I still remember the day. My phone rang while I was cooking dinner, and my GP’s voice had that careful tone. Three days later, I was sitting across from a breast surgeon, clutching my handbag so tightly my knuckles went white.
That was five years ago. Now, as someone who’s been through it all, I wanted to share what the journey with a breast cancer surgeon looks like – not the clinical leaflet version, but the real human experience. Because let’s face it, when you’re thrown into this spinning world, everything feels overwhelming.
The search for the right doctor can be daunting. Breast cancer surgeons London specialists vary in credentials and their approach to offering patient care. During those first weeks after diagnosis, I spoke with three different surgeons before finding one who felt right. Trust your gut feeling – it matters more than you might think.
The Weird Limbo of Treatment Planning
This was the hardest bit for me. After diagnosis, I expected things to move at lightning speed. Instead, there were more scans, a discussion with the “multidisciplinary team” (a room full of doctors who discuss your case), and what felt like endless waiting.
I panicked, convinced the cancer was spreading while we debated options. My surgeon reassured me that taking two weeks to make the right decision wouldn’t impact my outcome. She was right, but those weeks were torture.
Surgery Day: The Surprising Calm in the Storm
After weeks of anxiety, surgery day was oddly peaceful. The decision had been made. Things were in motion. My surgeon visited me before the operation, still in her street clothes. She marked my chest with a permanent marker, confirmed the plan again, and asked if I had any last questions.
The one thing that caught me off guard was the anesthesiologist’s question about whether I wanted anti-nausea medication. Of course, I did! Some people decline. Who are these mysterious nausea-immune superhumans?
That evening, my surgeon called my sister not a nurse my actual surgeon. It was brief, but it meant everything to me to know she cared enough to make that call herself.
Recovery: When Your Emotions Don’t Match Your Expectations
I’d braced myself for physical pain, but the emotional recovery blindsided me. Three days post-surgery, I burst into tears because I couldn’t open a jar of pasta sauce. It wasn’t about the sauce.
What felt strangest was that everyone kept congratulating me. “The surgery went well!” But I didn’t feel like celebrating. I felt mutilated, vulnerable, and terrified of what the pathology report would show.
My surgeon normalized these feelings rather than dismissing them. “This is grief,” she said, “and it’s appropriate. You’ve lost something – not just breast tissue, but your sense of health and safety.”
Physical recovery milestones worth knowing:
- The surgical drains (if you have them) are more annoying than painful
- Raising your arm above your head might take weeks, not days
- The weird tingling/numbness can last months or even years
- You’ll need front-closing bras and loose tops for a while
The Long Game: Life After Active Treatment
Five years on, I still see my surgical team annually. These check-ups initially triggered significant anxiety (scanxiety, as the breast cancer community calls it), but they’ve become more routine.
I wish I’d understood earlier that your relationship with your breast surgeon doesn’t really end. They remain part of your medical team for years. Choose someone you can imagine talking to for a long time.
The fear of recurrence never completely vanishes. Every unusual ache makes me pause. But it’s no longer the first thing I think about each morning.
Choosing Your Surgeon: Beyond Credentials
If you’re at the beginning of this journey, here’s my hard-earned advice:
Find a surgeon who:
- Gives you time to ask questions without making you feel rushed
- Explain options in terms you understand without condescension
- Involves you in decisions rather than dictating what will happen
- Seems comfortable discussing both physical and emotional aspects of recovery
- Has experience with your specific type of breast cancer
Technical skill matters enormously, but don’t underestimate the importance of communication style. This person will see you vulnerable, scared, and possibly at your worst. You should feel safe with them.
Final Thoughts from the Other Side
Cancer changes you – that’s the truth. But it doesn’t have to define you.
My breast surgeon once told me, “My job isn’t just to remove cancer. It’s to help you live well beyond it.” The good ones understand that their technical skill is just one part of healing.
If you’re facing this journey now, please know being scared is okay. It’s OK to cry in the surgeon’s office (I did multiple times). It’s okay to ask for what you need. And it’s essential to find a surgeon who gets that.
The road isn’t easy, but you don’t have to walk it alone. And speaking from the other side – there is another side. You’ll get there.