Just diagnosed but cannot even contact a surgeon until 9th January. Stress levels high.

Lmc1310, we probably do. She is lovely, talks 19 to the dozen, but wonderfully uplifting and positive. 
Thank you, For all your good wishes, I will carry them into the hospital with me.

So glad you have got into surgery early - you've already had to wait such a long time to see your surgeon!  Sounds like you have a wonderful doctor too.  Wishing you all the best for Thursday - one step closer to being cancer free!  Let us know how you are when you can, you will be taking all our positive thoughts with you. Jane xx

Best wishes for Thursday. I will be thinking of you and I think the same wonderful doctor operated on me at a nearby hospital on Friday 5 December - she is very special and caring indeed! Have you contacted the McGrath nurse yet? If not I cannot express how supportive and wonderful they are. Once again very best wishes for Thursday. Xo

Yes!!!!!! Saw the surgeon today with my choice of surgery and booked in for Thursday this week!
 I can t believe my luck.
As she only operates on Thursdays near me I had dreaded waiting another two weeks (Thursday next week is a public holiday -no surgery) so I am booked in.
Did the hospital admission this afternoon, now to cancel all my clients for the next two weeks! 
They were all on notice so they will understand. One of the perils of being self employed.
I feel strange to be so overjoyed about it all, but the relief to be going in is huge.
i hope everyone else waiting for appointments gets in quickly too, I know how unbearable the waiting is.

It sounds like you had a great appointment! Its so important that you feel comfortable with your Surgeon, and seems you received lots of information which is great too! I think the tough part is, until you have surgery you won't get pathology and thats really the only way to know the definite diagnosis and then able to make decisions from there. My first diagnosis was 2011 I had Mammos/U/sounds, core biopsy but biopsy came back negative. Thank God for my surgeon who wasnt convinced and said that they are not always fool proof and effective. So I opted for a lumpectomy and he cut around the nipple. I had DCIS so was super early, I then had Radiation and tamoxifen for 4yrs. Unfortunately I had a recurrence in my scar in 2015 and it was IDC Grade 2 Stage 3 aggressive. I had clear margins, no lymph node involvement and BRCA Gene negative. My Surgeon did another major lumpectomy as Im big breasted, and he said in my case it was as good as a Mastectomy that in terms of surgery for me there was no difference. I felt happy with that decision based on his opinion also. I did 4.5 months of chemo and now on Arimidex and unfortunately now though Im cancer free, because of recurrence my Oncologist and Surgeon recommend a Mastectomy, so Im booked and waiting for a date with immediate Diep Flap reconstruction, which my Plastic Surgeon said is his preferred method. I had radiation so not a candidate for implant but also, 2 major lumpectomies, I have a massive scar across my breast so really this will be the best option. I dont regret the slow approach in lumpectomies before now after 5yrs of this facing a Mastectomy based on my situation and diagnosis. All we can do is what we feel is right for ourselves, its individual and somethings are out of our control depending on pathology and diagnosis. I remember my Oncologist meeting in 2015 when I was beside myself over my recurrence and we discussed treatment..I had no options just chemo, I cannot do radiation again. I remember him saying, its a gamble no matter what your choice is, I could do chemo, not do chemo, he has no way of knowing whether it will come back or not. So I guess I realised along the way that all decisions have to be purely mine and what I was happy with. Big hugs! Its not easy, but sounds like you are in great hands!!! Let us know how you go! Melinda xo

That is alot to think through Unicornkisses, I am also having to make the same decision...I think for me the full mastectomy with immediate reconstruction is the option for me, this means that I have the surety that the cancer won't come back in the breast and I get to keep my nipple too! Its such a huge decision but it sounds like you are on the right track to making an informed decision. Good luck to you ❤

Whew, you were so right, there is so much information to take in and so many options for me. Which I know is a good thing! I feel so much better after seeing the surgeon, she is so helpful and makes me more relaxed. It also helps to now be planning and making decisions. I have a book to study on the treatments and options and have to go back on Tuesday with my decision on which surgery to have.
I went it determined to have a mastectomy and get rid of the whole thing, I never liked the damn things anyway, I am a 14DD and have found them nothing but trouble. But when I have calmed down enough to think clearly, I could then consider what effect having one large breast and one nothing could have on me,as I already have a twisted spine and back problems. 
I know we really don't know what stage or type of cancer I have until after the operation, thanks to all you ladies information, but the surgeon said it was classed as early stage and the ultrasound didn't show lymph node changes. So lumpectomy was an option.
she also offered lumpectomy with a reduction at the same time which will remove another suspect tiny lump in another part of the breast and also make them smaller, with a possibility of having a reduction in the other side as well at the same time.
I was completely against the risk of having only a lumpectomy and maybe having the cancer come back but she did set my mind at ease a bit about that risk. I still have to read up about it though before I am sure what option to take. I am I am not sure about the radiation though, so will read through all the comments on here about other people's experiences.
So after Tuesday, depending on what option I choose, I could be in for surgery by Thursday next week or the next Thursday. 
Thank you for your help and support, I really needed it.

@Unicornkisses . Just wondering how your appointment went. Kath x

Unicornkisses hope it goes well!!! thinking of you today, let us know how it goes! Hugs Melinda xo

Write down a list of questions and take it with you and take someone with you too for support and because two sets of ears are better than one.