Second Opinions and More!

This is a post that I have been thinking of writing for awhile. Two weeks ago my Aunt suggested I get a second opinion just to make sure I am on the right track for my surgery and for the chemo. I decided to go to Duke Cancer Center to meet with their team.
When I first called I didn't get that warm feeling when you call an office. To be honest I almost quiet right there, but I decide to go ahead. Then they called me back to make all the appointments I told them the dates and times I was available because of my limited schedule at work. I made all my appointments and thought we were all set for Monday the 12th. Then I get a call back. They had me mixed up with another patient and cancelled all my appointments and moved them to Wednesday, when I told them I had Chemo on Wednesday I needed the appointments for that Monday they put me back in. This did not go over well with me. If they can't get my appointments right how can they get my treatment right? I decided to go ahead with all the appointments and see what they had to say.
I am glad that I did. I was told that they would do the same Chemo with me as I am getting now for the same time frame. I was pretty happy with this. They still say I will have Radiation after the surgery and maybe more Chemo but they wouldn't know that until after my surgery. So because I started at the Cancer Center of NC I will stay there for my 8 Chemo sessions and then more to Duke for the surgery.
This is where it was interesting and differed from the original surgeon that I saw and the plastic surgeon.

The Duke Doctor (Rachel A. Greenup, MD) stated that she would only remove the cancer breast during the initial surgery and all of my lymph nodes since they are positive. The reason for the one breast removal is less of a chance of infection. Since the right breast is healthy there is no need to take it right away. Once that is done I would start Chemo and/or Radiation. Once the radiation is complete I would then have another surgery to remove the right breast and also have what is called a TRAM Flap surgery (http://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/surgery/reconstruction/types/tram) this is actually better since I like the idea of not having to get new implants in 20 years, and as an added bonus I get a tummy tuck.

I really liked the Breast Surgeon Dr. Greenup and the Medical Oncologist Dr. Kelly Mitchell. I am going to switch over to Duke once Chemo is finished. My next appointment is in January and the then I will also meet with the Plastic Surgeon and the Radiation Oncologist.

So I guess it was a good thing that I went today and am happy with everything that was said.