Frustrated and Overwhelmed

justmaximom15

The week I was diagnosed I truly felt lucky to be able to get into appointments quickly (that week)with 2 breast surgeons. I took the weekend to decide on procedure and surgeon. Made the decision on 3/16 and for some crazy reason I thought we would schedule surgery that day or soon thereafter. Boy, was I wrong!

Because I decided on a lumpectomy with a reduction, I need to see a plastic surgeon. That appointment was made for 3/20 and while I'm sure he's quite capable, I did not care for him, his "bedside manner" or frankly anyone in his office. He even examined me without anyone else present which I've never had happen to me before. He didn't do anything inappropriate but it just made me feel uncomfortable. Now, here we are on 3/23 and I feel like I'm beginning all over again.

My BS works with two other PS at two other hospitals. The one I chose just called and they can't get to me until April 7th! The suggested PS for the other BS can get me in Thursday but that BS is out of town until April 13th.

Maybe I don't need to be in the rush that I feel that I am in. BS says I'm good waiting, especially since I have a beach trip planned for mid-April. She feels that I'll better enjoy that trip if I put surgery off until afterward. I just can't get over the feeling of having cancer in there and needing to get it out ASAP! I've even thought of throwing the towel in on the reduction in hopes that it will speed the process up.

Beachbum1023

Justmaximom, Whew, take a breathe, slow down and relax! Don't skip the trip, go and have the best time ever. Don't rush into anything until you feel confident with your choices, and the care team. That is so important, somethings we cannot have a do over, and you do not want to have regrets later. The cancer has been there for a while, so take the time now to get the best results for later. What you do today will impact the rest of your life. Have you finished all of the tests, do you have all of the info to make these decisions? Do you know Stage and Grade?

Look at the other threads, you will find a lot of answers to help you. Good Luck!

justmaximom15

Thanks, I know you're right I just need to take a deep breath but as I'm sure you know that is much easier said than done.

Grade 1 / Stage 1 and it's not considered fast growing. I don't have the BRCA test results yet and I'm not sure what's about the oncotype. The Radiation Oncologist I saw last week said that he was going to check to see if they could do the test from the tissue that was taken in the biopsy but I don't know where we are with that.

Dancermom1999

Hi:

I was diagnosed on Nov. 17th and did not have my surgery until Jan 3rd. Given your stats it is a slow growing small tumor and as my doctor told me we had weeks, not months but weeks.

justmaximom15

A few positive things happened last week. My BS called with my Brca 1 / Brca 2 results which were negative and based on her normal schedule with the PS she gave me a tentative date of 4/24 (my birthday actually) for surgery. The PS was also able to get me in prior to the 7th and that appt was this morning. Everything went great and I felt very comfortable and it was a positive experience. When I spoke with his patient relations coordinator though she didn't know that the 24th would work for his schedule but she said she would coordinate with my BS.

I'm much calmer than I was at the beginning of last week but I'll feel even better when the tentative date actually gets scheduled.

Kicks

I prefer to have just my Dr in the room with me for exams rather than having a second person standing there staring at me. The only exception is my Eye Surgeon and he always has a nurse in the room but she is always on the computer writing everything he says in as he says it but there is lot of info that needs to be gotten in the records.

The first time I saw my Surgeon when he came in an RN also came in, he did his exam and then asked me did I want the RN to stay while we talked - no. I do not remember either my Chemo Dr or Rads Dr ever asking me if I wanted an RN present but I wouldn't have - better (in my po' ole feeble 'brain' ) to deal 'one on one' with them. But then we are each different as to how we handle anything or what we are comfortable with.