Ancillary Doctors Appointments - Suggestions Please!

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Ausbear
Ausbear Member Posts: 35
edited April 2016 in Australians and New Zealanders Affected by Breast Cancer

Hi lovely Aussie sisters,

I'm getting prepared for surgery on May 4th and have been advised to see a dentist to make sure my teeth are in order before things kick off. Can you suggest any other doctors/practitioners that I should be visiting as well?

Thanks

Clair

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  • Racy
    Racy Member Posts: 2,651
    edited April 2016

    Hi Ausbear

    I had some wisdom teeth removed before chemo due to recurring infections around those teeth, as it is not good to have infections while on chemo.

    My GP also recommended a skin check. She said chemo could cause any skin cancers to grow. I'm not sure that's true but I took the opportunity to have the check anyway.

    I also saw a naturopath a couple of times, a psychologist many times, a pastoral carer and a priest!

    Best wishes.

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  • LisaAlissa
    LisaAlissa Member Posts: 1,092
    edited April 2016

    I'm not Australian, but you might want to ask for a pre-surgery referral to a medical oncologist, so that you could ask if neoadjuvent chemo would be appropriate for you.

    Your lump looks like a small one, so maybe not, but you can't have neoadjuvent chemo if you've already had surgery.

    HTH,

    LisaAlissa

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  • Blessings2011
    Blessings2011 Member Posts: 4,276
    edited April 2016

    Ausbear:

    Are you having chemo? If so, I would recommend a complete Audiogram (hearing test), as some of the chemo drugs they use can be ototoxic - damaging to the ear, causing hearing loss. Note: this is not a common side effect from what I've read here.

    However, if it is determined that you do have a hearing loss down the road, having a "baseline" test ahead of time can help make the case that your hearing loss was caused by the treatment.

    Why is this important? If it is decided that hearing aids would help you, they are very expensive, and not covered by insurance.... UNLESS it can be proven that the hearing loss is a side effect of your cancer treatment.

    Just a thought....

    Wishing you the best on May 4th!!!


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  • Ausbear
    Ausbear Member Posts: 35
    edited April 2016

    Thanks everybody, great advice!

    I'm seeing the surgeon to day to review the results of my MRI and discuss lumpectomy vs mastectomy. Even just typing those words feels weird, cancer teaches you a whole new vocabulary that I really didn't want to learn!!

    Cheers

    Clair

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