Diagnosed with IDC. Qs to ask at 1st appt.?

1-Get copies of all pathology reports (and ask him to go over them clearly)

2- take notes during appt (you will have more questions after )

3- What other course of treatment would you suggest? (often docs only present one option)

4- What support systems are available for the patient and family (dont forget to take care of you)

5-What stage is the cancer? what grade was the tumor? 

6- Hormone receptor status (er +/- , pr +/-, her2 +/- ) ( this will tell you more about what "feeds" the cancer )

7- What are the chances of reoccurence

8- If you have questions once you leave, who can you call?

I am sorry that you mother has cancer... but be reassured that you have found a good place to find support

be well

flower

try...good advice from celine and doxie. The questions celine listed are ones I would definitely ask the dr. It is great that you are going with your mother. They inundate you with information and there is no way you can possibly digest all of it. Plus if you are the patient your focus is on the bc itself and the shock of having it to begin with. My BS assistant was really good. I bombarded her with questions which she did a good job of answering. That was the initial appt so a lot of the lingering questions couldnt be answered until after I decided on the lumpectomy and after the Path report came back. The Path report will be key. And remember too the decisions about surgery and treatment plans is your mother's. The drs will advise you but the final decision is hers. My BS was all about saving the breast and since I was dx with early stage cancer which was non aggressive I elected to have a lumpectomy and 33 RADS treatments. There is no one size fits all decision. It is her life. Take care of yourself too. Good luck,..,.diane

Ask for the surgeon to explain whether mastectomy or lumpectomy would be the surgery of choice - and ask why that would be.  Ask about radiation treatment, and what kind (there are several) if a lumpectomy is preferred.  Ask if mastectomy is preferred about whether radiation will still be needed.  I would ask the breast surgeon's opinion about complete axillary node dissection surgery for the positive node(s) versus radiation to the axilla, and ask the surgeon to explain his/her stance on this subject.  Ask the surgeon to explain the risk/benefit involved with either choice.  This is a subject that many women who are diagnosed with positive nodes have conflict about and there is no clear cut answer - it becomes a considered choice, influenced by personal risk tolerance and your physician's viewpoint.  One thing to think about too is to take a small personal tape recorder to the appointment - it helps to be able to play back the conversation, sometimes even if the two of you are there something gets by both of you!  I also built a notebook, with tabs for surgery, pathology reports, chemo, labs, insurance, etc - I have referred back to that binder many times.