[Vicky.]

I do not know how common this is. But recently it has came to light that my mothers consultant lied to her face about something in order to get her to have an operation.

As a lot of you know, many months back my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. She was originally told that it was the size of a pea and that she would need only minor surgery. She went for this surgery, and was then told the cancer was a little bigger than they thought it was, so had to go for another operation(a scrape they called it ). A week or so after this, during a checkup, they told her they had been completely wrong and that it was actually the size of a watermelon, and she would need a mascetomy to remove it, and radiotherapy for a few months afterwards. Now, ignoring the fact that they got it SO wrong in the first place (a pea is hugely different to a watermelon...surely the machines would have picked up on it) which I think is unacceptable...the following then happened.

My mother wanted to discuss options for after the masectomy before she went through with it. Her view was that she wanted both breasts removed, as she was told that the cancer could come back in the other one and she might have to go through all the stress again. She was also of the opinion that just because they said there was no cancer in her 'healthy' breast, after they made the mistake of the pea/watermelon, there could easily be cancer in the other one that they werent picking up on. Anyway, to cut a long story short, the consultant told her that while her choice was an unpopular one as most women opted for reconstructive surgery (along with a lift, provided on the NHS) after a masectomy, she would be able to do that, but they wouldnt do them both at the same time. So she went ahead with the surgery in the knowledge that she would get her wish eventually, even if it wasnt at that moment.

Fast forward a few months, shes now fully recovered from her masectomy, and finished her radiotherapy so went back to the consultant about having her other breast removed as promised. And has been told that the operation she wants is not possible. Apparently they will not remove a healthy breast just because the patient wants it done as its classed as major surgery...however they would happily rebuild her other breast with grafts from her back and legs, and give her a lift...which in my and her opinion...is major surgery also...infact its more work and would take much longer, and leave her with more scarring. When she asked the consultant why he basically lied to her before the first op, he told her that she gave off the vibe that she would not have had the surgery if the option of a double masectomy wasnt available. She has admitted that that may have been the case, but she doesnt think thats for the consultant to decide, it should have been her choice and she should have been informed properly about the options available to her. I agree with her view entirely. After talking to her mcmillan nurse, she has also discovered that she is extremely unlikely to find a private surgeon willing to remove a healthy breast rather than give a boob job.

Sorry for the super long post, but do you think it is right for a hospital consultant to flat out lie lie about the patients options after surgery, just because they feel the patient might not make the 'right' decision in their eyes if given the correct information? I certainly dont but would welcome any opposing views, as I just cant get my head round how the consultant can justify taking a patients choice away like that :S