Private or Public?
Hi everyone, I'm a newly diagnosed in my late 30's. my cancer is invasive grade 1 in one breast. I have private health insurance but the out of pocket costs of the plastic surgeon and aneastetic wo...
Forum Discussion
Hi Sapi,
I too had stage 1 invasive breast cancer in one breast. I was diagnosed in late October 2024 and, like you, I had the choice of going public or private. Confess I left in shock after the diagnosis was confirmed by BreastScreen Qld (who by the way were fantastic and very supportive) and immediately went to see my GP as I did not know which way to go. His recommendation was to go Public and at a particular hospital. His comment was 'you will get the best treatment there and it will all be coordinated'. He was correct. I had an appointment within about a week of the confirmation of the diagnosis and had surgery 10 days after I first saw the surgeon. It sure was a very fast train!
I had a lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy done at the same time. (My cancer was small).
Since then I have had a course of radiation therapy at the same hospital and have just commenced hormone blocking therapy.
I have nothing but the highest praise for our public hospital system in Brisbane. I guess the only 'downside' is that you don't get to choose your specialists but everyone I have had contact with has been fantastic.
Good luck with your decision and definitely keep reading on the BCNA website. I found it very helpful and comforting.
All the very best, make sure to be kind to yourself and do take care.
I too had stage 1 invasive breast cancer in one breast. I was diagnosed in late October 2024 and, like you, I had the choice of going public or private. Confess I left in shock after the diagnosis was confirmed by BreastScreen Qld (who by the way were fantastic and very supportive) and immediately went to see my GP as I did not know which way to go. His recommendation was to go Public and at a particular hospital. His comment was 'you will get the best treatment there and it will all be coordinated'. He was correct. I had an appointment within about a week of the confirmation of the diagnosis and had surgery 10 days after I first saw the surgeon. It sure was a very fast train!
I had a lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy done at the same time. (My cancer was small).
Since then I have had a course of radiation therapy at the same hospital and have just commenced hormone blocking therapy.
I have nothing but the highest praise for our public hospital system in Brisbane. I guess the only 'downside' is that you don't get to choose your specialists but everyone I have had contact with has been fantastic.
Good luck with your decision and definitely keep reading on the BCNA website. I found it very helpful and comforting.
All the very best, make sure to be kind to yourself and do take care.