Breast Surgery Plan

Breast cancer surgery may come with many different emotions and concerns. Our exceptional breast oncology surgeons, along with their dedicated staff, are here to care for your whole self. Your experience and the provider’s approach will be tailored to you. 

Read below to learn what to expect when setting your surgery date. The process may involve a tentative surgery date, with some pre-operative appointments, clearances, and visits with other specialists as needed before your finalized surgical plan is set.

If you ever have questions, please call your surgeon's office for more information. Our breast surgeons are committed to providing exceptional care, simply delivered.

Finalized Surgical Plan

  1. Please expect a call from surgery scheduling within three business days after finalizing your surgical plan. A finalized surgical plan is when you (the informed patient) and your surgeon have made a decision of what surgery you would like to proceed with based on surgeon’s recommendations, clinical parameters, final work-up, consultations and/or personal decision.
  2. The following appointments may need to be completed prior to finalizing your surgical plan:
    1. Breast MRI: Your provider will assess your current diagnosis and may recommend that you complete a breast MRI.
    2. Genetic consult/testing: Your provider will inform you whether they recommend a genetic consult based on the assessment of your current diagnosis, personal history and your family history both maternal and paternal sides. If you are considering genetic testing, we recommend speaking to a genetic counselor beforehand to understand the risks, benefits and limitations of testing for your situation. Genetic counselors are specially trained, board-certified individuals who help people understand and adapt to the medical, psychological and familial implications of genetic contributions to disease.
    3. Additional breast biopsies and/or imaging: Your provider and a radiologist may recommend additional imaging and biopsies such as, but not limited to: second look ultrasound, stereotactic biopsies, MRI guided biopsies, bone scan, CT scan, PET scan. Please note, not all patients will need all of these tests and procedures. Your provider will select the appropriate tests based on your diagnosis.

Tentative Surgery Date

  1. After completing all necessary workup, you may receive a TENTATIVE surgery date, this may change depending on the following factors:
    1. Pre-operative testing/clearances:
      1. Clearances are obtained from your overseeing provider depending of the type of clearance being requested (i.e., medical, cardiac, pulmonary).
      2. Should a specific clearance be requested prior to your surgery and you are not an established patient, your provider will be happy to refer you to a specialist within Community Health Network to obtain a clearance.
      3. If you have multiple co-morbidities, a complex medical history, or at the provider’s request, you may be seen by a hospitalist at the pre-op clinic. A pre-op clinic visit provides you with the opportunity to meet a nurse or a physician in the Pre-Operative Care Unit located in close proximity to the breast care center. During this visit, you will review pre-operative testing results (such as EKG, chest X-ray, blood labs), discuss your medical-surgical history, and receive important educational information. You and your family will also have an opportunity to ask questions about your upcoming surgical experience. 
    2. Referral to plastic surgeon’s office: Our exceptional plastic surgery providers can perform various types of immediate or delayed reconstruction surgery. Your breast surgeon may refer you to see a plastic surgeon. After meeting with the plastic surgeon, a finalized surgical plan will be discussed and the surgery schedulers will coordinate your surgery date.
    3. Referral to medical oncology: Your breast oncology surgeon may want you to meet with a medical oncologist prior to surgery. If this appointment is needed, a surgery date will be confirmed after your office visit. 
    4. Referral to radiation oncology: Your breast oncology surgeon may want you to meet with a radiation oncologist prior to surgery. If this appointment is needed, a surgery date will be confirmed after your office visit.

Surgery Confirmation

  1. Our surgery schedulers will confirm your surgery details and instructions 1-2 weeks prior to your surgery date.
  2. You will receive surgery details and instructions in one of the following ways: 
    1. MyChart patient portal (the quickest and most efficient way to communicate) and a follow-up phone call.
    2. Letter mailed to primary home address and a follow-up phone call.
    3. A phone call to confirm surgery details and instructions.