Mastectomy this Thursday..

You are not the only one who feels she has failed herself. I felt the same. I didn’t ask enough questions, agreed to things and then thought that I should’ve asked more. But, I was an emotional wreck and rightfully so. I had just been diagnosed with one of the scariest diseases ever, and was frightened and uninformed. My surgeon threw too much info at me, too quickly, without checking I had understood properly. He was also private. I can’t go back and change things, but I can share my story with others. I had a DMX with expanders put in. 2 weeks later he said he needed the left nipple removed. Another surgery, so soon, under more general anaesthesia. I actually broke down. I asked him why he couldn’t have removed it during the dmx if he suspected it had DCIS. I wasn’t so concerned about a nipple. I didn’t remember any discussion about it prior to the surgery. I should’ve been properly informed. Every surgery you have creates the potential for radical cells forming and spreading, which causes...yep! And anaesthesia is not good for the body at all. But he didn’t care. For him it meant more money coming out of my pocket into his. It’s time to get realistic about things and demanding what’s our right. If your surgeon is private, believe me, she should be doing the double mastectomy for you, and she should defer this one a couple days so she can plan it properly. Accept nothing less than the best treatment, and complete transparency from your specialists when it comes to YOUR body. 

Btw, are you going private?? Because if you are, and they’re denying you this service, that’s just absolutely disgusting and borderline negligent behaviour. 

Definitely email her and ask about the possibility of having them both done now. I know they are saying a lot of things such as that private hospitals are taking public patients. I’ve been to a few hospitals here for various appointments and quite frankly, a lot of it is played up. The clinic where my GP works is empty most times I go there. Everyone is doing Telehealth and it’s not as busy as they claim. The hospitals don’t look that full either. No one seems rushed off their feet. They’ve been told to say certain things, but if you look at the reality it shows a different picture. I’ve had a fever 3 times now, and all 3 times stayed at home and treated myself for it. More people than I can name that I know have done the same. 

@arpie Thank you 🌹

I agree, there should be more discussion with the patient about their options and how much information they want to receive. I naively went with it all as I did not know what questions to ask thinking I would have been given all information available and was waiting for a more open ‘discussion’ so I could ask actual relevant questions..  I am more of a fact person than an emotional one and i think my surgeon is to emphatic and was going for a more soft caring approach..

I am going to email her today and see what can be done now re DMX.

Thank you all for your incredible support 🌸

All the best for your surgery tomorrow @Fernweh - I am sorry there has been so much hassle for you on getting what you want, done. :(  

The requests of patients really need to be taken more seriously by the surgeons for many reasons, but especially mental health xx

Take care xx

Thank you for your support @Afraser. I feel that if it was a State requirement that would have been mentioned. Surgeon simply said she would defer doing it, leaving it as a possible option.. she just does not want to do it and I am not too happy with the lack of discussion..
She is a great private surgeon so that does not worry me.. but perhaps I would have liked more openness.

You are right.. it would probably not be too bad to have to do surgery again, but why should I, if there is no legal restrictions on what my surgery can be and there is no other valid medical reason.

I know it is partially my fault as I should have done something about it earlier or seek a second opinion.. guess in my not being too emotional about it I have relied too much on the specialists and failed myself a little.. 

Hi @Fernweh I will send you a private message as I am not sure if I am allowed to mention my surgeon’s name. I am happy to share anything that may help you. 🌼

@Fernweh
It’s never good timing, breast cancer, and the current Covid situation doesn’t help at all. While your preference is entirely understandable, hospitals are certainly facing limitations, here in Victoria and very likely in Queensland too.  Your surgeon may not like the situation either but will be bound by it. You can of course email but may have to decide whether to go ahead or defer. As you do not plan reconstruction and a single mastectomy is usually a pretty straightforward procedure, the prospect of doing it all twice is less daunting and you have time to recover in between. Best wishes whatever you do. 

Thank you very much @FLClover and @Keeping_positive1.

@FLClover that is exactly how I feel.. she said private hospital are taking public patients because of covid.. I am not saying it is not true, but I like open and honest conversations… 

Unfortunately, with today being public holiday and my surgery tomorrow.. I doubt that even if I email the surgeon she will get back to me or be able to organise the double mastectomy for tomorrow.. and I am not sure delaying surgery is a good idea if indeed covid is affecting surgeries so much.. Do you think I should still try email her? 

If I were you, and you’re absolutely sure that’s what you want, I’d insist on having both removed. It is a double risk, yes, but seriously not that much more. Where there’s pain from one, there’ll be pain from the other and recovery won’t take all that much longer, as it will be simultaneous. The fact you want to go flat makes it easier still. If it was that much of a risky surgery, they wouldn’t even do one. I find that doctors and surgeons like to make something seem ‘risky’ when they can’t/don’t want to do it for certain reasons, and when they can suddenly the ‘risk’ is not so great. As it suits them, not as it really is. Very annoying and unfair for the patient. Imagine having to go through this two times, and all that unnecessary stress for a silly reason. I’d be pretty pissed off. The hospitals are not that full with covid patients, or at least they shouldn’t be since I believe most people are vaccinated, and that was the point of the vaccinations. So I really don’t know what they’re on about. Plus, breast cancer is a lot more scary than covid, especially this variant which most people are experiencing like a cold. So once again, I don’t know what they’re on about. Tell your surgeon you want both breasts gone for both your physical and mental health. If she says no,  see if you can get a second opinion elsewhere. There’s too much bs going on in medicine, and unfortunately people are suffering unnecessarily from lack of organisation.