I am 30 years old and was diagnosed with breast cancer, specifically invasive ductal carcinoma. Before my diagnosis, I didn't even know what that meant. Now I have been forced into a reality where I not only know what it means but my doctors appointments and daily thoughts are filled with other previously unfamiliar words like neoadjuvant therapy, metastases, HER2 and triple negative.

I started this blog in hopes that some of the information I share may be helpful to other young women in a similar situation. Rather than posting my day to day experiences, feelings and progress, I plan to share some of the things I have learned along the way. Being dealt this hand in life at 30 years old brings with it some unique issues and questions. Will I ever have kids? How will this affect my relationships with my husband and friends? What is my long term prognosis?

Through this site you may find that my way of dealing with things is a bit different. I want to be educated about my disease and take an active role in my treatment and recovery. I want to understand every part of my pathology report, what it means, and feel confident that my doctors are recommending the best course of action. At each stage in my journey, I have experienced challenges with finding answers to my questions and ensuring that the medical professionals treating me really understand who I am and why my way of dealing with this disease may be unlike other women. My hope is that people will be able to relate to my experiences, learn from them and find some comfort that they are not alone.

Monday, 10 August 2015

A Second Opinion

In the 3 weeks following my diagnosis, I met with so many doctors, I could not keep them straight. The process by which doctors were assigned to me was a bit frustrating as rather than picking my team of doctors based on their merits and recommendations, I felt like I had very little choice. This was both a good and a bad thing:

The Good
This process was quick - I was able to meet with a medical oncologist, surgeon and radiation oncologist all within 2 weeks of being diagnosed.

The Bad
What if I wanted a second opinion? What if I am not comfortable with one of the doctors?

I felt like I was being pulled in different directions as it was a balancing act...I didn't want to delay treatment but at the same time, wanted a second opinion regarding the surgery. I also didn't like how I was made to feel like a second opinion wasn't allowed. Questions from doctors about why I would want to consult with another surgeon and being given the run around when trying to figure out how to get a referral were things that I was not expecting to deal with. The advice that I would offer to anyone in a similar situation is to go with your gut. If you are not comfortable with one of your doctors, you have every right to explore other options. The healthcare system in Canada is different than the US but just because I am not paying out of pocket, doesn't mean that I should feel like I am being cornered into making a decision that will affect the rest of my life. In the end, I did end up getting a second opinion and am glad I did.
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