do I meet the other as well? 

Keen to know is anyone had experiences with these breast surgeons and their team?  How do I choose?  Any advice would be very much appreciated. 

Feeling very overwhelmed and stressed!
also worried about work and finances… I guess that’s another question! 

joannag

Hi @melsev, I’m so sorry to hear. I live in Sydney so can’t give you recommendations about the surgeons you mention, but I can say that I went through the same dilemma as to what surgeon to go with. I ended up seeing two surgeons, listening to their advice and then went with the one I felt more comfortable with. 

The way you feel and how they explain everything makes such a difference in my opinion- as the surgeon really takes the lead at the beginning. 

Once I had seen the second surgeon the decision was quite easy for me and I trusted my gut feeling on it. Don’t worry about offending anyone! 

Good luck x

arpie

So sorry to see you joining our select little group @melsev .... you are not alone in not remembering much after hearing 'You've got breast cancer' .....  Make sure you take a trusted friend or relative with you to your meetings from now & consider recording them too, on your phone xx. It is almost impossible to remember everything & this way you can go back over it in the quiet of your home & take notes. xx

My GP suggested 2 breast surgeons to me & I did a 'Dr search' on them & one had glowing references & the other didn't, so I went with the glowing references & I had the most fantastic, caring surgeon who (if you were in NSW) I would recommend to anyone. 

It wouldn't hurt to see both surgeons - they may well have different fee structures too, so don't forget to ask about that as well (even get it in writing) and how much rebate you'll get back from medicare/Health Insurance if going private for surgery. (BTW, are you considering going private or public for your surgery?  I went private for surgery, then public for radiation & Oncology.)  You may well feel more comfy with one than the other, just from that first appointment.   Do they both have a breast care nurse that you can chat with between appointments?  My surgeon had a gel (called Kelocote - that I applied to my scar to lessen the scarring - and provided it 'at cost' to his patients, which was a great $ saver) .... they may do the same.

If you add your general location to your profile, members may be able to suggest other services available to your area too ...  

It is highly stressful & upsetting in the early days of diagnosis - so if you feel a bit overwhelmed by it all, give our Helpline a bell on 1800 500 258 for a calming chat xx.

Also, consider listening to Charlotte Tottman's Podcasts on her own experience with BC - she is a specialist breast cancer Counsellor - and was surprised at her own reaction to the news, when she'd been counseling others for many years & thought she 'knew it'!  She has done 2 'seasons' ... check out the 1st season, right from her diagnosis onwards and how she coped. She is very easy to listen to & you'll probably recognise your own reactions in many of the podcasts. 
http://www.drcharlottetottman.com.au/my-podcast.html

Check out this thread too - there is a lot of info on the forum & what to take with you to hospital - even 'tick sheets' that you can fill in to take with you to your appointments on your mental & physical health .... this info has been gleaned from many of our members over the years ... I hope it helps you xx
https://onlinenetwork.bcna.org.au/discussion/23477/a-big-welcome-to-all-new-online-network-members#latest

take care & all the best

GinGin

Hi @melsev,
it’s normal to feel overwhelmed. I was diagnosed in July 2023 ( age 58).  I have zero knowledge of BC, and none in my family or my hubby’s has cancer. Like you, it came as a shock. 

Things went extremely slow at the beginning for me as my GP referred me to the public hospital and I saw Melanie Walker. She is lovely. However, she gave us options and we couldn’t decide as we know nothing. 

A few weeks later, I chanced upon an acquaintance (she had BC 6 years ago) who highly recommended her surgeon to me. We went to see him as a private patient. We immediately warmed to this surgeon for numerous reasons including him being able to confidently guide/lead us. You can read a discussion I put up last year, https://onlinenetwork.bcna.org.au/discussion/25762/totally-confused-after-seeking-second-opinion/p1

My suggestion is to see both of them and pick the one you feel comfortable and connected (trust). 

As I went private, I immediately went for surgery the following week after seeing the second surgeon. It was a very successful surgery as my tumor turned out to be twice the size and we had clear margins. Choosing an excellent surgeon is so very important. I still see him today and am glad with our decision to go with him.

Another tip is to search for the name of Sarah Kemp on this site and see if any other ladies had seen her. 

All the best and take care.
Gin

Peachy

My only advice is don’t feel rushed to make a decision and seriously weigh up the pros and cons about public versus private treatment.
I only met with one surgeon who said all the right things and delivered a sub-optimal outcome. In hindsight I wish I’d taken the time to meet more surgeons and get recommendations from people with the same type of cancer I have. Like all of us I heard ‘cancer’ and ‘aggressive’ and wanted to act instantly. You have time to make this decision and if your cancer treatment starts with surgery it’s important you really trust the surgeon you are with.
Best of luck! xx

melways

So sorry you are feeling so overwhelmed but it's completely normal. Not to confuse you more but myself, friend and SIL all saw Dr Michael Law. He works at Mitcham private as well as publically through Maroondah breast centre at Maroondah hospital. He was amazing and understanding and so caring. He gave us so much time to answer questions and didn't make us feel rushed or silly. 

I don't know about the 2 surgeons you mention but like the others I would recommend seeing both especially if you were not 100% sure about the first one. Feeling comfortable with your team can make a world of difference to your experience and anxiety. 

Work and finances are definitely a different story but depending on your treatment and your workplace you will experience different levels of interruptions. Hopefully they are understanding and allow you whatever time you need to get through everything and are pleasant about it all. Finances I recommend once you have more of an idea around treatment plan to check your superannuation and what cover you have. If fortunate you might have income protection which will help until you are back on your feet 

Good luck with everything and please reach out here with any other concerns or questions we may not have every answer but we will definitely try to help or at least be ready to listen and share our own experiences. And most if all remember no question is too small or silly to ask. And if you rather have the bare minimum information because it's overwhelming then that is also ok. Sending so much love