Doctors, Doctors, and Even More Doctors....

This is always uncomfortable

When I tested positive for a mutation on the BRCA gene, I never imagined I would be seeing so many doctors. There are doctors for every little thing imaginable. Breast surgeons, gynecologic oncologists, genetic counselors, and so many others. I feel as if I'm seeing a different doctor every other week!

It is much better to be prepared and looked at as often as I am than to sit back and wonder if cancer is about to run itself wild within my body. One never knows when something crazy can happen! I guess it is much better to see all these doctors in my case.
Unfortunately, I recently learned that my breast surgeon has left the practice. To say the least, I was very heartbroken to see her go. She really set up a game plan for me and ordered my first MRI. I was comfortable with her and now she's gone.

You should always perform a breast exam on yourself!

So I had an appointment that I didn't cancel to see the NEW breast surgeon in the practice. To say the least, I wasn't very fond of her. She was a bit more aggressive towards me and wanted to put me on Tamoxifen! I am 21 years old! So I looked at her and said a meek no in response. I didn't want to make her mad, and I was also a bit frightened of her. I still cannot believe she even suggested putting me on the medication. It basically takes the estrogen from your body has been shown to help in preventing estrogen-based cancers. There is no guarantee that the cancer I'd receive would be estrogen-based. There is also no guarantee that it will completely help me. What I'm most concerned about is future fertility. She told me it would have no effect on me getting pregnant once I stopped taking the drug, but I definitely could not get pregnant while taking it. And while I don't plan on getting pregnant any time soon, I am very fearful that it will cause problems for me to conceive in the future.

The make up of Tamoxifen

The next thing she did was a breast exam. Now, the doctor's hands were very cold. So she started moving around and feeling me up. I always feel uncomfortable in these situations, but it is life. These doctors have felt my breasts up better than any guy ever has! Haha!
She suddenly stopped and then felt the same spot over and over again. I knew she wasn't happy about something. So she grabbed my hand and asked me to feel the spot. Then she chastised me for not doing it the way she wanted. She also became angry because frightened little me couldn't tell her if I recalled feeling this spot before.
She moved on to my other breast and felt the same thing, so she just told me to keep an eye on it because it was probably nothing.
So, all in all, I am now searching for a new breast surgeon, while anxiously searching my old one to see where she went. I would much prefer to have her back in my life than to be around yet another new doctor. So, Dr. I, if you see this please please please let me know where you are and allow me to be your patient again! From a very concerned BRCA2+ patient who may or may not be having panic attacks because you have disappeared.