Hi. I am sorry about your diagnosis. The process is difficult enough, the tough decions to be made, and even more so when you are not happy with your physicians. I have Triple Negaitve breast cancer, Stage I, and I decided (almost without hesitation) to have a bi-lateral mastectomy even though my tumor was fairly small. My parents both died from lung cancer that couldn't be operated on, and I vowed if surgery can remove my tumor, I would go all the way and take my risk factor as low as I could. This cancer is aggressive and I didn't want to have to think about an issue in the other breast at a later date. The mammograms, ultrasounds, biopsies, the waiting...ugh...I knew I just couldn't do it again. Thankfully I have wonderful medical people and a breast cancer center within twenty miles, so I didn't have to deal with what you have to. Have you talked to other patients in your area and gotten opinions on their doctors? Do you have choices? I hope you do; it is imperative you find someone you like and respect as you will have quite a few appointments ahead of you. It's taken me ten months from diagnosis through reconstruction (I have my last appointment with plastic surgeon next month), but I have not second-guessed my decision, not even once. You are going through so much right now, so much information coming at you. Please try to not let yourself be overwhelmed, and first and foremost, locate a doctor you feel comfortable with.
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September 2012