does your oncologist exam your "foobs"

LBG10

I didn't know what thread this question should go under, so I will ask here....

I had a double mastectomy w direct to implant reconstruction.

I have only seen my oncologist twice now, but both times I felt uncomfortable during the exam!

The first time was shortly after my surgery, he had a resident in the room with us, he asked to see my breasts, so I showed him!

My second visit with him last week, with just him and I in the room, he examined my neck and armpits for nodes, then he asked to exammy chest walI, I said ok and he undid my bra and felt around on my chest and both breasts!

This made me feel very uncomfortable, like I said, I had a double mastectomy so I have no breast tissue to examine!

Why does my oncologist have to see my implants????

KCMC

Hi, my breast surgeon and Oncologist check. I thought that the Oncologist doing it was a bit weird, he has done it a few times. I had a double Mastectomy and DIEP Flap recon. Recently my GP asked if he could do a breast exam and I said no and explained to him my Breast Surgeon and Oncologist check all the time. Now this has me thinking I should probably still check myself

NancyHB

My oncologist exams my breasts ever time I see her (quarterly for scans). Breast tissue can remain after an MX and recurrence can occur (my friend had a double MX 2 years ago and is in the middle of chemo for a recurrence in her breast). Even with foobs, we still need to do monthly exams - whether an oncologist or another doctor.

LoriCA

I don't have implants and can't respond to why he might need to check them, but I will say that anytime my oncologist has needed to check my breasts and my husband isn't with me, he ALWAYS calls a female nurse into the room first. If you are uncomfortable for any reason, don't hesitate to ask to have a nurse in the room. With all of the scandals going on these days I think any doctor who doesn't have someone else in the room is nuts.

Ask him why he needs to check your breasts and what he is looking for. You have a right to know what he is doing and why at all times before you give express permission, it falls under Informed Consent and is especially relevant when a doctor needs to examine a female in an intimate way. I'm assuming you are in the US, I don't know how other countries handle Informed Consent.

SimoneRC

Yes. Both BS and MO check my breasts. MO feels abdomen, neck, underarms, etc.... I would have them checked every day if possible😎. Makes me feel better that trained hands could possibly feel something that I would not recognize as being sinister.

Bootscootin

I don't think a doctor should be undoing your bra. This seems so inappropriate to me. They should be giving you a private moment for you to undress and a paper gown or drape to put on.

NotVeryBrave

I think it's normal for them to do an exam on some sort of schedule. Whether or not they know what they're feeling ... that's another matter.

My MO was against me getting a BMX (whole other story) and at times I have wondered if he was just curious about the outcome or looking for problems. But I know that he does need to do an exam as part of his care. He felt the original tumor, too. And it's certainly a possibility that there could be a recurrence.

I do think that another staff memeber should be present for the exam. Mine has not had anyone else there the last couple of times and it does bother me a bit. I, too, would think that he would - just to protect himself. And your should definitely be given privacy to change into a gown or drape. Good grief! Is this a "feel" or what?

Sara536

I've seen three MOs, two female and one male. None of them have examined my breasts. I expected that they would,, since this is all about breasts. I haven't gone back to any of them. At the end of the visit, almost as an afterthought, they have stuck their stethescope on my back in a few places. This shows up in the record (and the bill) as an exam. WTH? When I go to a doctor, I like to feel that l leave with no glaring problems unless they have found something. Also, considering my scars, I'm not worried that a doctor would get any sexual pleasure out of it. I think that some of them might think that an exam would cause us some embarassment. Then they should have gone into podiatry.

ksusan

I had BMX with no recon and my MO does a manual exam every visit. If she didn't, I'd request it.

star2017

I agree with Nancy. My doctors do exams each time.

MexicoHeather

The oncologist normally checks. There is breast tissue there, even after mastectomy. I am rather blasé about touching, but I have female doctors at the moment.

Sarah: Hate to say it, but they are listening for lung metastasis..

Beatmon

I have implants x 4 years now. My oncologist does a pretty full exam every 3 weeks. I don’t wear a bra ever. I’m very comfortable and glad he is checking. The nurse that puts you in the room should get you in a gown. I don’t do all of that because I don’t have a million things on underneath my tops. I want to be examined...

I hope you feel better about it or tell your onco that you don’t. I have a long relati9nship with mine and depend on him

hapa

My MO examined me with nobody else in the room. It doesn't bother me, in having more people looking at my awful foobs would make me more uncomfortable regardless of the genders involved.