The Surgeon...

Later that day, me, mom and Joe went to the surgeon's office to discuss how and why the tumor would be removed. Dr. Gladding gathered lots of information about mom then sat us down in the office to teach us more about what was happening. She did a really good job of explaining it and then she left the decision, of whether to receive a lumpectomy or a mastectomy, up to my mom. The doctor told her that if she thought a mastectomy was vital, she would tell her, but that in her case, she felt it was up to mom. My mom decided on a lumpectomy, as long as all of the tumor would be able to be removed. The doctor explained that she would remove the tumor, which was roughly 1.7 cm according to the biopsy, plus a margin of tissue around it, to ensure the effected surrounding tissue would be taken also. She warned that once she began the surgery and noticed a lumpectomy would not suffice, she would remove the entire breast, my mom agreed. The surgery was scheduled for Tuesday, October 21, 2008, the day of Grandpo Raul's birthday. (my mom's dad)