Dear new friends and sisters, thank you for all your patient replies and advice. Today I had my first appointment at the public hospital, Fiona Stanley, and the difference was like night and day! I was assigned a breast nurse who will advocate on my behalf, the surgeon explained everything in great detail, and he is going to see if breast conserving surgery is possible! I feel so heard and seen in vast contrast to my appointment with the private surgeon who didn’t explain anything, was all smug smirks and responded somewhat sarcastically when I asked about saving my nipple. Even if I don’t get to keep my breast at least I’ll know this surgeon tried and I got the opportunity to try. That means so much. And they’ve given me access to all kinds of support services. I left there absolutely floating on the kindness of these people. I can’t recommend Fiona Stanley highly enough. And thanks to all of you for all this information so that I was completely across everything the doctor was discussing with me! ❤️
