There is so much information out there, it was important to stick to reliable sources. I looked at the American Cancer Sociey website cancer.org which has a lot of information about my specific cancer. Seems that the medically accepted procedure is to have a mastectomy or a lumpectomy followed by radiation and possibly chemotherapy. Some of the treatment process is not known until surgery is performed.
After checking with friends and family and my doctor, I decided to go see Dr. Steven Goldberg for a surgery consult in Stockton. Another friend suggested UC Davis Cancer Center (thanks Kathy) since they are on the cutting edge of cancer treatment and also do clinical trials to test new procedures that are not part of main-stream medical treatment YET. Decided to see Dr. Goldberg first and get a second opinion at UCD.
Mom met me at doctor's office on 2/22/11 to consult with Dr. Goldberg. She had the tape recorder and note pad so I was sure to get everything the doctor said. Hard to remember everything they tell you. He did confirm what I already suspected....he recommends a lumpectomy and a sentinel node biopsy with radiation. The node biopsy will tell them if the cancer has spread to other parts of my body. Radiation will take about 6 weeks. If the cancer has spread, then I would need chemotherapy. The lab work takes a week or so to come back, so I won't know right away if it has spread.
Spoke with Dr. Goldberg about getting a second opinion at UCD. He completely agreed that I should do whatever I need to do to be sure I have all the information I need to make a decision on treatment, but I should have it taken care of within 6 weeks of diagnosis. He suggested my regular doctor handle the referral, so I called them later that same day, the 22nd, to request my records be sent to UCD.
Called UC Davis to go over the new patient procedures. Once they receive all my records, they will have them reviewed. That takes about two weeks!! Then they will call me to schedule an appointment, which is another week out. Time being of the essence, I really want to be sure this process goes as quick as possible!
Called my doctor's office to follow up because I don't want to be waiting too long for UCD. They had already sent my records over the afternoon of the 23rd!
On my way back to my office, I stopped by the women's imaging center where I had the mammogram and biopsy done to request copies of my records at my mom's suggestion. To my surprise, they put all my info on a CD so I have copies that I can take with me to UCD. They don't need the images until I go for an appointment.
So now I sit and wait for UC Davis to call me.
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