Why I chose MD Anderson for my mastectomy

在2013年8月，我的BRCA基因突变，这增加了机会，我会制定药检呈阳性乳腺癌or卵巢癌。这增加侵略性乳腺癌家族史，你有不断担心，废寝忘食，焦虑和无助的感觉配方。

在我与别的女人和我一样的交谈，总是有，每个负乳房X光检查后，“呼，我又是一年成功”的一般意义。这是心理上排水，而不是一个健康的方式过活。我想指出，紧张的周期，而快速，但我不知道我的选择是。

When I received my genetic testing results, my doctor looked me in the eyes and said: "Erika, you do realize, it's not if you get breast cancer, it's when?"

There are times in life when an awful moment writes chapters in your soul. News like that hits you so hard it leaves you numb. As the doctor's voice faded to insignificance, the details of the moment hardened in my memory: the vanilla smell of the room, the soft green paint color on the walls, the fringed silk pillows on the exam bed, the soft lavender robe I was wearing.

医生的话是一个明显的确认，我必须采取行动。虽然我不知道，如果保险会支付任何费用的，我要找到一种方法来摆脱这个定时炸弹的我的身体。我决定接受预防性双乳切除术。

准备我的乳房切除术
我找到了一个第二和第三种意见。在人生中的重大决定，无论是考虑转行，买房子，申请大学等，它总是聪明寻求更多的建议和意见。

随着离我们家行驶距离主校区，并以优异的成果我自己的母亲经历了有20年之前，MD安德森对我来说是一个容易的选择。我觉得这是一个更全面，更可靠的选择。

It was a different experience than meeting in a private practice office. It was much less glamorous, but much more rigorous. I immediately felt the security afforded by a complete health care team working together efficiently and effectively. MD Anderson was a fine-tuned cancer-fighting machine.

我的磋商是非常翔实和安慰。该重建外科医生是温暖和关怀，彻底解释的过程中，甚至让我认为我可能会过程中所使用的扩展和移植。他通过所有的我的乳房再造的选择去了，包括使用我自己的身体组织，以“建设”的新乳房和使用植入物。他还提出要我丈夫和我想的更多的问题，自己完全访问。

选择癌症治疗时需考虑什么
There are many things to consider when choosing your medical care team, including proximity to your home and convenience, how your medical team will be set up and your financial situation.

首先,你必须选择适合你。That's right, you choose. You may have some limits on specific doctors or hospitals imposed by insurance, but by all means, interview and get comfortable with the doctors who comprise your medical team. Keep in mind that although bedside manner is important, a surgeon's qualifications, background, and experience are in my view just as, if not more, important for good health and recovery.

For me, a smooth and coordinated handoff between surgeons and a qualified medical facility are top priorities.

我并不是说这改变人生的经历是有史以来方便或容易的，但如果你能减轻你的压力，并减少你的后勤负担，这是值得考虑的。归根结底，这是最重要的身体健康。