Order of appointments?

Anonymous

Order of appointments?

VL22

Hi!

So after getting sidetracked by an MRI that led to another biopsy and a bone scan, I have a surgery date of 6/15 and I am relieved! Before everything got pushed back, I was given an appointment to meet with the oncologist and another appointment to discuss radiation on 6/5. These dates have not been deleted from the online calendar, although my initial surgery date was. Am I right in assuming that these appointments should take place after surgery? I will call to verify, but wanted to check here

T

LisaAlissa

Not necessarily. Ask the MO's office. Sometimes they want to do chemo before surgery, so that they can use the existing lump to monitor whether they have a good response from the particular chemo chosen. Othertimes, not.

I talked with both a MO and a RO before I had surgery. RO, because the Surgeon thought that I might be a candidate for brachytherapy. She wanted the opinion of the RO before surgery so that she could take that into account.

But definitely check with your medical team about when they want to see you.

Best wishes,

LisaAlissa

Kicks

You should have (and meet with) your Team before TX is started for the best prognosis. Also to have had your DX and all Scans presented to the Tumor Board at your Facility for input on what might be the best TX plan .

Surgery is not always the 'best first' way to go for all. Neoadjuvant (pre-surgery) Chemo is being used more today as it is used to shrink the 'lump' and get better margins so surgery may not need to be as invasive. There are times that a complete response is achieved. Surgeons are just that - their expertise is 'cutting'. Chemo Drs (MOs) expertise is Chemo just as Rad Drs (ROs) expertise is radiology. They should work as a TEAM for the best outcome - not just 3 different people doing 'their own thang'.

Just me (different DX) but my time line was Thurs - new mammo, US and biopsies. Fri at 8 am - path. report - IBC. Mon - saw Surgeon, Wed saw Rads Dr, Thurs saw Chemo Dr. The next week was lots of Scans (CT, Bone, MRI with contrast, PET) another biopsy. Had an EKG and port implanted next week and 17 days from DX started neoadjuvant Chemo.

Point is - there is no 'One Size Fits All' as there are so many variables and it does take a TEAM for the optimumal outcome for the person.