When meeting with the surgeon, I was apprehensive, but knew my cancer was not going to be as intensive as Gene’s…mine was going to be a walk in the park. The surgeon and I discussed my options and decided on the lumpectomy, followed by the new procedure of having radiation 5 days a week but twice a day.

However, once he removed the lumpectomy, he called with the report.  When he mentioned pathology report, I froze over the phone because no one had mentioned this  to me.  From my previous experience with Gene, I knew this was not a good thing.  I do not remember what the doctor said, but I heard  him ask me what did I want to do and did I have any questions?  I realized he needed an answer from me, so I asked him what my game plan was going to be.  He told me to come into his office the next day for further discussion.

When the shoe was on the other foot, I asked questions on the spot with Gene’s doctors but when it concerned me, I couldn’t think of the first question.  However by the next day I had two pages of questions for the surgeon.  He spent plenty of time with me answering all of my concerns and then came up with a game plan.

However, he was going to have to go back in and remove the nipple because the tumor was located right behind the nipple…so I needed to have a second surgery….bummer.  After the 2nd surgery, now I could concentrate on the treatment, which was radiation for 5 days, twice a week.

Lesson learned:  ask plenty of questions.