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?

  • Hi Pippin,

    I hope that the wound looks a little dryer by morning.

    Jolamine xx

  • Thank you  think it's going to take several weeks to heal. It's a shame because they have told me not to do my long walks with hubby, which I really miss. Especially as he's still going on his own. Have a lovely weekend, hope you're doing something nice. I'm off to see mum and dad over the weekend, think my mum needs a big cuddle. Xx

  • Hi Pippin,

    Hubby and I are going out to lunch with my son today. What a pity that your walks are 'on hold' for now. I'm sure that hubby is not enjoying them as much on his own either. It's definitely time to give your mum a big cuddle - enjoy your visit.

    Jolamine xx

  • Hubby definitely misses me being with him. Enjoy your lunch out with your hubby and son. Xx

  • Thank you Pippin.

    We had a lovely lunch and I even managed a little Christmas shopping after that!

    Jolamine xx

  • Hi Jolamine, pleased you enjoyed your lunch and got to do some Christmas shopping. I haven't started mine yet, really must get onto it soon. Would like to get sorted before I start radiotherapy,  as won't get the chance to do it then. Might have to do online shopping this year. We went out for a curry last nice, which I really enjoyed. It's lovely to get back to doing normal things. Xx

  • Hi Pippin,

    I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed your curry last night - it really does does good to get back to some normality in our lives! I still have a few presents to buy for Christmas, but want to get them in early this year, as most will have to be posted. Why not do online shopping this year? You have enough going on in your life at present and there's no reason why you shouldn't make things as easy as you can for yourself.

    Jolamine xx

  • Hi everyone,

    So sorry I have been mising in action.

    How are you all? Not sure i've managed to catch up on all the messages over the last few weeks so sorry if have missed something.

       I'm so, so sorry to hear about your Mum. That must be hard for you all to process and deal with so i'm sending you a big hug. "Im so sorry you've had another blow to deal with...but you sound like a super close family so i'm sure you'll support each other through it all...and we are here too!..How is your scar doing? Hope it's starting to heal a little. When you do you start Radio? That honestly will be a walk in the park after op and chemo.

       How are things with you? Great news your have your tilt test booked in....not too much longer to wait and really hope that gives you some answers. . Hope you're ok.

       Are you still in a lot of pain? So sorry to hear that. Have you tried acpuncture? I've heard amazing things about it and how it can relieve a lot of symptons. Might be worth investigating if you haven't already? Have your team suggested anything else to help?

      how are you doing? Are you still feeling pretty wiped?

      How's it going on chemo. I don't think we've chatted since you joined the chat so just wanted to say that i hope you're doing ok and that they've given you something strong to stop the nausea etc on chemo. how many rounds do you have? What drugs are you taking?

    I'm doing ok....started abemaciclib last week and so far that seems to be ok. What i'm finding really hard is the emotiona/hormonal side of things. I am totally emotionally unhinged at the moment!! !!!..so teary all the time. I know it's the hormones and my body being plummeted into menopause but the mental ride has been pretty wild these past few weeks. The oncologist said all totally normal and that it's the zoladex injections making me feel this way, shutting down my ovaries and getting rid of estrogen and he said by body should settle in 6 months or so!!....but yes just feeling very low, joyless and just finding eveything really hard, i'm usually so excited about christmas but i just can't find the joy this year..rubbish!....iv'e actually arranged to see a therapist and my first session is on Friday so hoping over time that may help process the past 12 months and help with dealing with the new me! Feel like i've totally lost the old, happy, positive me! Feels very odd to be so down and negative which isn't like me at all...but hoping it's just a phase...it also didn't help that sadly my husband was made redundant a couple of weeks ago...not ideal!...i'm sure he'll find something else but just a tricky time at the moment...BUT i'll get through it and will be grabbing life again soon i'm sure!!

    Anyway, just wanted to check in to see how you are..and give you a little update. Sorry mine is slightly neggy!!!!

    xx

  • Hi Greeny80, so lovely to hear from you. Sorry to hear that your emotions are all over the place at the moment due to hormones, hopefully this will settle down with time. I think therapy is well worth doing, after going through so much for so many months. I think it's quite likely that we'll all have times when we feel a bit down, towards the end of treatment. Especially as we've all tried so hard to stay positive so and strong throughout treatment. Such a shame that your husband got made redundant, this probably hasn't helped how you feel. How did everything go with your appointment, at the beginning of November? 

    Thank you for sending me a hug, I need all I can get at the moment. Still attending the hospital weekly for wound check. They are now using a dressing that goes into the wound, which absorbs any leakage and turns to jelly. Luckily hubby is able to change dressings in-between hospital visits, don't know what I'd do without him  Going for my scan and markings on Thursday and should start radiotherapy two weeks later. Have 15 sessions and not looking forward to having to go every day. The journey to this hospital isn't the best! I've also started on letrazole for the next 5 years, which has caused my hot flushes to increase again. I have got the option to up my venlafaxine, which the GP gave me when I had to stop my HRT. I chose not to go onto the higher dose at the time,  as I new I would be starting the hormone blocker. This gives me the option to up it now if I want to. I'm going to wait a little while, to see if it settles down without the extra medication. 

    Good luck with your therapy on Friday, I'm sure you'll soon be back to your usual self.  Sending love and don't forget we are all here if you need to chat. Xx

  • Hi everyone, I hope you've all had a good weekend, despite the horrible weather. 

    I attended the radiotherapy hospital and had my ct scan and markings.They initially gave me a start date of the 5th of December, with the last one being boxing day. As I'm at my daughter's for Christmas, I wouldn't be able to do boxing day. When I phoned,  they agreed to start a day earlier, so will now finish on Christmas eve. I'm a little concerned about the journey, as a lot of appointments are before 9am, it will mean travelling on the m25 during rush hour, which isn't ideal.

    My wound is now apparently healing too quickly, so dressings have changed again. They are still quite happy with how it's going, will just be a slow process. 

    Have  finished all my Christmas shopping, so now won't have to worry about it, while going through radiotherapy.

    How are you all doing?