First Oncology appointment - what to expect/ask?

@Sister I have heard there can be hefty out of pocket costs even with private health insurance so I’ll just wait and see when I have more info. I’m still using my little post op berlei boob which works for me and I got a swimming boob but haven’t even got round to getting a proper prosthetic “everyday” boob yet. 

Pretty much how I feel about it @"Kiwi Angel"

I got told if I had to have radiotherapy it would be a year before I could have reconstruction but since it’s just chemo I could go ahead at any time. I’m going to go to a breast reconstruction evening if it fits in with work to get the lay of the land and find out what is involved and out of pocket costs. If I was in my 20’s or 30’s I would do it for sure but I’m not too worried about it apart from my lack of symmetry - probably if I would end up with really bad scarring that would prevent me for wearing even more clothes I might not do it. 

After radiotherapy they sometimes wait to do reconstruction because of the damage to the skin and it can be really tight with an implant etc. I waited 2 years for reconstruction and it has been really successful. 

I think it is.  To be honest, I never questioned him about it very closely because it was the last thing on my mind at the time and I'm still not sure I want to do it. 
Frankly, if I could go around lop-sided without it being an issue for everyone else, I would, but as much as I'd like it to be otherwise, it's just not socially acceptable.  I don't see myself as "lost" without my breast and I don't think I'm big enough on the other side for it to cause much of a back issue.  I don't really want further surgery and I find the bras and prosthesis a bit uncomfortable.  No win situation, really.  So, happy to wait a year and see where it takes me.

@Sister why is your surgeon waiting a year to reconstruct? Because of the radiation treatment?

I was diagnosed with lobular in December.  All indications from mammograms, ultrasound and CT scans were that it was small - 2.5cm - and no node involvement.  The surgeon (who is lovely and has an excellent rep) recommended a partial with sentinel node and said that I would definitely need radiation.  He also said that things might change once he went in and the path report came back.  He did a magnificent job of the partial - I was thrilled with it.  Unfortunately, the results from the biopsy were not so good as the tumour was 4.5cm with no clear margins - too big for me to have anything but a mastectomy - and there were 3 nodes involved.  So, back in hospital a couple of weeks later to have the mastectomy and axilliary dissection - all came back clear after that.  That changed the course of treatment, though, and I am now partway through AC and Paclitaxol chemo - 6 months in all.  Radiation will follow and then hormone therapy as the cancer was OR/PR + and HER -.  My surgeon won't consider reconstruction until at least this time next year and I'm still undecided about whether I will do it or not.  I think if I had both breasts off, I wouldn't even consider it, but who knows.  I'll cross reconstructed bridges when I come to them!
It's nice to know the pathway that you are taking but things can change during the course of it.  And the interesting thing about bc treatment now is that it's obvious that one size does not fit all.  
Good luck with your research.

Thank you @Eastmum. My oncologist was good and explained the pre and post options. I now need to find out everything about mastectomies and reconstruction within the next week.

@Rr most have either lumpectomy or mastectomy prior to treatment I had lumpectomies then treatment. It depends on your circumstance. Xx 

@Eastmum Awesome post Yvette!