Don’t want surgery

I’ve been told that I have grade 3 DCIS with comedo -necrosis. I can’t have radiotherapy because of pre-existing conditions so my oncologist has said that a mastectomy is essential.

i had an absolutely horrible time in hospital for my wide local excision - surgery went fine, breast care service pre and post great but my experience on the ward was absolutely horrific. I had to stay overnight and discharged myself at 5.30am. I hadn’t been offered anything to eat or drink, saw a nurse once a few hours after surgery, was in bed next to a woman with dementia who shouted all night and who staff neglected and abused.

I’ve put a formal complaint in, but am now very, very anxious about any future admission based on what I experienced. I can’t go private because I have a complex medical history and they don’t have the resources that I may need.

So for the moment I’m going to rely on monitoring and keep my fingers crossed. Not sure why I’m posting - maybe for other perspectives, anyone else made this decision? Any advice?

Hi,

I am sorry to hear your hospital stay was traumatic. Do you know you would have to stay post mastectomy as I had this as a day patient?

I think with reconstruction you may be asked to stay over but may be worth speaking to your Consultant?

I would also suggest speaking to the PALS team at your hospital telling them your concerns, to see if anything they could offer, if indeed you did return for any overnight stays in the future. Maybe a meeting with the ward manager/matron could help…

Good luck

laura