He or she will give recommendations what type of surgery you should have and go over some possible issues that might result from surgery. You also may need some pre surgical tests done like an EKG, blood work, maybe a chest E-RAY if you have any ongoing lung issues. ❤️

I am very verbal and never embarrassed by it. If something hurts, I am going to speak up. I will never just 'grin and bear it' . Wincing means you feel it but are tolerating it.

My doctor also explained both procedures in detail but he would not give me a recommendation of which one to choose. He wanted it to be my choice. He instructed me to do my research and we discussed more at length on my follow up appointment. Once I told him my choice of a double mastectomy, he then said he agreed and felt that was the best choice considering I had two different types of cancer bilaterally.
Pre-surgery there was no indicators of it being in my lymph nodes but they still injected the dye just before surgery. He removed a total of seven Sentinel nodes and I had one node on one side come back positive. Also I’m sure it may be done differently by each doctor and hospital but no one told me until they had me in the Nuclear Medicine room of exactly WHERE the dye was going to be injected. Which was a good thing because I’m positive my anxiety would have gone through the roof. For me it was four shots in each nipple area. Thank goodness he numbed the area first.

At mine, Dr. Q did a physical exam, reviewed the biopsy information, drew a picture to explain my cancer, and informed me of my options. She took her time to describe both lumpectomy and mastectomy as well as axillary lymph node removal. After all that she asked if I had any questions. I had done my research so asked for her recommendations. She explained what her thoughts were and why. I felt validated and supported when her recommendations matched my choices. My appointment went very well and I connected with her. She put me at ease with the procedure and I moved forward with scheduling for a Savi Scout, and a lumpectomy with sentinel lymph node removal to see if as they believed my cancer was in sitsu.

My recommendation is to research and be informed. Ask the questions remembering, the only bad question is the one not asked. You are your best advocate.

Positive vibes and thoughts as you move through this journey.

On my first surgery, when they thought it was just a non-cancerous lump they were removing, my surgeon and her assistant used a mammogram machine to insert wires to guide her where to remove tissue. She injected to numb it but it hurt really bad because a blood vessel burst. They hurried to get me back to begin my surgery. And gave me some versed IV to put me to sleep. 2 days later my surgeon called to say my tumor was cancer and they didn't get it all. We have some great medical people but I wish they could have told it was cancer and finished removing it while I was asleep. My 2nd surgery, a radiatiologist gave me 2 injections iny breast to find my sentinel lymph nodes. He apologized for the pain. He said "the needle hurts and the medicine burns." He had an assistant hold my hand and told me to squeeze it as hard as I need to, and yell if I need to. With the 2nd injection, I yelled loudly.