Canadians in British Columbia

Walden1

Moth-thanks for the heads up. I’ll check my spam so I don’t miss the next one. Would be lovely to see you all again!

Looks like I’m switching to tamoxifen with buserelin for ovarian suppression. At least I don’t need to worry if the OS is fully working on Tamoxifen. I’m thinking of it more as a nice to have than a must do. Guess I have stubborn ovaries, they don’t want to quit! We will see if the buserelin does a better job than the Zoladex in a month. Fingers crossed

marianelizabeth

Moth, thank you for organizing out get-together last Saturday. It was interesting to have 3 of us with metastatic breast cancer and 3 not. I have the list of us who were at potlucks 3 years ago and will send an email to those who I think might like to attend another. It would be nice to host another potluck at a Vancouver friend's but will see if I am well come spring.

Marian

cathy67

Ladies,

I have a question. I did CT Scan this Monday, and the person who operated the machine told me, my report shall be ready this Wednesday or Thursday, so far I have not received call. Last time, the nurse in cancer clinic said, if I want to know the report, I shall call in to get an appointment with oncologist, the nurse won't tell me anything about the report. So it does not make sense to call nurse, just wait, call will come if back abnormal result.

Suppose the report is already there, I guess oncologist already read it, and if it is abnormal, nurse shall call me yesterday before the end of the day, right? I am very worried about this, we all experienced this, can some body share me the CT Scan stuff? I did a bone density test ten days ago, so far no call, I guess bone density shall be normal. My next appointment with oncologist will be in February, I understand I can only get the report from the doctor who ordered the test, that is oncologist, though some other doctors already got copies.

Thanks, good day.

GG27

Cathy,

You can go to medical records and pick up a copy of the report if you are concerned. I do this because I don't like to be blindsides at my next appt. You can always put in a call to your MO to ask for your results over the phone. I have told my MO that the RN's are allowed to call me with results. But I also think that if something was concerning on your CT that your MO's office would have called to have you come in before February.

good luck, dee

cathy67

GG27, thanks. But here in richmond bc. When my oncotype report was back, I called in, front desk said cannot tell till next appointment, but nothing urgent so cannot see me earlier. Then another ten days waiting!

GG27

Cathy, you can go to your Cancer clinic, if Vancouver it's the fourth floor, medical records and get a copy. Read the overall impression at the bottom of the page.

cathy67

Hi GG27,

I will try this, thanks. But do you know if the report is available for us to copy before the doctor's talking? Anyway, will try it. Thanks.

moth

Cathy, yes you can get medical records as soon as they're available & filed with your electronic chart - which often means earlier than your appointment with the doctor. I frequently arrived at the appointment with my test results in my hand. If you sign up with the medical records office at the cancer agency you will get ALL your records, including the progress notes that your surgeon and oncologist etc write after every appointment plus all lab and test results. I have a whole binder with everything. Once you sign up, they keep track of when you last got copies and next time you go in, they will just give you copies of whatever is new.

cathy67

Moth,

Thanks!

GG27

cathy,

your ct reports should take about 2-5 days depending on how busy the radiologists are. labs are usually ready within a few hours and tumour markers take 24-36 hours. i show up at every MO appt with my scans in hand. I don't like to be blind sided, i like to have an idea of what is going to be discussed before getting into the room.

cheers, dee

cathy67

GG27,

Thanks. My appointment with MO will be February 5.

cathy67

One more question, ladies, can I talk to radiation oncologist about my CT Scan? I am doing radiation now, and will see him the coming Tuesday.

GG27

cathy, you are "allowed" to ask anything but they may or may not have looked at that CT scan. All they can say is no...

cathy67

Thanks everybody.

I got all copies from patient record release department on fourth floor, but no bone density on November 18 and CT Scan on November 25. And no call from richmond cancer clinic, next appointment will be February.

Maybe just call richmond cancer clinic for MO appointment. But doing radiation every day makes me tired, cannot find time to see MO.

GG27

Cathy,

did you have a bone density scan or nuclear bone scan? 2 different tests, my bone scan is always done at VGH, Jim Pattison pavilion and they fax the results very quickly to your GP. Also, can you call your GP's office for a copy of the CT? I sometimes get a copy from there if it's not available before I head home. Also you can call your MO's secretary & tell her that you would like to know the results of your tests before February. I always say that I'm happy to have an RN read me the "overall impression"

I've been doing this a long time & never take no for an answer. But I'm always nice about it and believe that cookies open doors. A couple of times a year I take a package of homemade cookies for the unit to share, it's amazing what I am able to ask for & receive.

good luck, cheers, dee

cathy67

GG27,

Thanks! I will call them tomorrow. Bone density test in women's hospital, and CT Scan in richmond hospital, then bone scan year end in richmond hospital.

wrenn

I agree that your GP will have copies. Mine will email copies of reports for me.

cathy67

Thanks! I will call cancer clinic at first tomorrow, after my morning radiation appointment.

cathy67

Today,

I met my MO and got the CT Scan report, it is negative! MO said he won't recommend another one unless any symptoms. But I forgot to ask how about other tests, such as mammography, maybe back to screening then. Anyway, I will plan to travel, next spring break.

Enjoy weekend!

marianelizabeth

It has been very quiet on the few sites I follow. I hope it is because everyone is busy with holidays and not because of health issues.

Happy holidays to all of you my friends. Love Marian

cathy67

Merry Christmas!

I am doing radiation every day, now 18 out of 20, will be done next Tuesday, Christmas Eve!

wrenn

Happy holidays to you too Marian. I hope you have a peaceful rest from cancer stuff. Happy Holidays to everyone else here and hopes for a sweet new decade.

Elderberry

To all the Cactus Club lunch ladies --- such a pleasure to meet you all and hope to see you again. To the rest of my fellow British Columbians (and all the other women on all the various boards/threads) I wish all of you a warm, wonderful Christmas or Hannukah (sorry bad spelling) Kwanza or whatever you practice......Peace and Plenty in 2020. My Yule mantle. The days will now get longer. YAY!

cathy67

Happy Holidays!

DearLife

Lovely mantle Elderberry! To all my BC sisters - May the spirit of the season lift your heart and the new year be filled with comfort and peace.

Pearl

Elderberry

mk1118: I am usually on other boards (liver mets in particular) but pop in to check on fellow British Columbians so I have been remiss in discussions about MOs in the Vancouver area. Have you got a new MO yet? MarieK sees the same Mo as I do. Dr Sasha Smiljanic at Lions Gate. (everyone calls him Dr Sasha) He is THE BEST. I have to do the dreaded Iron Workers Memorial Bridge from Burnaby but usually it is okay and so worth the trip. The oncology centre for infusions at LGH isn't as swanky or new as BCCA, 15 chairs and a few beds all in the same room, but the nurses are great and I'll trade swanky for the care from Dr Sasha any day. I actively disliked my MO at BCCA. Liking your MO is really essential in also having trust and faith in that MO.

Wishing you well!!

marianelizabeth

Happy New Year to you Jean, Pearl and so many others from over the years~~now 7.5 for me with 3.5 with advanced cancer. After a very rough 2019, only in the past couple of weeks have I started to feel a bit like my pre mets self. What an awful time of year to feel shitty too so I am glad there is hope in sight.

Marian

moth

Happy New Year everyone! May 2020 be of peace, healing and joy

cathy67

Happy New Year! Wish this is a peaceful year for every body!

runor

MarianE, rooting for you all the way and hoping that by the time spring rolls around you're ready to feel the breeze on your face and smell the unfurling flowers! Hi to all else and hoping you all have the best possible year in 2020. Wow, 2020, hard to wrap the head around it. I thought it would be 1981 forever.