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 thank you. I will be going to get mine taken out today but get abit of swelling on the hand in the morning when I wake up but then it goes down. Is that meant to happen. My upper arm underneath it hurts quite abit too. I am.going to.mention it today when I go to get the drain out. 

  • Hi Pippin,

    Here's hoping that the CT doesn't show anything new. Finding out that all lymph nodes were clear must have been a great relief and I know how much that reduces your anxiety. You must be getting pretty fed up with your gaping wound, but I suppose that you just have to remain patient.

    We had a good weekend thank you. We went to see an illusionist at the local arts centre on Friday night and it was a very entertaining evening. 

    Jolamine xx

  • Hi Jolamine, I'm not so anxious about getting the ct scan results this time, due to the fact all my lymph nodes were clear. I think this means that the cancer is less likely to have spread. The tummy wound is not very nice, just fortunate that hubby isn't squeamish, so can do the dressing in-between hospital visits. Think it's going to be a very long process unfortunately and I can't get out for my daily walks. Sounds like you had a really good weekend, always nice to go to an entertaining event. Any update on your tilt test appointment?

  • Hi Pippin,

    I now have a date of 18th December for the tilt test - it can't come soon enough!

    Jolamine xx

  • Hi Jolamine, sorry for the late reply, I didn't get a notification, seems to happen sometimes. So pleased to hear that you have an appointment for your tilt test. Really hoping this will finally give you some answers. On my way for my second visit to the hospital this week, this time for wound check. Hoping they might come up with a better option of treatment, as at the moment it isn't improving. I've also git an appointment next week for radiotherapy scan and markings. They said I'll receive my schedule at the appointment and should start a couple of weeks later. A bit of a trek to this hospital, so will be a tiring few weeks. Had some bad news yesterday regarding my dear old mum. She has just been diagnosed with breast cancer and they suggested surgery early December. She doesn't want surgery before Christmas, if at all. She's had several surgeries in the last few tears and at 88 I think she's had enough. As a family, we just felt we were coming out the other side of a difficult time,  only to be pushed back into a new battle. I'm really heartbroken. Xx

  • Offline in reply to Pippin24

    Oh Pippin I am so sorry to hear this and truly gutted for you and your family.  As you say you’ve just started to come through the other end of one battle and what a blow to hear this news. 
    my thoughts and prayers are with you all 

    xxx 

  • Offline in reply to Jolamine

    Fabulous news - hopefully you can get some answers xx

  • Oh I'm so sorry to hear about your mum.  I do hope they listen to her feelings and give her the chance to make a decision that's right for her and the family.  What a side swipe for you all.  Thinking of you and hope the wound check went well and they have come up with a better solution for you. xx

  • Offline in reply to Pippin24

    Sorry just catching up on posts 

    I was prescribed amitrytaline which I still take but didn’t really make a difference.  I have numbness , tingling from elbow down to fingertips both arms.  4 toes on right foot are numb. Awful pain in left shoulder and left hip and varying pain in other joints with no strength in arms or legs.  

    how annoying your wound isn’t healing - mine did take many weeks.  I had iodine patches for quite sometime then cutimed which actually worked much better than iodine as it dried wound out allowing it to heal 

    hope you get it sorted xx

  • Offline in reply to NGS

    Thank you, we need all the prayers we can get at the moment. We will get through this, we are a very close family. How are you doing at the moment? Xx