All I know is surgery...

jrow7

So far all I know is I'm having surgery on March 1st. I haven't spoken with an RO. I have spoken with an MO who feels we need to know the path report of the tumor to know what my treatment plan is going to be. Should I have a meeting with an RO now or is after the lump. ok? Just curious if anyone else is feeling like they're lacking in information and direction...

cliff

my surgery was april 1st last year, it was 2 weeks later when I went to the oncologist who set up the treatment. my cancer center has a committee of doctors who go over all the reports and decide. even though I have a power port installed for chemo, I am on the tamoxifan pill instead.. try a bit of trust in your specialists, they usually know what they are doing.

Hopeful82014

Since I was having a lumpectomy and knew I would need radiation no matter what, I had a consultation with a radiation oncologist shortly after my first meeting with the surgeon. This was suggested and arranged by the surgeon. The breast center encouraged this. I also met with one oncologist, although I later chose a different oncologist.

I found it very helpful to meet the RO prior to surgery. I had time to reflect on her input and consider some of the issues she raised before I had surgery. After surgery I had a second opinion with another RO followed by another consult with the original RO. All of these were very helpful - to me.

I don't think it's a matter of whether you "trust" you MDs or not - it's needing to have some idea of what you might be looking at, being better able to prepare for it both in terms of practical matters (work schedule, etc.) and psychologically. Having more contact over a longer period of time helps build comfort with both the MD and the prospective treatment - or raises red flags that one will have more time to address without feeling stressed due to treatment timelines.

MinusTwo

I agree with Hopeful. I found it very useful to meet with all the possible docs before surgery - BS, MO, PS and RO. Each one added some food for thought as I learned about this beast. I was able to ask better questions of the MO and the surgeon.

jrow7

Thank you ladies for posting your thoughts, I appreciate it.

Hopeful, you typed my thoughts/feelings. Not a trust issue, just curious and wanting to prepare myself as much as possible.

I wish you ladies all the best!

debiann

Where are you from? In the US it is now common to do chemo first when you are HER2+ so you can receive both herceptin and perjeta (targeted treatments for HER2 +)

Most insurances won't pay for perjeta after surgery.

I didn't see an MO till after surgery and he was disappointed that I had surgery first. Perjeta was new and he would have liked to given me that, but insurance wouldn't cover it.

Ask your MO about the benefits of having chemo first and adding perjeta

NotVeryBrave

I met with everyone (BS, MO, RO) before anything was decided. I also got a second opinion from another BS before proceeding.

I think it's helpful to have as much information as possible before you do anything - if for no other reason than the bit of peace it gives you in having a plan.

jrow7

I'm in NH. Perjeta isn''t typically used for tumor less than 2cm so both MOs did not feel it was Necessary for me to have it. Both agreed I would benefit from surgery first.

I've seen two BS and two MO.

I think I'm just coming up with so many questions while I wait for my surgery date. Which isn't necessarily a good thing.

I appreciate you gals reaching out and sharing your stories.