National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc.

Well I had my surgery on Thurs June 26 and It was ok..
I was suppose to go in for a double mastectomy woke up the doctor only did one side.I was so mad. It seems everything I requested was ignored. The doc did not want to do a mas let alone a double since the cancer was in my left breast only. All he talked about was reconstruction. (I have nodules which have come about in the last year in the right breast so I felt confident to get that one off to.) He kept talking about reconstruction and only doing a particial mastectomy when I was in his office.I told my husband I hope the doctor s up to standing the whole surgery cause of his weight and age. His secretary told me I had to be firm with my request for a double mastectomy because he tries to talk women out of them
He went on and on about statictics about there being very minimual difference with a particial as aposed to a total mastectomy. I told him I am sure I want both gone.
The other request I had and made clear was Do not talk to me after surgery. Tell
My husband results but please wait till I am in my room fully awake and with someone what they found with the surgery and the lymph nodes Just so I could fully understand what was going on. I've had so much information to digest I wanted to be awake and sure someone heard what I heard. I also
did not want to be going in and out of sleep with stuff in my head and more anxiety. Well I did not quite wake up in recovery and he came and told me that he made a medical decision to only take one. I guess my husband told him I would be pissed and yelled at him thats why he came to talk to me in recovery. I was in no shape to confront him at that point. Later I found out his medical decision (to treat me as if
I was his wife, His words) was he thought I would have so much to deal with later with kemo and stuff that He felt it better not to take the other breast.
He was worried how I would function with one arm being less operative since they took out 23 nodes. 3 were positive and I do not find out till this week how many others are if any.I had pain after only because of dumb medical people who put an IV and blood pressure cup on my left arm) Big note above bed Do Not Use Iv or blood pressure on left arm. No nodes.... I opted to go in the hospital because of having both breast done I felt if any complications I was in a hospital.
I did well. My drains were draining, the pain was minimual, I did not even want pain meds that night and took none at home I went home 23 hours later I was considered out patient then. Big deal to insurance co on how they pay.
My feeling is he kept saying how large chested I am and how he could have someone still reduce my right and reconstruct my left breast.He actally had come
back to the hospital that night around 9 pm to tell me this. I was just like a dear in
headlights. Bu t he said he would gladly do my right one later If I decide to. UGG. I couldnt sleep very well with all this in my head and I cried in the morning. I have this large right breast that keeps getting in the way. I am healing on the left one only to have to wait for what kemo and radiation and then another surgery. no way. so now we told him I want my right breast off before I decide on what else to do. but for me that means another surgery with chance of infection, lung problems, uniary tract infection and loss of blood with my anemia, Not to mention the weeks of healing and dealing with these dang drains again on the right side before I am healthy to start any treatment. Now I have 4 to 5 weeks depending on my husband to check my stiches and tape me as apposed to 2. I have always been modest even
with my husband and now I have to stand in front of him helpless.
I hope I have more answers. The doctor was suppose to see me Mon and now he will not be in this week and referred me to someone else in his office that I could see while he is out. I was hoping to be healing from it all by now ready for the next journey of stuff. Some people just don't get it when you say remove both breast. they act like you will feel less of a person and go crazy or something. I see how nasty my chest looks it is pretty sunken and deformed because of the large breast taken off but i can deal with it. why can't they.