I had a bilateral mastecomy yesterday at UCH. Dr. Charles Cox was my surgeron and Dr.Pedro Solar was my plastic surgeon. All went well and I appear to have a good result however, I would like to address the issue of injections of the radioactive isotope around the nipple one hour prior to surgery. This seem so barbaric , something that would be used in a bad movie( to torture) I was ready to go when I was informed that the tech was on the way to inject my nipples, I refused out of hand , I had not been informed of this. Dr. Cox spoke to me on the phone and told me that this would not hurt because breast tissue does not hurt. I made note to him that he did not have breasts. for many women this might be a simple and relatively painless. I then asked why did this have to be done with out the benefit of sedation. I suggested versed be administered IV and he agreed. I was given 5 mg of versed, enough to sedate me to the point of not caring or remembering anything but the pain. Even with IV sedation I was informed I cried out in pain with 6 of the 8 injections. The nuclear med tech had to use both hands to get the needles under my skin and inject the plunger dye because my breasts were so hard.
MY point speak up for yourselves ladies you are not helpless and you have a say in how you are treated, but you must speak up, sedation for a painful proceedure is humane. taking care of yourself means not allowing your concerns about what people will think about you, get in the way of asking for what you need.
Dr.Karen