The journey begins – The surgeon!
So it was a flying visit to the Breast Assessment Clinic to pick up all of my results for the surgeon, and before I knew it we were sitting in the waiting area of the surgeon’s office. I was as nervous as anything and, unfortunately, we had to wait about 40 minutes which did not help my nerves in any way, shape or form. Tim and I finally met the surgeon Dr Yeow who went through the results and showed us the scans. Tim then explained our current situation and that we want to get this all sorted out before we go to the UAE. I was really impressed that took as long as needed to explain things to make sure that we understood everything. Dr Yeow asked, ‘have you thought about what treatment you want as in a lumpectomy or a mastectomy?’ I couldn’t answer and grabbed a tissue. Tim told her that we were here to get her expertise advice and go from there. She then asked me to pop up on to the bed and show her my sad boob. She took one look and said, ‘what a shame it isn’t your other breast as that appears to be a lot bigger.’ I had a giggle, the only one for the day, and said, ‘yes, isn’t that always the way!’ Upon thorough examination she informed me that the mass seems to be bigger then what they say it is in the results. ‘Oh no, could it still be swollen from the biopsies which I had a week ago?’ Fortunately her answer was yes but that didn’t help my nerves for what was now about to come. She took some measurements and mumbled to herself before saying what she would need to do if the mass was as big as what it is at the moment. “If I do this and this, unfortunately, you may lose up to 40-50% of your breast as you have got a good cleavage and I don’t want to spoil that.” She explained a few other things to me but they didn’t really sink in. Again, my heart sank and the tears started to well up in my eyes. She asked me to get dressed and come and sit down so that we could chat. I held my hand out to Tim and he took hold of it and said that it is going to be alright. She started doing some sketches to show the different ways in which she could perform the surgery. ‘If I do the lumpectomy there is a small chance that I may have to do further surgery or do you want the mastectomy’, Dr Yeow asked? I lost it again……’Get a grip girl …..They are trying to make you better but are just giving you the options…..you have the ultimate say…..!’ Several minutes later, numerous nose blows and a box of tissues later I calmed down enough to say that I don’t think I could cope losing all my boob right now. She agreed and said that hopefully the swelling will go down more and that she won’t have to take out as much. Dr Yeow then went on to explain where she would do the incisions and how she would remove the node/s to check for possible spread of cancer, etc.
Dr Yeow: “So to the surgery date, I could do next Friday the 16th at Murdoch, or the 28th at Claremont, or the 30th at Murdoch, which would you like?”
Tim: “I’ve got some training next week in Sydney for the UAE, so if we can put it off to the 30th that would be great as it is our anniversary on Sunday and I would like to take Sue with me.
Dr Yeow: “I don’t think Sue is in the right head space at the moment to have surgery next week either so a few days in Sydney would do her good. Two weeks will not make any difference and it may even help with the swelling going down.”
So the date was set for the 30th October, the paperwork was done and away we went after an hour and a quarter of consultation. That was the best $240 that we have every spent on a medical specialist consultation, definitely value for money. I thought I had gotten a grip on this beast of a thing, but after surgeon's visit, I believe that today proved to myself that I was still in denial that this was really happening to me. Tim contacted his secretary to organise the trip to Sydney and two days later we were on the plane. That was the best therapy session that I have ever had, and I didn’t go crazy on the shopping either!
Now I wait to pass the first hurdle of my journey!
