Hi, So my journey starts tomorrow, going to the surgeon so appears op before anything else. What questions have others wished they had asked when they saw the surgeon? Not aware yet of what is going to be offered. look forward to hearing from you. Cazzy X
Hi Cazzy.
I don’t remember what I asked but I do remember forgetting some stuff I was told so it may be handy to take notes…Having said that all the details are included in the letter they send to the GP though your copy can take forever to arrive.
Good luck.
I’ve been told that lumpectomies and mastectomies are both normally day cases as hospitals like to get patients home again as soon as it is safe to do so. You might like to discuss with the surgeon your past experiences with anaesthetics and morphine, in case you need an overnight stay. I made sure they knew I have a very bad reaction to morphine and am violently sick for about 12 afterwards, recovering after about 24, so they readily said I could stay overnight. Otherwise I would have been down as a day case.
Everyone is different of course, but they offered me the choice between a lumpectomy and a mastectomy, so it could help to get them to talk through both procedures if they don’t do that automatically. I became a bit bogged down with having to make the choice, so I asked the surgeon what she advised herself. She replied that they advise a lumpectomy unless the tumour is very large and is spreading around the breast, or unless the breast is small so the tumour is taking up a large proportion of it. With a lumpectomy there is a very slight risk they will not have removed a large enough clear margin, so I might have to return for a mastectomy, but she thought that risk was small.
She also explained that whilst removing the sentinel lymph node for biopsy, the tests they use combining an isotope and blue dye will indicate which, if any, lymph nodes have been affected by the cancer so which they have to remove during your operation. Whether or not lymph nodes have been affected will determine whether chemo is necessary.
You might like to ask about the tests they use and how soon results will be through after the operation, how the tests will determine which teatments might be offered and what the likely side effects would be, and when treatments would start.
They do ask for a complete list of medications you are taking at the moment, so with that list I took a breakdown of my medical history with main events, dates, medications taken in the past and the reactions to them. (I had a very difficult menopause and couldn’t tolerate HRT.) I gave a copy to the cancer nurse and also to the nurse practitioner at the pre-op assessment and they said it was very helpful. It also helped me keep on track when talking to the surgeon, and meant I had dates and details to hand when otherwise stress would have fogged my memory.
For me, a large part of the difficulty of this experience is likely to be the psychological aspects of dealing with treatments. The surgeon said they have a clinical psychologist available to help with these, so I’ve asked to be put down on their list.
I hope that gives you some ideas for questions to ask.
How did it go Cazzy? I was just about to post a new thread about what to ask at my treatment/surgery plan appointment on Monday. I’m seeing the breast surgeon and not sure what to ask so this thread is proving helpful. I don’t want to feel pressurised but my surgeon is ‘fitting me in’ at 8.30am before she starts her day’s operations. In the words of my breast cancer nurse they need to ‘crack on’ as my MRI showed my tumour may be twice the size they originally thought and further biopsies show I also have a tumour in the other breast. I know every situation is personal but I’d like to write some questions down so I don’t forget. What questions did you find most helpful? I was originally expecting a lumpectomy followed by radiotherapy but have been told to expect my treatment plan to change following the most recent findings.
Best Wishes
Clare
Morning Cazzy, everyone too numerous to mention.
I’m sorry your news wasn’t good. Fingers crossed for the best possible outcome when you have your MRI.
That’s good Cazzy, what a shock for you. This is a really good thread you’ve started- thank you. I’m meeting the surgeon on Monday so am taking all this in. Fingers crossed my MRI hasn’t shown up anything unexpected, will feel so much better when I have a few answers. xxx
Hi Cazzy,
The mri has to be reported, so usually as Charys says, the results come through later. In my case, I had the mri a couple of days prior to surgery & apparently, the surgeon had to ask nicely for the results in time, so that the surgery planned could proceed.
It always nice to have someone with you, but it’s usually just the scan that happens.
ann x
Bloody hell Cazzy, it never rains but it pours.
I’d be giving them hell on Friday when you see them. I got my appointment to see thw surgeon cancelled twice and finally saw him at the third attempt. First thing I did when I saw him was to point it out and moan about it.
I hope your mum recovers quickly and well.
Sally
Bless you cazzy this is dreadful and how you must be feeling must’ve dreadful and not helping at all. Write it all up in a letter and take personally to PALS and insist it is actions and that you need a response ASAP including results and outcome. I had similar a few years go with my daughter and you do have to be persistent with them but like most things every hospital will be different in their actions. The time scale is not good at all. Like others have said I would to go balistic and want answers as to why. Take care.
Sorry to read about your mum Cazzy,
I hope you’re bearing up and find the opportunity to be kind to yourself.
So sorry cazzy.
So sorry to hear your news, Cazzy & at this time as well.
Sending hugs
ann x
Cazzy
I’ve just caught up on this thread, so sorry to hear about your mum. That is so hard to deal with when you have so many other things to worry about, you must still be in shock.
I hope your meeting tomorrow does go ahead so you can start to make some progress on that front.
Sending you a hug
Xxx
Great news Cazzy - have some you time over the weekend - some nice treats before girding your loins to deal with your Mums funeral .