Oncologist--Is this normal

I have my oncologist's report of our initial meeting printed out.  He described my breast area in considerable detail up to the amount of fluid in my JP drain.  He also talked about my teeth, my gait, and and a whole lot of other details in this report.  The point I am making is that the exam covered a lot of areas than may have seemed to be pertinent at the time.

Did you ask him what he was examining you for???? 

I distinctly remember my oncologist doing a second exam of both breasts, all my lymph nodes on the other side, my neck, my torso, and my abdominal area.  My take was fine.....as I think he wanted to get an entire picture of what was going on.  This was important in the decision as to whether to do further testing on me.  Based on the fact that there was no other evidence of disease, there were no further tests done other than MUGA prior to AC chemo.

I suspect your oncologist was only double-checking that you were just fine.  Or he could have been checking that all was healing well and that there was no sign of infection.  I was asked to change into a gown prior to the exam, but certainly would have had no problem removing my bra otherwise.

I also suspect that he was trying to be helpful as lots of patients have limited mobility after surgery.  I wouldn't give the whole thing a second thought.

Just an advance warning......if you are getting chemo, expect to be poked and prodded a lot during that process.  Checking for things like swelling of your vital organs and abdomen.  It's part of the process.

But you do need to learn to ask questions.....  Because people will be doing a lot more things you don't understand if you don't.

Deb - I see a female onc who I like very much.  She also does a thorough exam every time I go, but like the others, I am always asked to put on a gown.  Obviously this guy made you uncomfortable.  I think you made the right decision to find someone you're comfortable with.  Good luck!

Sue

My oncologist also examined me.

In addition to palpating my breasts he checked under my arms and also got me to demonstrate the range of movement I had (I'd had surgery)  Ohh and he listened to my chest and felt my neck glands etc.

I was very pleased to feel he'd been so thorough.  I wonder if he offered to help you with your bra as you had already questioned how you were going to manage undressing.

I don't believe the examination was anything but good medical practise but I fully respect your right to change if you felt uncomfortable.  Good luck with your treatment. 

OK so I admit it...my BS helped me unhook my bra one time, It was right after my second MRI biopsy, I was shaky from lidocaine and high as a kite from Ativan and bleeding heavy cause the steri strips were not on properly. I had to visit him after hours to replace my steri strips to stop the bleeding and no nurse to assist. I was happy to have his help quite honestly. I love and trust all my docs and that is the most important thing. If you're not comfortable then change docs. You will be seeing him/her for a long time.

Diane

It is all okay.  Obviously he made you feel funny and that is what matters.  I think you  do have to expect the next oncologist will do a breast exam.  Mine certainly did, along with a liver exam (meaning, he felt it to see if  it was enlarged).  This is maybe a longshot but perhaps they forgot to give you the gown and so he was trying to just do what needed to be done. I would just have pulled the darn straps down (forget the hooks) but I have had so many doctors look  and feel my breasts that I have lost a sense of modesty!  Good luck with the new one!

It's funny before I had cancer I was shy about my breast now since diagnoses, surgery, treatment all the doctors and concerned family members wanting to see my breast I can whip it out with out any problem now.. I can show just about anyone and not think twice about it. Anyone else??

Yes, an oncologist will do breast exams, but since this one made you uncomfortable it's good that you "fired" him. Sometimes it's the way people say things, or what they do, than the act itself. Or it may have just been his manner -- just not the right doctor for you, maybe. Is your new onc male or female?

 Mari65, when it comes to modesty exiting out the back window, I hear you. During my second visit with my oncologist (female) she wanted to take a quick look at my breasts (to see how the incisions were healing) and asked if I'd prefer to put on a gown. I started pulling up my shirt and said, "No, when you're a breast cancer patient you get used to showing these things at a moment's notice."  She has a dry sense of humor and said, "yeah, I guess you get used to whippin' em out, don't you?" It was sort of a bonding experience for us.

 I recently had to pose for pictures after Phase Two breast reconstruction. What a difference: I just whipped the gown off and stood against the wall. When PS took the initial photographs I felt like my breasts were under arrest; you know, like a mugshot. I felt like saying 'book 'em, Dano,' and humming the Hawaii Five-O theme song. Not that I actually did; PS would have thought he had a mental case on his hands. (And not that he and his nurse made the experience uncomfortable in any way; it's just that there's really no comfortable way to have your breasts photographed by total strangers, imo. And the whole "Hawaii Five Oh" thing just popped in my head while the pictures were being taken.)

But anyway, this time around I thought nothing of it. It was like, 'here I am, doffing my top again, ho-hum." And I've always been the most modest person.

I have had six different oncologists due to the Navy transferring people and they have all done breast exams...both men and women...I do say that if you felt uncomfortable with the way in which it was done, then you should change doctors..all of mine have given me a cover up and either pulled the screen when I undressed or left the room...but your gut reaction is important...listen to it

Just to add another perspective - I've only met with my onco in person once so far.  I am being treated at a 'teaching' hospital that is an NCI comprehensive cancer center.  The first doc to come in the room was actually a younger doc, and she took plenty of time asking questions and such.  She asked first about a breast exam, and I told her I still had stitches and everything was still a bit tender, so she said she didn't need to.  She just did a "general" exam, neck, listened to my heart and lungs, etc.  And then when the primary onco came in, he explained all the chemo options to me.

Modesty is totally out the window and I don't really bother with the gown any more.  I have some bras that zip up the front, so it's easy to just unzip and flash my one bad boob for exam.  Makes it a lot quicker for one, and my BS is a woman and her nurse is a survivor too, so they're totally comfortable with it.  And my husband is usually in the room too and he's fine.  Except he didn't want to be in there when they took out my drain and stitches - he's quite compassionate for my plight and that would just make him sad.

I've met with the medical oncologist twice - the first time he did a full exam, just like everyone else described. The second time was a quick visit to tell me I did not need chemo. He did check out how the breast was healing from surgery. Pretty much everyone I have seen has examined my breasts. The radiation oncologist checks me out weekly to be sure all is well. I had a funny follow-up visit with the breast surgeon. My wound actually healed very well and except for the scar, my breast looked fairly close to what it had been. He was very pleased with his handiwork, and kept saying how "fabulous" it looked. He clearly did not mean to be inappropriate in any way - he was just pleased that the outcome had been so good, so I just laughed. Like some others have said, I've lost all modesty about my breasts. Seriously, though, I'm GLAD so many people are checking them out - the more who check them, the more likely it is that any new growths will be caught quickly.

In reading your question and all the comments here is what I have concluded.  When he said he wanted to see your breast, and you asked how you were to accomplish that, he could have said "Here's a gown, I'll step outside while you change."  If he had done that, given you a few min, then knocked to be sure you were all ready, then come in and examined you, I think you would have a different response to the experience.   

I've been through all of it - surgery/chemo/rads and lots of check ups. Yes, my onc examines my breasts and listens to my heart/lungs with stethescope and does other stuff EVERY SINGLE VISIT. But i am given a gown when I get there and change before he comes in. I'm not particularly modest or immodest, but that's just professionalism, I think.

Maybe the doctor was behind schedule and didn't want to take the time to let you change - whatever. I don't think it was a good beginning for you. A fresh start with someone else will be good.

You know, it's funny - some things bother us and some don't.  I was in a support group with a woman who said her surgeon (an older man) said to her husband (at time of diagnosis) - "Your wife's breasts are like my wife's - just like oatmeal." And the husband asked what he meant and the surgeon said "Full of lumps."  This couple was DEVESTATED by that remark -she had to go to counseling at the cancer center to get past it.  To me, I have to admit, I didn't take it that way at all - I even thought it was a little funny.

On the other hand, my onc told me to take some prozac for two weeks and then he'd ask my husband to decide if I should keep taking it or not and I FLIPPED OUT. It took me  MONTHS to get past - I felt so devalued and depersonalized. Other women might have laughed at that one.

The bottom line is - you MUST be comfortable with your treatment team. I hope you like the next onc better.  But be ready for lots of exams.

I just finished a session with a researcher doing a study on experiences of women with BC and one of the points I made was you have to be comfortable with your doctors.  Regardless if what he was doing was his norm, if you felt uncomfortable with him you need to find someone that fits.  But as someone elso also pointed out, you are new to this club and there are many things still to be discovered, or to find out is "norm" from what you expected.

I've been with my med onc for about  17 months and have seen him every 3 and now 4 months.  He does a thorough breast exam each time.  Since I only see the BS yearly I'm glad he does but he comes into the room and talks for awhile after the bloodwork is done and then gives me a gown and leaves the room to return after.  The only weird part I see with your experience was that your DH was in the room so why did the onc see the need to offer to re-hook you?

glad I came across this forum... It never crossed my mind that my oncologist would need to examine my breast. Just thought, we would discuss the treatment(s)... someone please educate me...i'm coming to you... my resource and I know... you will be honest with me. ..questions ...what should I ask my oncologist with the below diagnose...thanking each of you in advance for your assistance and support. see my onc. tomorrow.

I was diagnosed with dcis breast cancer on 7 july 2010. my decision was to have a mastecomy. mastecomy was done on my right breast with three lymph node removed on 29 july. path report came back clean margins-free of cancer all lymph nodes benigh(right axillary #1, right axillary sentinel #2, right axillary #3 and right breast mastecomy - no residual malignancy identified.

Hope i'm on the right forum to ask the above questions.