Women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer usually have a lot of questions, such as, what's my surgery going to be like? And what about recovery?

But the questions don't come right away. First, there's shock.

"Most women shut down. They don't hear a lot after the doctor says you have breast cancer," said Marty Polovich, RN, an oncology clinical nurse specialist at Southern Regional Health System.

And, while the surgeon will talk about surgical options, it's sometimes a difficult thing to process.

That's why the oncology team at the hospital developed a free class specifically for women and who have been recently diagnosed. Begun in April, the ongoing, two-hour class called Breast Expectations specifically covers the different types of surgery available, and the expected recovery process for these women.

Spouses and friends are also encouraged to attend. Polovich is the program coordinator.

The American Cancer Society estimates that 5,400 women in Georgia will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2003. That means almost 250 women in Clayton, Fayette and Henry counties will have surgery for breast cancer this year.

The waiting time between diagnosis and scheduled surgery is usually short, Polovich said, so the class is held every week.

"Most women have surgery. But they have to think, do they want a lumpectomy, mastectomy — and what about [breast] reconstruction?" she said.

Patients are scared, confused, and have many questions about the procedure and postoperative care, she said.

"Even if they have made a decision for a certain type of treatment, they often haven't gone beyond that. This class focuses on what's the surgery like, the usual hospital stay, and what happens when [they] go home," she said.

Because many of the women who have surgery are in stage one — the earliest stage — chemotherapy is not discussed during the class. An occupational therapist who specializes in the management of lymphedema, a condition that can occur after breast surgery, is part of the program, as well as several nurses from surgical services.

They discuss what to expect during the preoperative visit and on the day of surgery, plus any postoperative drain care, if necessary.

The class also addresses stress-reducing activities the women can do as part of the healing process, plus postoperative support services.

"The worst part can be the uncertainty," Polovich said. "With the class, we hope to curb some of the fear through education and going through the steps associated with the cancer and their treatments."

A doctor's referral is not needed, and treatment does not need to be at Southern Regional to attend.

For more information, call Polovich at 770-909-2640 or call the hospital information line at 770-909-2099.