Surgery cancelled
I was scheduled for right mastectomy and auxiliary clearance this week after having seen surgeon the previous weeks ( 4 wks after bc diagnosis 9/2/15) and made the agonising decision to go ahead with the surgery to remove the 6.5 x 6 x 5.5 cm malignant mass. The days leading up to the surgery my husband and I mentally prepared for the permanent changes that were going to happen to my body. I cried, took a few snap shots, wept in my husbands arms when we thought this was going to be the last time we would be intimate with my two breasts! (Sorry I that's a bit too personal to anyone). I want to paint the picture of how much of a psychological impact this was. My sister took a week off work to be able to support me after surgery also.
So on the day of the surgery, I fasted, showered with the pre surgical scrub. Arrived at the hospital 6.30 in the morning (leaving home at 5.30am) as per our instructions. At 9.00am I was taken through and began the preparations for surgery, changed into the hospital gowns, and taken to the day ward to await being taken to theatre. My husband and I waited...and waited...and waited. They gave me an IV for fluids about 2.00pm after I told them I was feeling thirsty. I asked a couple of different nurses at times how much longer they thought it might be. Originally I was due to go through about 10.00am. I waited until 4.30 when a staff member came to advise me that I was last on the list and unfortunately my surgery was cancelled and would need to be rescheduled.
The surgeon came a little while later, and was so apologetic for the change. He told me he wanted to stay later to complete my surgery but that hospital protocol would not allow him to do so. He was very upset but could do nothing more about it. Because he only works at this hospital part time, I have to wait a whole fortnight to have my surgery. I walked out of the hospital shaken, traumatised and made to feel as though it was 'just a mastectomy - no big deal' by the general surgical staff.
Has anyone else ever had this happen to them? I have decided to lay an official complaint. I just wanted to vent tonight my frustration and deep disappointment. I feel they have not take into consideration the deep psychological impact a mastectomy has on woman. I don't want to think of any other breast surgery patient having to go through this unnecessary ordeal when bc is trauma enough on it own.
Frustrated - Linda N
