Alone ... finding a surgeon
On the day I was given my biopsy results I was on my own. Apparently, it was the first day in 2022 that patients were allowed a support person when receiving pathology results ....but noone told me....
Forum Discussion
Gee, that's a shame @VVW - it has been difficult for those not being allowed to have their support person with them during covid - I am surprised someone didn't message you :( Do you have a Breast Care Nurse?
I am so glad you recorded the pathology appt, so you can even go over it 'again' with your hubby, so he knows what was discussed.
Re choosing a surgeon - well done on checking with your GP & them getting back to you so promptly! They are recommending surgeons/specialists all the time to their patients & would have good feedback from them. Mine gave me a couple of Surgeon's names & I did a 'google review' on them to see what comments others had made - and one of them had terrible reviews, so I went with the other & he was just brilliant.
Make sure you ask your surgeon UP FRONT about 'out of pocket' expenses - and anaesthetist fees etc - otherwise it can be a bit of a shock. Mine gave me an actual 'quote', so I knew it would be about $3000 initially (but I was able to have my surgery just 2 weeks after diagnosis.) Even as a Private Patient, your Fund may not cover EVERYTHING. I even had to pay an extra $500 of my own pathology for some reason! I went private for my surgery (and ended up paying $5000+ over the first 12 months), but I went public for Oncology & Radiation Oncology (no fees) and they were all just excellent.
Jump onto this link & check out other areas of the Forum - we even manage to have a laugh now & then! Down the bottom are some 'tick sheets' that you can hit the link for - good suggestions for ongoing questions with your 'team' .... If you add your general location to your Profile (city/town), others will know where you live & may be able to point you to specific services available to you locally .....
https://onlinenetwork.bcna.org.au/discussion/23477/a-big-welcome-to-all-our-new-members#latest
Take care & all the best with your surgeon's appt next week!! Sleep well! xx
I am so glad you recorded the pathology appt, so you can even go over it 'again' with your hubby, so he knows what was discussed.
Re choosing a surgeon - well done on checking with your GP & them getting back to you so promptly! They are recommending surgeons/specialists all the time to their patients & would have good feedback from them. Mine gave me a couple of Surgeon's names & I did a 'google review' on them to see what comments others had made - and one of them had terrible reviews, so I went with the other & he was just brilliant.
Make sure you ask your surgeon UP FRONT about 'out of pocket' expenses - and anaesthetist fees etc - otherwise it can be a bit of a shock. Mine gave me an actual 'quote', so I knew it would be about $3000 initially (but I was able to have my surgery just 2 weeks after diagnosis.) Even as a Private Patient, your Fund may not cover EVERYTHING. I even had to pay an extra $500 of my own pathology for some reason! I went private for my surgery (and ended up paying $5000+ over the first 12 months), but I went public for Oncology & Radiation Oncology (no fees) and they were all just excellent.
Jump onto this link & check out other areas of the Forum - we even manage to have a laugh now & then! Down the bottom are some 'tick sheets' that you can hit the link for - good suggestions for ongoing questions with your 'team' .... If you add your general location to your Profile (city/town), others will know where you live & may be able to point you to specific services available to you locally .....
https://onlinenetwork.bcna.org.au/discussion/23477/a-big-welcome-to-all-our-new-members#latest
Take care & all the best with your surgeon's appt next week!! Sleep well! xx