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Appointment with Medical Oncology before diagnosis

Greenleaf31
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Hi all

After finding more enlarged lymphnodes than originally suspected in a CT scan, I had a PET scan last week. No biopsy as of yet.

I had a call yesterday to say my PET results were back and I have been booked to see a consultant next week. She didn't say which type of consultant and I forgot to ask.

I had the appointment confirmation text come through this morning which stated I have an appointment with "medical oncology" on Wednesday.

I know how ominous this looks regarding diagnosis, but I'm just wondering if anyone had ever been given an appointment with "medical oncology" to get scan results prior to having a diagnosis confirmed and they were okay and clear? Is it the norm for PET scan results to be given by an oncologist regardless of the outcome when it was cancer they're looking to either confirm or rule out from the PET?

 

Thank you.

 

 

  • Hi Greenleaf31,

    I can understand your concerns and questions about this and I'm sorry you haven't received a reply up to now. I see it's not long until your appointment. Unfortunately I'm not too sure of the answer to your questions but I can appreciate that the uncertainty is difficult to deal with.

    Try to keep busy between now and the appointment to keep focused on other things, and I hope that things go OK on Wednesday.

    Meanwhile if others have similar experience to share then hopefully they'll be along soon.

    Wishing you all the best,

    Ben
    Cancer Chat Moderator

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    Hi again Greenleaf.

    it really is a rough time you're going through right now and I feel for you - brings back memories of an awfully anxious time for myself too.

    so, as I'm sure you will be aware by now an oncologist is a 'cancer doctor' by definition. My advice would be to please not try to second guess these things in your head because you will drive yourself mad. I know it's tough, but try to keep yourself busy. Distract yourself if you can with things you enjoy, and wait to see what the consultant says.

    no one on here can tell you what your scan results news might be, as much as I'd love to.. just take deep breaths and see what it brings.

    update us here when you know more?

    Sean

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    Hi,

    I didn't want to read and run.  I can imagine how scary this would be as I think if I got a letter saying oncology I too would jump to the worst conclusion but fingers crossed it's just that department who deals with any suspected cases also and not just confirmed cases.  I hope all goes well for you and your results are clear.  Sending you love. 

  • Offline in reply to SarahSmilesOn

    Thank you all so much for your replies! ️

    Yes seeing the words medical oncology has sort of indirectly confirmed in my mind that I'm about to get bad news. But I am still hanging onto the last bit of hope it's just some sort of procedure for this consultant to give my results either way. Probably in denial but better than melting down right now I think before anything is confirmed.

    Thankfully my kids kept me super busy over Easter weekend and getting odd jobs done around the house was a great distraction and way to pass the time.

    I will of course update tomorrow afternoon regardless of the outcome.

     

    Thank you all again for responding, very much x

  • Offline in reply to AnxiousAsAMouse

    Hi again

    So an update after today.

    Turned up for my 2.20pm appointment to be called into a side room at 2.50pm and told my appointment had been cancelled as the consultant who was due to see me and others in an afternoon scheduled clinic was stuck on wards in another hospital due to the junior doctor strikes.

    I asked if another consultant there today could squeeze me in regardless of the wait or at least tell me if it's good or bad or just a quick run down of the results and i could come back to go through it in detail if there is a need but I was told no they wouldn't have access to my report as it hasn't been discussed with me yet.

    The poor lady was so flustered trying to sort the mess out there, I asked what happens now and she said I'll get another call with an appointment but it won't be next week most likely the for the week after..I asked her to note I will take a telephone call if it means a shorter wait which she said she would do.

     

    So incredibly frustrated at the thoughts of not knowing the outcome for probably another 2 weeks.

    The only positive thing I can try take from it I guess is that the consultant I was supposed to see is able to offer an inpatient somewhere care today instead of leaving them without due to the strike.

    The lady did encourage me and the other man who was also waiting to make a complaint about it all the same.

     

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