| If you just discovered that you have breast cancer, | | | | A sensible goal is to have treatment under way |
| it is perfectly normal to be in a state of shock. But | | | | within three to four weeks after diagnosis. Is it |
| you must keep positive and remember: | | | | dangerous to wait that long? The answer is |
| Something can be done! This is a difficult problem, | | | | straightforward: Though growth rates for different |
| but it is possible to deal with it. A program can be | | | | types of breast cancer can vary, there is no |
| devised that will help. | | | | evidence of a measurable change for any of them in |
| Breast cancer is certainly not an illness one would | | | | a period of three or four weeks. |
| choose to have, but it does respond to treatment. | | | | If you have selected a surgeon and then are told he |
| The most productive attitude for both the doctor | | | | cannot operate for a week or two, that is probably |
| and the patient is to approach the illness with a | | | | fine. Most surgeons will try to schedule your |
| determined and optimistic pragmatism. | | | | procedure as soon as possible. Excellent surgeons are |
| After the shock, faced with the knowledge that you | | | | bound to be busy, but it is almost certainly worth |
| have breast cancer, you have to be as smart as you | | | | waiting a short time for a surgeon with both superior |
| can be. First, consider again whether the doctor who | | | | technical skill and sound judgment. |
| has presented you with the diagnosis is the right one | | | | In fact, there is a tricky point to consider: If a breast |
| to continue taking care of you. At this point, many | | | | specialist can take you right away, it is legitimate to |
| insurance companies require a second opinion, before | | | | wonder if he is busy enough to be the right person |
| any further surgery. Even if your policy does not | | | | for you. Surgeons who have excellent track records, |
| have that restriction, you should consider whether | | | | judgment, and experience are almost certain to have |
| you want to seek that second opinion. | | | | crowded schedules, and will rarely be able to operate |
| Find someone whose attitude, skill, and compassion | | | | immediately. Under most circumstances, they are also |
| allow him to say to you, verbally or through his | | | | worth waiting for, not only because, in the language |
| reputation and demeanor, "I care about you. I am | | | | of the trade, they know "how to cut," they also |
| here to help you. I can do it well. There is hope." | | | | know "what to cut." |
| You should feel, after your search, your consultation, | | | | Scheduling an operation may also take a little longer if |
| and your deliberation, "You are the one I have | | | | two surgeons are needed, as when reconstruction is |
| decided to trust. I will participate in all decisions, but I | | | | done immediately after a mastectomy. Nonetheless, |
| want you to be my ombudsman, an expert with | | | | getting through the waiting period, or the period in |
| whom I can share the responsibility for evaluating | | | | which you are making your choices and decisions, can |
| and treating my illness." If you cannot enter into a | | | | be very difficult. Some women rush to action. They |
| relationship with a doctor feeling confident about | | | | want to get the whole thing over with, to get the |
| both those declarations, look elsewhere. | | | | cancer out of their bodies as quickly and thoroughly |
| Some of the considerations here are psychological, | | | | as possible. Other women can get stuck in conflicting |
| some medically significant. Whichever factors you | | | | advice, getting so much information that they |
| want to assess, you should move with all deliberate | | | | unnecessarily complicate what might otherwise be a |
| speed - but you should not, even at this point, rush | | | | fairly simple procedure. |
| into a hasty decision. | | | | |