Twenty Questions to ask about your Surgeon

August 3, 2011

W. Lee Bourland, Jr, MD

Article

How to know if you're getting good advice about Breast Disease and Breast Cancer

1) well informed about possible alternatives to a surgical biopsy including image-guided biopsy?

__ Yes

__ No

2) given an accurate description of your breast following the surgical procedure?

__ Yes

__ No

3) offered a meaningful interpretation of pathology results including possible predictors of future breast cancer ?

__ Yes

__ No

4) instructed in the need for future follow-up with either your surgeon or your primary physician?

__ Yes

__ No

5) told when to obtain your next mammogram?

__ Yes

__ No

6) well-informed about breast conservation and alternatives to mastectomy?

__ Yes

__ No

7) offered sentinel node biopsy as an alternative to surgical removal of multiple levels of lymph nodes under the arm ( axillary node dissection)?

__ Yes

__ No

8) thus advised and was the sentinel node mapping and biopsy successful in identifying the lymph node(s) most likely to contain metastatic cancer cells?

__ Yes

__ No

9) advised about the possibility of arm swelling (lymphedema) after removal of underarm lymph nodes?

__ Yes

__ No

10) clearly informed about the need for additional treatment after surgery including radiotherapy?

__ Yes

__ No

11) and including systemic chemotherapy?

__ Yes

__ No

12) advised about the risk for recurrence or re-occurrence within the breast treated for breast cancer?

__ Yes

__ No

13) advised about the risk for recurrence of the cancer in other organs of the body (metastasis)?

__ Yes

__ No

14) offered breast reconstruction of the breast following mastectomy?

__ Yes

__ No

15) advised about the risk for a second cancer in the opposite or remaining breast?

__ Yes

__ No

16) informed about genetic tests for familial breast cancer?

__ Yes

__ No

17) advised about the controversy regarding the continued use of hormone replacement therapy after the diagnosis of breast cancer?

__ Yes

__ No

18) informed about preventive measures or medications that prevent future new breast cancers?

__ Yes

__ No

19) instructed how to enroll in clinical trials testing drugs and other measures for the prevention of future new breast cancers?

__ Yes

__ No

20) informed about the availability of focus groups devoted to the emotional and spiritual support of women with breast cancer?

__ Yes

__ No

My age is:

__20-50

__50-65

__>65

References:

This questionnaire prepared by W. Lee Bourland, Jr. MD for General Surgery Associates of North Texas (GSANT), and is restricted for the use of GSANT members except with written consent from Dr. Bourland.

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