Not My BFF? (Cancerventures)
“Wisdom is supreme; so acquire wisdom. And whatever you may acquire, gain understanding.”
Proverbs 4:7
There are all kinds of personality types out there. And that includes the medical/cancer treatment team.
This brings up the “short-term-versus-long-term” question, especially if you and someone on your care team are not compatible.
Can you “stick it out?”
Or do you need to cut and run?
Your choices are valid.
If you feel that you are not being heard and understood, you have the right to make changes.
“For which of you, wanting to build a tower, does not first, having sat down, count the cost, whether he has the things for its completion.”
Luke 14:28
(Cancerventures Book Excerpt):
I felt that my surgeon was hindering me from selecting the choices I felt best about. All of this was while reiterating, it was my choice.
Well, Doc, I’m trying to make my choice, but you seem to be an obstacle here.
It was here I discovered my surgeon was my adversary.
And, once I received the good news about my second biopsy’s benign results, Dr. M.
naturally assumed I was ready to go full steam ahead with the lumpectomy.
Nope.
“I decided to pursue a bilateral mastectomy.”
“Oh. Can you tell me your reasons why you’ve come to this decision?”
“I am done with this rollercoaster testing: mammograms, ultrasounds, biopsies, excruciating waiting periods of anxiety to get test results. I wanted a clean sweep. I don’t want to go through this again.”
“I can understand your perspective.”
I scheduled another office appointment for August 31st to discuss this mastectomy surgery. Of course, I was filled with questions, reading up on all things Breast cancer. This was especially the case concerning my lymph nodes.
Ah yes, my lymph nodes. Where do I start?
Lymphedema freaked me out. In my Breast cancer information folder, there was material on its risks and the maintenance following surgery and node removal. I was not heartened by what I read.
Some women develop this condition, creating mobility issues, pain and swelling of the arm. When you mess with the Lymphatic system, and its drainage mechanism, this is what can happen. I asked Dr. M…
“How many lymph nodes were typically removed during surgery?”
“Oh, not many. Only six or seven.”
“Six or seven? That seems like a lot. Could you only take one or two?” (Here I am, negotiating).
“Well, it’s really not that many.”
(In my mind, silently, “Well, it’s really not your body.”) …
