I understand this might be an odd question, but is it only an oncologist that will deliver your potential cancer diagnosis? Would a Surgeon also be able to give this news?
If you have seen a consultant & they've requested a biopsy, it will be the consultant that gives you the results. If it's positive for cancer, the consultant will then refer you to an oncologist & they will work together to arrange a suitable treatment plan.
Thanks for the replies it's a different named consultant one I've not met and the news is via a telephone consultation one month after my biopsy. I'm just preparing myself for what to expect.
I had thyroid cancer, so a bit different as I didn't really have an oncologist (I did see a radiation oncologist for the radioiodine treatment but wasn't even referred to her until after I had the surgery, so months after I was diagnosed) and it was the ENT who diagnosed me. I don't know about other forms of cancer, but I don't think you can read anything into how your appointment is with. I would imagine the appointment would be with the same person regardless of whether they are giving you good or bad news.
Something we learned, and something a lot of people don't tend to know, oncologists aren't really the specialists that give out this sort of information. You usually only ever meet them once you have had the diagnosis. There are 3 types of oncologists, medical, clinical and surgical. My wife was given the news by a breast specialist. Then once all the facts were in, she was passed to a medical oncologist for her chemo. That's what a medical oncologist does, specialises in the medicine surrounding the treatment of cancer. He didn't really deal with anything else. Once the chemo ceased, she was then put under the care of the clinical/radiotherapy oncologist whilst she received radiotherapy. Once that was done, she was back under the sole care of the medical oncologist.
We found most of the information outside of the chemo came from the breast surgeon. He was the person that answered most of her random not medicine related questions. You are under the care of a team, not an individual. However, we reside in a large city, so that may differ from area to area.
I am delighted to hear that your biopsy didn't show any cancerous biomarkers or cells. I hope that your surgery to remove the mass on your kidney goes well. Have you been told when you will have this yet?
Please keep in touch and let us know how you get on. We are always here for you.
