I am in Melbourne, and I did go private, although I have been impressed by the number of people on this site who have spoke highly of the public hospital system they have experienced. Rural is another matter! I too only saw my surgeon twice before surgery but given a week from first meeting to mastectomy there really wasn't time for much more. He and my oncologist confer often. My surgeon operated a year later (my 12 month seroma was proving a hotbed for bacteria) after fully discussing the pros and cons - he made the right decision. He's also checked out a couple of things since. Not just into the cutting!
