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Questions to ask your breast surgeon
The breast surgeon does the mastectomy itself. Take this with you — you are allowed to ask any of it.
You don't have to ask them all. Start with the ones in bold — the rest are there if you want them.
About the operation
- Exactly what type of breast cancer do I have?
- How big is it, and where exactly is it?
- Has it spread to my lymph nodes?
- Who will go over my pathology report with me, and will that be a phone call or sitting down together? Can I keep a copy?
- What type of mastectomy will I have, and what are the risks?
- Can I keep my nipples? Am I a candidate, what are the risks, will they have sensation, and will the tissue behind them be checked during the operation?
- If I have a choice — what should I weigh in deciding between lumpectomy with radiation and mastectomy?
- How does the choice of surgery affect my risk of this coming back?
- Could chemotherapy before surgery change what operation is possible?
- How will my chest look afterward? How much sensation will I have, and where?
- How many of these do you do each year?
About the lymph nodes
- Will you remove any lymph nodes, and how many?
- Am I a candidate for a sentinel node biopsy rather than taking more?
- Will I be at risk of lymphedema, and will someone teach me the symptoms and the precautions?
- Will my arm movement be limited — how much, for how long, and will I need exercises or physical therapy?
Working with your plastic surgeon
- Which reconstructive surgeons do you work with regularly, and recommend?
- How will the two of you plan the mastectomy and the reconstruction together?
- Will the choices made now affect what reconstruction is possible later?
Recovery
- How long is the operation, and how long will I be in the hospital?
- How many drains will I have, for how long, and how much help will I need at home?
- How much pain should I expect, and how will it be managed?
- When could I drive, work, lift, swim and exercise again?
- Will you give me instructions for scar care and desensitization?
- Which side effects should I expect, and which should I report right away?
- What follow-up will I need, and when?
Is this person right for you?
I always like to find out about the person taking care of me. So I ask questions that tell me about them, not about the surgery.
- What made you choose breast surgery as your career?
- What's your favorite surgery to do?
- What music do you listen to in the operating room?
- Will you be doing the whole operation yourself, or will part of it be someone else?
- If something worries me after I'm home, who do I call — and who actually answers?
- Can I speak to a patient of yours who's had this done?
The questions about your diagnosis are from the American Cancer Society. The rest build on Considering Mastectomy? Questions to Research or Ask Your Surgeon (PDF) from FORCE, the hereditary cancer organization.
foobsontheloose.com — questions to ask your breast surgeon