Questions to Ask
1. Surgical options: Lumpectomy or mastectomy.
2. If mastectomy, modified radical or full mastectomy. In a full mastectomy, they remove
chest muscle also. In modified radical mastectomy, they leave chest muscle intact.
3. Will they be removing any axillary nodes from under the arm? Y/N
4. Length of stay in hospital ____________________. Many insurance companies insist in
drive-thru mastectomies. Be sure that you're going to be allowed to stay in the hospital after surgery.
5. Is cancer estrogen responsive? Y/N Biopsy report should indicate the answer to
this question.
6. Treat options
a) Chemotherapy. Which
drugs? _____________________
b) Radiation. How often?
_________How long? _________
c) Both chemo and radiation.
d) Taxol or Taxotere?
e) Will you have to take any
other drugs? Y/N If so, which
ones and why? __________________________
7. Length of treatment. (Number of treatments they expect you to get
and for how long)
a) Chemo # of
treatments _______How long? __________
b) Radiation.
# of treatments ________ How long? _______
8. Side effect of treatments
a) Chemo _______________________________________
b) Radiation _____________________________________
9. Should you have someone accompany you to your treatments?
10. What is the prognosis for recovery?
11. Will there be any need for physical therapy afterwards?
12. Reconstruction (if mastectomy) Timing of reconstruction.
a) Immediately following mastectomy
b) How long after surgery?
Months, years, etc.
13. Reconstruction (if mastectomy) Type of reconstruction?
a) Saline or silicone implants
b) Your own body tissue, i.e.,
abdominal (free or TRAM) or
from another part of the body.
