Where to go for treatment

Kkubsky

I don't know if everyone has the same issue but I just cannot seem to decide where to go for treatment. I met with a local surgeon last week. I really liked her. I am also going to meet with another surgeon for a 2nd opinion at Yale. I would also like to go for a consult at Dana Farber. How much investigation is too much? I am driving myself crazy. The local surgeon works at a teaching hospital fairly close to me. Certainly not as prestigious as Yale or Dana Farber. How do yo decide? Of course I want to go to the best but I don't want to travel needlessly if I can have the same care closer to home....

Caber224

Kkubsky, I was in your position last summer. Please see my story in an earlier post. It is scary to be diagnosed, and the initial processing of treatment options can feel overwhelming and unclear. I, too was initially seen at the local hospital and the surgeons, nurses and other staff were wonderful, but I was given one option for treatment - a double mastectomy and implant reconstruction. I sought a second opinion at a top tier medical institution because I wanted options. It is a personal decision and you really have to decide what level of risk you can live with. I wanted to avoid a mastectomy if at all possible and was able to do that. The top tier institution treats more than 9,000 cases of breast cancer a year. I was the 7th case of breast cancer at my local institution tin 2015. I wanted a team that had seen it all, and was current on the treatment of DCIS. I couldn't be happier with my team - they are stellar. You have been diagnosed with something that is very treatable with a long term survival rate of 98-99%. Find a team that makes you feel comfortable and takes the time to answer your questions. My hospital offers a mentor program and emotional support along with other ancillary services to breast cancer patients. That might be something that would be helpful to you.