1. First quesiton is what type of surgery. Is this a lumpectomy or a mastectomy? What type of result can you expect from each? What is the recovery time? What are your long term chances of recurrance with each of those options? How does this impact your continuing treatment (ex. lumpectomy usually involves radiation as well, whereas mastectomy would not)?

2. What can you expect from radiation? What are the side effects? Long term effects? How long would you be getting radiation?

3. If you're getting a lumpectomy, you can even ask about where the incision will be made, how big the scar will be, how long the surgery will take, etc. This will help you prepare yourself for the results.

4. Again, if you are going the route of lumpectomy, what happens if they do not get clear margins around the lump? Or what if the sentinel node biopsy comes back positive?

5. Long term effects of sentinel node biopsy and radiation on your lymph nodes and if he would be willing to refer you to a lymphedema specialist so you can educate yourself for what to watch for (should you get lymphedema). Your odds of lymphedema should generally be low, but better to know what to watch for than to be unprepared.

That's alot, I know. And probably overkill. But those are the things that go through my head.

Good luck!

I have a helpful list of questions from my upcoming book which I have shared with newly diagnosed women and I am happy to email to you directly

Lots of great resources and a toll free help line is at http://www.abcdbreastcancersupport.org/

Just as one person said, "Don't feel pressured to have reconstruction" I would say, "Don't feel pressured not to!"

I even made lemonade out of the "lemon" I was handed with my diagnosis. I was a "DD" cup and always wanted to be smaller. Clothes fit better when you're smaller and as you age, larger breasts just sag more. So I opted to have a reduction on the non-cancerous breast at the same time that I had the lumpectomy and reconstruction on the other side. I had been told by many women that they really felt self conscious (or worse) about their non-matching breasts, with one nipple pointing up and the other down, and/or tremendous size mismatch. So I did have a reduction in both breasts to a "C" cup. I am SO happy I did it! The reduction on the lumpectomy breast really can only be done at the time of the lumpectomy--after radiation you cannot do surgery successfully on it again due to the effects of radiation on the healthy tissue. Also, by doing everything at once, I only had to have one anesthesia, one surgery, and one recovery. That reduced the time and risk associated with it.

I heard a program the other day on my local PBS station in which women discussed the emotional effects of mastectomies and lumpectomies. It was so compelling--dozens phoned in to talk about how reluctant they were to be seen in public (gym locker rooms, dressing rooms, etc.) and how it made them feel self conscious. I didn't hear one woman call in to extoll the virtues of not having reconstruction! Don't worry about what others think--do what will make you feel best about yourself!

Ohhh, drains! What fun!!! It seems like a silly question to ask now, but check to see if the surgeon or hospital provides a mastectomy bra, one that velcros up the front and has Velcro pockets for the drains. It shouldn't be a deciding factor for you, but at least you can be prepared when you go into the hospital. My doc did give me one and I bought another which included the pockets. It's nice to go out of the house and have your drains securely attached to you, not hanging at your waist threatening to fall out for all the world to see. I found mine at womenspersonalhealth.com. Look for the post surgery kit.