Seeing surgeon this Thursday - terrified. What should I ask?

Hi Ros, gosh I can understand why you feel so scared, but I'd take the positives in that things are moving quickly as the waiting is the worst for many people.

When I saw the surgeon I really wanted to know what surgery he recommended. I think there are 3 main options: lumpectomy (also called a wide local incision) a therapeutic mammoplasty (where they remove the lump and reduce the size of the breast) or a mastectomy (breast removal).  If they recommend a mastectomy then I'd want to know about reconstruction or if a mammoplasty I'd want to know about balancing the other side.

Macmillan have a great set of resources and this Surgery Questions page might help you to think about it.  I always took a notebook with me to help me remember and it's worth asking of someone can come in with you as even with Covid, some hospitals allow this.  At the very least I’d suggest someone drives you so you aren’t on your own.  Good luck

Thanks Irishgirl16. All really good advice and I have started to make a list of questions for Thursday. I think it came as a bit of a shock to be contacted so quickly but gradually getting my head round it.

Here are some possible questions:

1. What are my surgical options and why? Are these options specific to me?

2. What are the risks both during and after surgery.

3. Any preparation or further scans needed?

4. How long would the surgery take?

5. What happens during surgery?

6. Likelihood of needing a blood transfusion?

7. What should I expect when waking up after surgery?

8. How soon after surgery can I get out of bed, have a shower? Special instructions re bath/shower?

9. Length of hospital stay?

10. Any instructions regarding preparation, such as food and drink just before surgery, anything else?

11. Time frame for pathology report?

12. What symptoms to watch for once back home, what needs to be reported fast, and to whom?

13. Recovery time after surgery?

14. Any restrictions on activity after surgery? (Lifting?) What and for how long?

15. How soon after surgery can I drive?

16. If lymph nodes removed, what would that mean for the arm?

17. When and with whom the follow up appointment after surgery?

18. Who will decide any possible follow up treatment after each surgical option and when do I meet them?

19. Which ward would I be on and what are the contract numbers for the ward, scheduling, any pre-assessment nurse? email addresses?

20. What if you don't get clear margins?

21. Will I see a physio after?

22. What should I watch for once I get back home? Who do contact in case there are issues?

23. How do I get hold of you if more questions come to mind or issues arise, from now and until after surgery? (Phone number and email address of surgeon's secretary?)

Hi GreyCats. Thank you so much, what a comprehensive list of questions and so many that I would have though of. So kind of you. Ros. 

Well, we can both thank the forum. My draft list was shorter. I put it on here and asked for suggestion, same as you did, and people came up with good questions I had not thought of. By the time I got to the appointment I had an interrogatory that would not shame any lawyer. The above are just the general questions, then there were the ones that were case-specific to me...

Thanks GreyCats. It was so useful and I have thought of some additional questions relevant to my case.