Did your BS take pre-surgical photos?

IM2C

Did anyone else's breast surgeon take photos of their breast(s) at an appointment? At my first appointment with my surgeon, he marked up my breast with a marker (made circles around the areas where the tumors were), then took out an iPhone (his? the hospital's? Not sure...) and started taking pictures. He said something like, "this is just so we know where the tumors are." It seemed odd to me at the time and I've been uneasy with it ever since. This was not a plastic surgeon. This was just my regular breast surgeon. I'm thinking of asking about this at the hospital but I'm trying to get a sense of whether this is standard practice or not. Thank you all...

Runrcrb

my breast surgeon didn’t take photos. My plastic surgeon did and those were taken in a specific room in the office for photos and a female nurse was present every time. My face was not in the photos

If you are uncomfortable say something.

DodgersGirl

my BS wanted to take photos. I would not sign the release so no photos we taken. My BS was not pleased and it took a while for us to get over that event. I had watched some of the videos of talks BS had given and saw lots of those images of other women. There was no way to recognize anyone from these photos was the face was never visible but I was sure I wanted NO part of that

rlmessy

IM2C - I have heard of plastic surgeons doing this but as another poster mentioned after they have received your consent.

I have cared for my Moms BC for 13 years and no one ever asked to take pictures. And, now with my own DX I have not been asked.

One doctor just had me raise my shirt, almost like I was flashing him, so he could examine my breasts. My hubby was in the room with us at the time plus a nurse and I still thought that was very odd and I was uncomfortable. I mentioned it to the nurse after the appointment and she seemed like it was standard practice for him. I did not chose him as a doctor and that was one reason why.

I would say something if you felt uncomfortable regardless of what standard procedures are. It sounds like he did not obtain your consent and that is wrong.

Artista928

only my ps before and after recon. That was expected for recon.

Bean1963

Yes my surgeon took pictures

Betrayal

IM2C: Your surgeon should have obtained consent before he took pictures. Even a PS should obtain consent for pictures.

rlmessy: As far as the surgeon asking you to "flash" him while your husband was in the room violates the basic rights for your privacy. He should have asked for your permission. Would he want his wife present for his digital rectal exam or you for that fact? Geez what are these guys thinking?

Even with consent you have the right to know what they intend to do with the pictures. So if you limit access to your records only versus permitting them to use in a presentation or journal article for publication, you have a say. MY RO took photos and I restricted their use to my record only. I did not want to read an article they published and see my breasts as one of their examples. I also requested copies of all the photos that were taken for my own records.

MinusTwo

My BS and my PS both took pictures - but as mentioned above there is no face in the shots. Both docs had a nurse in the room even though my BS is a female. The PS has requested pictures sporadically, but again, asks my permission, there's a nurse in the room and there is no identifying face.

Scrafgal

Only my plastic surgeon took photos.. with a professional camera not an I-phone...and the nurse was in the room. An i-phone seems creepy to me....just sayin....

Rrobin0200

only my PS took before and after pics, with my written consent. My BS did not take pictures.

Dreamer1

Both BS #1 that I consulted and the PS that she referred me took photos. BS #1 took some photos with what looked like her iPhone. Yes, I wondered about digital security (are those photos in her iCloud?). The PS had a nurse take photos with a "real" camera, and those photos were uploaded to my medical record. The BS #2 who I ended up choosing did not take photos.

Dreamer1

Both BS #1 that I consulted and the PS that she referred me took photos. BS #1 took some photos with what looked like her iPhone. Yes, I wondered about digital security (are those photos in her iCloud?). The PS had a nurse take photos with a "real" camera, and those photos were uploaded to my medical record. The BS #2 who I ended up choosing did not take photos.

Dreamer1

Both BS #1 that I consulted and the PS that she referred me took photos. BS #1 took some photos with what looked like her iPhone. Yes, I wondered about digital security (are those photos in her iCloud?). The PS had a nurse take photos with a "real" camera, and those photos were uploaded to my medical record. The BS #2 who I ended up choosing did not take photos.

ItsHandled444

Yes, my BS asked first and said they were for before and after photos. She showed me the photos and there was no image of my face. I thought it was a good idea esppecially now that I have so much shrinkage on the treated side from radiation. And yes, it was an iphone.