My first visit with an oncology doctor

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vrh
vrh Member Posts: 4
edited March 2015 in Just Diagnosed

I was hoping to find out what stage my IDC was. The oncology doctor only told me I have two choices. A lumpectomy with radiation therapy or a mastectomy. I would have to talk to a surgeon to find out more information. Is this normal or is this doctor being aloof?

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  • debiann
    debiann Member Posts: 1,200
    edited March 2015

    Staging now would be a guess because sometimes the actual size of the tumor is larger than it appears with screening.  Also, staging is based on lymph node involvement,  which you won't know till after surgery.

    Did you MO discuss your chemo plan?

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited March 2015

    Hi vrh-

    We want to first welcome you to our community here at BCO. We're sorry for what brings you here, but we're glad you've joined us, and hope you find it to be a place of support and helpful advice!

    Have you had a biopsy done? What information did your doc go over with you after your diagnosis? It's also possible that your doctor wants to wait for the report from your surgery for a more complete picture, which is why he/she referred you to your surgeon for more information.

    If you don't feel comfortable with your doctor, you're more than entitled to seek a second opinion, or find a doc you feel comfortable with. This is someone who will be with you on your treatment journey, so it's important that it's someone you like and who you feel is open to answering your questions.

    Please keep us posted on how you're doing, we'll be thinking of you!

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  • vrh
    vrh Member Posts: 4
    edited March 2015

    Thank you for responding. I received my pathology report in the mail on Saturday. My first oncology visit was on Friday. The doctor did not mention this report to me. I am now madly searching for answers to words from the report. Predominantly arranged in small cords and single linear configuration (lobular morphologic features) with a few glandular tumor cells. Focal atypical lobular hyperplasia is also noted. The predicted Nottingham histologic score is grade 2. I feel the doctor should have explained the pathology report to me instead of me having to do my own researcher. I asked if I would need chemo therapy, he said no probably not. I have a call in to the imaging services nurse to request another oncology doctor.

    I also looked up this doctor on healthgrade. He only received two stars. Past patients said they were rushed and felt the doctor was vague and uncertain. I found him aloof.

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  • WinningSoFar
    WinningSoFar Member Posts: 951
    edited March 2015

    I don't think that what the oncologist did is very odd or unusual, but he didn't gain your confidence. I think I'd seek another oncologist for just that reason.

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  • vrh
    vrh Member Posts: 4
    edited March 2015

    Thanks for your responce.

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  • angelia50
    angelia50 Member Posts: 381
    edited March 2015

    vrh, my surgeon went over my pathology report with me, word for word, and explained what each thing was. Then, when I met with my oncologist, she didn't go over it as much, but she did make reference to sections and ask if I understood each one and had any questions. She took notes, which she gave to me, and did like grade 1, favorable, size such and so, favorable, then she went over the various treatments and told me what she recommended and why she recommend that particular thing.

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  • vrh
    vrh Member Posts: 4
    edited March 2015

    Thanks angelia50 for your input. This is what I was hoping for in my first visit. I am to see the surgeon this week. I have requested a new doctor in oncology.Take care, vrh

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  • ml143333
    ml143333 Member Posts: 658
    edited March 2015

    If you don't feel comfortable to talk with your MO about anything and everything, I would change doctors.  You are going to be seeing a lot of him or her over the next few years and you need to feel comfortable to speak about anything.

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  • Trvler
    Trvler Member Posts: 3,159
    edited March 2015

    Does it say how big your tumor is?

    I had a MO like that. I promptly made an appointment with SOMEONE ELSE. I am making a pact with myself not to deal with any doctor I don't like, who is condescending to me, who acts like he would rather be somewhere else, etc…..


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  • Beachbum1023
    Beachbum1023 Member Posts: 1,417
    edited March 2015

    vrh, Run. Find a responsive Doctor. I am not so happy with mine. She is very rushed, and blunt sometimes. And I think she is rather detached from my case. I think I need a Doctor that is more proactive, than reactive. I kept complaining about shortness of breath and a dry cough, and she would note it, but did not seem concerned. Now my Cardiologist put her on notice, and she has been served! I have permanent heart damage because she did not react to my side effects in a timely manner. Now 2 Cardiologist later and heart meds for life, I have reduced EF by 10% from the Adriamycin and I have a lifetime dose immediately. I have another ECHO this Thursday to check the EF function to see if it is stable. Thank You chemo and Thank You MO. It's bad enough to have Stage IV BC, but I did not expect to have heart problems to go along with that!

    Find another MO. Quick!

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  • angelia50
    angelia50 Member Posts: 381
    edited March 2015

    I agree, get a different doctor if the one you have doesn't make you feel comfortable or that they are doing what is in your best interest. This is no time to cater to some uncaring doctor's ego. You owe it to yourself. Its like when my plastic surgeon was telling me what he was going to do and drawing pictures on me and all, I turned to my husband and said, do you think he can fix this and he said I don't know but I think he thinks he can. In the end, thats true, that doctor has to want to and think they can help you. If they don't care, you need to move on.

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  • Jackbirdie
    Jackbirdie Member Posts: 4,693
    edited March 2015

    I agree with everyone above. While it is sometimes necessary, expedient, unavoidable, etc., to deal with a surgeon who is brusque, honestly, their specialty isn't long term relationships. An uncologist is a person you unfortunately WILL have a long term relationship with and you must feel comfortable.

    And although I agree it is 100% their job to explain everything you don't understand on a path report, or any other test result, I have found thatmy time spent with my mo is of a much higher quality if I do as much homework as possible first. That way your time is spent on the more advanced and complicated issues, and I believe they respect you and enjoy you as an patient much more this way. An altogether preferable situation.

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