Hi there. I’ve not had the best of journey’s so far and lack a little confidence. I’m scheduled for a skin saving mastectomy with a Diep flap reconstruction. I get to meet the surgeon doing the mastectomy for the first time the afternoon before the surgery. I can’t find any info about them except that they are registered to practice but not registered as a specialist. I’ve met the reconstruction surgeon who is very matter of fact ( but strangely I think he will be ok). How do I find out how good the mastectomy surgeon is. I was originally supposed to be having one surgeon however they are now on annual leave, the replacement - also annual leave, the surgeon we’d hoped for and met with - doing their private patients. The surgery was booked in and they have only just found a surgeon to do the mastectomy. This is life impacting and I’m worried sick.
Thank you in advance.
I can understand why you’re worried. It is a big operation and you want things to go well. I don’t think any of us using the NHS ever really know the surgeons. I don’t even know who did the mastectomy part of my diep 4 weeks ago. I met the plastic surgeon once before the diep and in the morning before the op. I also tried to find out about him online, but found very little. 4 weeks on from my mastectomy and diep, i am doing so well and my scars are looking good. In my operation there were 6 surgeons in total, plus nurses and 3 anaesthetists. The whole team work together so it isn’t really just one person. Many of the additional surgery team will have worked with the surgeon you had wanted. Also, i think the mastectomy is the easy and fast part. It’s the diep that takes 6 to 8 hours.
I don’t know if that helps at all, but i don’t believe they’d let just anyone cut you open.
If you have a look on facebook, you might also find a local breast cancer group and you might find others on there who’ve had same surgeon. Try searching ‘breast mates’ then post anonymously to ask if anyone had a mastectomy with named dr.
Best of luck. X
Hi sea.views
Thanks for posting.
It’s understandable that you would like to meet the breast surgeon doing your mastectomy, so that you have confidence in the person performing your operation. As @bluesatsuma says, it’s a big operation so understandable that you want it to go well. Sometimes it’s easier to talk these queries through on the phone, so if you feel able, do call our helpline.
You say that you get to meet the breast surgeon for the first time the afternoon prior to your operation. There isn’t a particular way to find out if your surgeon is good, but it’s important for you to have met them and built a rapport, so that you trust them to do your operation. It’s not unreasonable to ask if it is possible to meet them before your surgery. If you have a breast care nurse it would be helpful to let them know that it is making you worried sick and how its impacting on your life and ask if they can make an appointment for you to meet with the surgeon.
You may find our breast reconstruction and your operation and recovery booklets helpful to read.
Talking to someone who has had a similar experience can often be helpful. Our Someone Like Me service can match you with a trained volunteer who’s had a similar experience to you. You can be in touch with your volunteer by phone or email and they can share their personal experiences to answer your questions, offer support or simply listen to how you are feeling.
You can ring the Someone Like Me team on 0800 138 6551 or email them at someone.likeme@breastcancernow.org, so they can then match you to your volunteer.
We also offer a range of free supportive services which you may be interested in.
As mentioned above do call our helpline if you would like to talk this through or have any further questions. The helpline team have time to listen, talk things through and signpost you to more support and information if necessary. Your call will be confidential, and the number is free from UK landlines and all mobile networks. The number is 0808 800 6000, If you have hearing or speech difficulties prefix our number with 18001 and the call will go through Relay UK. Our helpline has access to telephone interpreters if language translation is required.
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Best wishes
Louise
Breast Care Nurse
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