First oncology consultation questions

Options
CoolBreeze
CoolBreeze Member Posts: 4,668
edited June 2014 in IDC (Invasive Ductal Carcinoma)
First oncology consultation questions
· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • CoolBreeze
    CoolBreeze Member Posts: 4,668
    edited September 2009

    Hi ladies,

    It's so hard to know where to post my questions here, there are so many forums!  I was diagnosed with IDC, LCIS, DCIS and ADH in my right breast.  I saw a surgeon on 9/1 and expressed my strong desire for lumpectomy if possible.  He said to do an MRI (and maybe more biopsies) to get a better idea of where the cancer was and also if it's in the left breast (hope not.)  Paperwork got misplaced and I had to track it down.  Finally got the MRI appt on the 15th.

    But, I have my first oncology appointment on the 14th.  What can he tell me without the MRI results?  What should I ask him?  I know I'll likely have herceptin but I don't know what other kind of chemo I may have with my ER+/PR- status.

    Will he do an exam, or is this just a discussion?  My husband can't go so I need to be clear on what  I should ask and know, and at this point, I thought I'd have more tests under my belt.

    I feel like everything is a bit backwards here....am I wrong?

     Thanks!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • sheila888
    sheila888 Member Posts: 25,634
    edited September 2009

    Dear coolbreeze.....Oncologist usually wants certain tests done like bone scan, all kind of other scans, muga test when they check your heart if you can do chemo. After putting all these test results together he or she comes up with a treatment plan. Some oncologists they do chemo in their office, I chose not to, because its a lonely experience (for me) instead I choose to have it in the infusion room of my local hospital which was right across the street where he practices. You can take a tour in the hospital and decide what suits you. Oh I had a port put in by Vascular Surgeon because i have very tiny veins DR said it might not hold the chemo. Again you might not need a port, thats what happened on my first visit at the onco office. He was my second opinion doctor since they both had the same treatment in mind i chose the second one because it was very local. Please ask me if you have any other questions or the other ladies will post anyway.

    Good luck

    Smile Sheila

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • CoolBreeze
    CoolBreeze Member Posts: 4,668
    edited September 2009

    Thank you Sheila!  I had no idea more tests would be scheduled.  Wow, this is going to take months before I get a treatment plan in place, huh?

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Faith316
    Faith316 Member Posts: 2,431
    edited September 2009

    My oncologist did a complete physical at my first appointment.  He then sent me for an MRI of my brain, and a CT scan of my chest, abdomen and pelvis.  I then returned for another appointment a week later to go over my scan results and to plan my treatments.  A week later I had surgery to have my port implanted and then chemo bagan 4 days later.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • clariceak
    clariceak Member Posts: 752
    edited September 2009

    Hey, Ann. Shall we have a race to a treatment plan?  The winner will receive...I'll leave that up to you since you have the best ideas!

    I leave for Seattle on Monday, see a breast surgeon on Tuesday, and the less than impressive office staff told me they could "probably" get all the tests done in one week.  After looking on the website, I find out that prior to a PET Scan I would need to be on a high protein/High fat no sugar diet for 48 hours prior.  As anyone else heard of that?

    I had never heard of the Muga test. Sounds like a Star Wars character.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • CoolBreeze
    CoolBreeze Member Posts: 4,668
    edited September 2009

    At the glacial pace my doctors are going, I think you'll win, even with the travel Clarice.  I still don't even know what kind of surgery to expect.

     Did you know there is a rating site for doctors?  http://www.ratemds.com/   My surgeon has no ratings but my oncologist does, with comments.  Bad ones. :(  I called a friend of mine who is a nurse in the same system in which I'll be treated.  She doesn't like him either.  She said he's not incompetent, just quiet.  

    I'll wait and see but lord knows everything is taking long enough as it is without having to switch up doctors.

    So, I can expect a physical exam too?  I wasn't sure.  

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • bluedasher
    bluedasher Member Posts: 1,203
    edited September 2009

    I didn't have a bunch of tests before getting my treatment plan. My onc had something ready to propose on my first visit. Perhaps you will have some more because of the multiple types, but you are HER2+ like me so chemo is pretty much a given. I had a baseline MUGA before chemo started, but not before we made the plan.

    A MUGA, Multi-Gated Acquisition scan, is a test of your heart function - the left ventrical ejection fraction, LVEF. Sometimes they do an electrocardiagram instead which also tests LVEF.  Normal is above 50% which means that your heart pumps out at least half the blood in the left ventrical with each beat.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • CoolBreeze
    CoolBreeze Member Posts: 4,668
    edited September 2009

    I did like the oncologist.  But, he wasn't ready for me. :)  He said he usually sees patients after surgery and he didn't have much to tell me at this point.  He said it was more of a "fact gathering mission" and he'd have more to tell me once the tumor was out and he had more information.  He was a bit concerned that it was taking so long, seemed surprised that it's been almost a month with no decisions in place - and I told him the story of having to track down the MRI paperwork myself - he said to call his office if I had any more problems.  But, until I have my MRI and maybe more biopsies - I'm still in limbo.

    I think part of it is self-caused.  I am really, really hoping for a lumpectomy.  And, the doctors are accomodating that desire but it's taking a lot more time for testing.  Had I agreed to the mastectomy first maybe it wouldn't have taken so long.  Although..........with LCIS, they still would have wanted the MRI so maybe I'm seeing grace where there is none.  :)

    I have to say though, that the lump hurt since I noticed it.  But, the past few days it's really getting painful.  I am ready to do something (although not cut off my breast.)

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories