Dr. will not call-I need help

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Trying to understand Pathology Report myself. Had to get the hospital to fax them to me. My Dr. has never called me. Can any one help me? ER 0% negative; PR 0% negative; HER2 2+ Equivocal; HER2/CEP17 1.4 negative; Final HER2 interpretation Negative. Sections show tissue cores with infiltrating nests and aggregates of medium size tumor cells showing moderately pleomorphic nuclei with nucleoli and mildly increased mitotic activity (8/10). Gland formation is minimal. Mild to moderate desmoplastic reaction is present. Moderate lymphocyctic infiltrate is present. Intermixed areas show benign glandular proliferation myxoid changes. Angiolymphatic invasion identified.
Ask for a PET scan Dr. said no. I haven't talked to him since 1/12/15. They seem to be of no help..

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Comments

  • wrenn
    wrenn Member Posts: 2,707
    edited January 2015

    is this biopsy pathology or post surgical? What about asking your primary doctor to explain it and ask for a different referral if you don't like the doc you mention nat calling. Not sure if that is surgeon or oncologist.

    Hope you find answers soon.

  • WinningSoFar
    WinningSoFar Member Posts: 951
    edited January 2015

    I could guess what your report says, but I think the more important issue is that you haven't seen a doc since 1/12. Can you change doctors? It certainly seems like someone in the medical profession should be seeing you in the next few days to get a plan of attack going.

  • Moncove-Lake
    Moncove-Lake Member Posts: 22
    edited January 2015

    I did get one, have one for the 29th with another Dr. that is in breast cancer. The other one is just a surgeon. I was in his office 12/5/14. Had surgery on 1/7/15 and I had to call his office on 1/12 to see about the results and he just said it was abnormal. I think is has been there since 2011 and another doctor would not look into it.

  • Deblc
    Deblc Member Posts: 479
    edited January 2015

    Change your doctor or get a second option ASAP. Your relationship with your doctor is crucial in dealing with this. This is a great board but I would not be relying on laypersons to explain my pathology reports.

  • WinningSoFar
    WinningSoFar Member Posts: 951
    edited January 2015

    Sounds like your doctor doesn't have time for you. That's not a good sign. You shouldn't have to beg to have someone explain your biopsy. I'm so sorry, but were I you, I'd be making an appointment with an oncologist to see what's next for you. The surgeon should be referring you, but if he's not, you can refer yourself.

  • Moncove-Lake
    Moncove-Lake Member Posts: 22
    edited January 2015

    I have asked my pain Dr. to get a PET scan. I have called for my New primary to order one and they do not do that. I called to be a price on the PET  to self pay. No one has ordered it. Now I will have to wait until 2/9/15 to get it. They only have the machine every other Monday. I am just lost. I have WV Medicaid only doctors just do not want to help.
     Report is from biopsy on 1/7/15.

  • Deblc
    Deblc Member Posts: 479
    edited January 2015

    I am confused. Usually the surgeon would refer you to/ liaise with, a medical oncologist to oversee your treatment after surgery, explain your pathology reports, discuss your options and treatment plan etc.Why hasn't this been done? I I really think you need to see a MO. Unless chemo is not recommended. However, the surgeon should have explained why not.

  • Morwenna
    Morwenna Member Posts: 1,063
    edited January 2015

    It sounds like you do have an appointment on the 29th with a breast oncologist?

    That's probably where you'll get your answers/explanation and a plan. It's really not long away .... Next Thursday? Just hang in there.

  • Moncove-Lake
    Moncove-Lake Member Posts: 22
    edited January 2015

    I do not understand why he has not called. He said he was getting me to an Oncologist. He told one of my dr.s on 1/19/15 that he would call me in a day or two.

  • Moncove-Lake
    Moncove-Lake Member Posts: 22
    edited January 2015

    I hope to hang  in for a while anyway. I take care of my 73 yrs old mother that is in a wheelchair, and I have a daughter that is 24 yrs old. She has lost my father in 2001 to cancer, my stepfather in 2005 to cancer, her father on 6/16/12 to cancer, her grandmother in 2005 to cancer. I hate this for her. She is my world. Thanks to everyone for the advice.

  • Holeinone
    Holeinone Member Posts: 2,478
    edited January 2015

    Moncove,

    Many times they do not order Pet Scans. I did have one, but my surgeon explained I was getting it only because there was so much Cancer in my nodes. If your nodes were clean, then they do not want to expose you to whatever is in them & the cost is ridiculous..

    It's a roller coaster, for sure. Hoping you get a plan soon.

  • Moncove-Lake
    Moncove-Lake Member Posts: 22
    edited January 2015

    Seeing your post has given me hope. I have been thinking about not doing any treatment or surgery. I am still worried about other organs being involved. I have a lot of other problems.

    so, thank you.

  • MusicLover
    MusicLover Member Posts: 4,225
    edited January 2015

    I think that you need to be the squeaky wheel or the fly in the ointment or whatever it takes to get them to take the proper care of you OR like someone else said find an oncologist on your own.  Hanging in there is ok if they gave you a definitive appointment date, otherwise, no way. I would force them into give you an appt. date AND I would still call another oncologist for a 2nd opinion. 

  • Moncove-Lake
    Moncove-Lake Member Posts: 22
    edited January 2015

    My concerns are other organs that may already be involved. Lungs, gallbladder (it doesn't work), other lymph nodes through the body (have pain at the top part of the right leg).
      My blood test have show high levels of lymphs since 2011. Other levels too from them and 2012, 2013. Not one doctor said a word to me about them I just got copies for myself.

  • Moncove-Lake
    Moncove-Lake Member Posts: 22
    edited January 2015

    I hope to see 2 different ones in the next few weeks. I need to know what exactly what I am looking at. I don't have any help with my mother and I haven't been well for years. No income can not get my disability. My family just live day to day. I would like to get the most of what I have left.

  • wrenn
    wrenn Member Posts: 2,707
    edited January 2015

    Is the appointment next week with an oncologist?

  • Racy
    Racy Member Posts: 2,651
    edited January 2015

    It is inexcusable that the surgeon has not called. Did you not have a post-surgical follow up appointment?

    The surgeon or oncologist may arrange other scans - bone, CT - if not a PET.

    I hope you get help very soon. Please keep in touch.

  • wrenn
    wrenn Member Posts: 2,707
    edited January 2015

    Racy, the pathology report above is from biopsy. She has not had surgery (says she may refuse treatment including surgery). I am guessing the appointment next week is with surgeon or oncologist?

  • Moncove-Lake
    Moncove-Lake Member Posts: 22
    edited January 2015

    What does mets mean?

  • Moncove-Lake
    Moncove-Lake Member Posts: 22
    edited January 2015
  • Moncove-Lake
    Moncove-Lake Member Posts: 22
    edited January 2015

    Apt. is with breast cancer surgeon

  • Moncove-Lake
    Moncove-Lake Member Posts: 22
    edited January 2015

    Working on getting one soon- oncologist

  • MelissaDallas
    MelissaDallas Member Posts: 7,268
    edited January 2015

    "Tissue Cores". This is a core biopsy report

  • Moncove-Lake
    Moncove-Lake Member Posts: 22
    edited January 2015
  • wrenn
    wrenn Member Posts: 2,707
    edited January 2015

    Moncove-lake, Try to find something to distract you for the week to take your mind off this report. It is hard to do but it looks like you are stuck waiting. Checking in here for support is helpful too. Take care of yourself. This isn't easy but you will do ok.

  • Moncove-Lake
    Moncove-Lake Member Posts: 22
    edited January 2015

    I would love to keep in touch. If I can figure out how this stuff works. I am not only new to the cancer but new to computers, emails, and facebook..I am the lady on the Geico commercial that posted her picture to her wall. That's not how it works... It has been since 2008 when I worked that I used emails. Just started a facebook page. We could not afford the cost of internet and we don't have cell service here. Just received this laptop last week.

    Thanks

  • MelissaDallas
    MelissaDallas Member Posts: 7,268
    edited January 2015

    I got very little info from the radiologist who did my biopsy, beyond the briefest info that it was positive & for what & that she was referring me. Most of your info & explanation come from the surgeon & I had a pretty long wait for my first appointment with the surgeon

  • Moncove-Lake
    Moncove-Lake Member Posts: 22
    edited January 2015

    None of this came from the surgeon. I had the hospital fax me my report because the doctor has not called. I saw him on the 5th in his office and went to the hospital on the 7th for the core biopsy. No other apts. or calls from anyone since then. So, things are not going well for you either.

  • Moncove-Lake
    Moncove-Lake Member Posts: 22
    edited January 2015

    I don't know if it is the insurance holding things up? If it is the doctor himself because I have state ins. Medicaid that really does not pay. Good insurance and money talks... I don't have either.

  • wrenn
    wrenn Member Posts: 2,707
    edited January 2015

    I think your experience isn't unusual. I had to wait quite a while to see the doctor to get results of core biopsy and then wait again for appointment with surgeon. Oncologist appointment was after the surgery...another wait. I think things are moving as they should and you shouldn't look for hidden meanings or take it personally.

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