Oncologist appointment tomorrow - what questions should I ask?

After being diagnosed on 18th January and going through all the various test, I finally get to see the oncologist tomorrow. Would like to hear from anyone who has any suggestions about what questions would be good to ask. 

Also what are your experiences of how long it took for treatment to start after first oncology appointment. As my breast cancer is grade 3 and fast growing, I'm worried about it spreading, before my treatment even gets started. 

Was it suggested you have a PICC line or port?

  • Offline in reply to NGS

    Hi NGS   I had my first session today - 6 planned all being well if no serious reactions.  You have had quite a journey.  I will have my mastectomy after treatment but cannot have reconstruction because it's inflammartory bc so all skin is removed so I will be flat.  Was wondering whether to ask Consultant when we meet if they could make the other boob smaller just to equalise it a bit!!!

  • Hi ROBIN71, sorry I must have missed your post and would have sent you a message to wish you, good luck. Hope everything went well for you today and that you're feeling OK. Try not to worry too much about side effects, Im 62 and my side effects were minimal. Let me know how you're doing, when you feel up to it. Xx

  • Offline in reply to NGS

    Hi NGS, just wondered how things went with your oncology appointment. I hope they were able to give you some reassurance regarding your pain and that you don't feel so anxious now. Have a good weekend. Xx

  • Hi Greeny80, haven't heard from you in a little while and just wondrred how everything is with you. I know you had some scans done and were seeing your oncologist on the 5th. Hope everything is OK, drop us a message when you can. Have a lovely weekend. Xx

  • Offline in reply to Pippin24

    Hi Pippin 

    all good here.  I had second bone infusion on Tuesday and have avoided a and e like before 

    saw oncologist Wednesday who has reassured me cancer not spread to bones.  The second cancer although high grade was not invasive and had not spread so the mastectomy got it all out.  Such a relief to know.  He was concerned though by my level of pain and peripheral neuropathy.  Has stopped my medication - letrazole as certain it is that and to give my body a rest.  I’m going to move to a different medication in 4 weeks but honestly if pain is the price and it isn’t the cancer spread I’ll suffer it 

    How is your recovery going ?  Hope you are improving with every day 

    xx 

  • Offline in reply to ROBIN71

    How are you feeling.  One down - keep focusing on that end goal.  I’m sorry to her you can’t have reconstruction.  Being cancer free if the main thing.  But just a thought. I have BRCA1 so had to have all tissue right up to skin removed.  My surgeon did tell me if he couldn’t save my skin or if there was cancer in the nipple there was a way he could make a breast from skin at my back flap and pull it round.  That said my cousin went flat and she absolutely rocks life.   
    I hope side effects are minimal.  We are all here to help 

    I second Pippin - Polybalm was brilliant.  I ordered mine from Amazon.  I also highly recommend look good feel better. You get lots of goodies and it was a godsend - look them up they have lots of courses on hair / eye brows and make up 

    xxx stay positive - you’ve got this 

  • Offline in reply to Nedb

    Hi Nedb 

    I had a double mastectomy.  For me I had two drains each side and a pump each side so six tubes in total.  Like you my husband had to drain and measure fluid but just once a day.  When my fluid went below 20 for two days they removed drain.  Took 10 days for all 4 drains to come out  xxx 

    It seems every trust / surgeon has their own direction so be guided by yours

    wishing you well with your recovery 

    xx

  • Offline in reply to NGS

    Hi NGS, so pleased that you got the reassurance that cancer has not spread to the bones, that's fantastic news. Annoying that the letrazole has been causing you issues, I started that this week, so will have to see how it goes. I'm getting nerve pain in my arm pit and down my arm, since having surgery. It is quite tiring  when the pain is there all the time. I'm going to contact macmillan nurse tomorrow, to see if there is any cream I can use to ease it. Where does peripheral neuropathy affect you?  Do you use any cream or take any meds for it? I have a ct scan tomorrow, to check on the lung nodules. I also have to go back for wound check on Wednesday. So annoying as it's only a small section of tummy wound that just won't heal. It's not very nice as it's a gsping hole which has to have dressing inside now. Lucky hubby is willing to do it at home in-between hospital visits

    Had a lovely evening out tonight with the kids. We went out for a meal and onto a show. Fairytale of New York, which was Irish  and Christmas songs, plus Irish dancin̈g. So glad I actually got to go. Hope you've had a good weekend. Xx

  • Hi Pippin,

    I'm glad to hear that you were out tonight and I hope that you all enjoyed the show. I hope that all goes well with the CT scan tomorrow and that your wound is healing a bit better, by the time you go to get it re-dressed on Wednesday.

    Jolamine xx

  • Thanks Jolamine, it really was so lovely to be out with the family and the show was great. Just a regular scan to check lung nodules, that showed in first ct scan. Hopefully, they will still be the same. Not so worried now, since finding out all lymph nodes were clear. Will let you know how wound check goes on Wednesday, unfortunately I think it will be a slow process. Hope you enjoyed your weekend. Xx