Hi Everyone,
I have been diagnosed with breast cancer and am having a mastectomy of the left breast. I am worried about the right also as the mamogram had showed something there but the ultrasound showed nothing abnormal. The left they thought was nothing abnormal 2 years ago. I might just be a bit paranoid at the moment but I am thinking that I don't want to have to do this again in 2 years time. I would like to know if others had an option of a double mastectomy.
Hi Tracey, If you contact your doctor (both the surgeon and plastic surgeon if you are having an immediate reconstruction) they will give you the item numbers and amount they will charge you. Ring your health fund and they will tell you the amount they will pay and the amount you will be out of pocket. Remember this will have to be repeated for the anaesthetist . Ask your health fund if there is an excess amount you need to pay to the private hospital too.
Hi Tracey, If you contact your doctor (both the surgeon and plastic surgeon if you are having an immediate reconstruction) they will give you the item numbers and amount they will charge you. Ring your health fund and they will tell you the amount they will pay and the amount you will be out of pocket. Remember this will have to be repeated for the anaesthetist . Ask your health fund if there is an excess amount you need to pay to the private hospital too.
Hi Debbie,
I live in SE QLD. I am booked for a left mastectomy in a few weeks and feel confident with my surgeon and the public system but I would like to find out more about what options I have before then. I would like to find out more info about going private and the costs. Thanks for your comment, It seems like a lot of women have the other breast removed later, so that is also an option.
Tracey xx
Hi Everyone, I have been lucky enough to have never needed to deal with doctors & hospitals in the past, so I don't know much about how the system works. Do I have to contact my surgeon about the options and costs if I choose to go private or is there someone else I should contact first?
Tracey
Hi Tracey,
Like Karen I had a long history of benign cysts and lumps. When Right breast cancer was diag after routine mammogram I was determined to have bilateral mastectomy. Because of really dense breast tissue my surgeon didn't push back on my request for bilateral. The left side showed no abnormalities on mammogram, ultrasound or MRI. However, early neoplasm was found on the left by pathology. Although I would encourage anyone considering bilateral to take there time it is no minor proceedure. As others have said you can always go back and do the other side if you're not sure now. All the best
Anna
Hi Tracey , I had a right mastectomy in March2011 and at the time I wanted the left breast off as I did not want to go through this again. My surgeon at the time would not do it, as the left breast had no cancer. 12mths on I had it off as I worried all the time I would get breast cancer again. This was the best decision I made for me , less stress and worry. I have had reconstruction with implants and I am very happy. You have to do what is right for you.
Where do you live?.
Big hugs
Debbie xx
I had a left breast mastectomy on the 11Feb. As my right breast at this stage was clear I didn't consider having the other one removed but have been quite surprised by the number of friends who asked are you having them both off? Perhaps in the future I will have to consider it. When I had a ultrasound the left tumours were extremely evident but nothing on the mammogram. I also had a mammogram 12 months ago and nothing was suspucious, but in that 12 months these lumps have certainly developed and quite large!! When this happens everything pales into to significance and it takes over your world. Seeing the surgeon next Wednesday to see what is going to happen next, hopefully the rest of the nodes are clear. Here's hoping. Helen
I had a left breast mastectomy on the 11Feb. As my right breast at this stage was clear I didn't consider having the other one removed but have been quite surprised by the number of friends who asked are you having them both off? Perhaps in the future I will have to consider it. When I had a ultrasound the left tumours were extremely evident but nothing on the mammogram. I also had a mammogram 12 months ago and nothing was suspucious, but in that 12 months these lumps have certainly developed and quite large!! When this happens everything pales into to significance and it takes over your world. Seeing the surgeon next Wednesday to see what is going to happen next, hopefully the rest of the nodes are clear. Here's hoping. Helen
