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If they haven't told you already, at the very least you'll want to know what kind and stage it is - and an estimate of size (they might not know size/spread until after surgery if that's even warranted). They'll likely tell you what your treatment options are, they'll probably indicate which treatment they recommend and why, and they'll indicate what your prognosis is given their current understanding and recommended treatment.
You'll likely have more than one visit with these doctors before treatment so you'll have other opportunities to ask questions. To avoid getting overwhelmed you might want to focus now on questions that will help you understand what you're dealing with and what your treatment options and timeline are like. You can save more specific questions about treatment, side effects and recovery for future visits.
I was diagnosed with breast cancer in December 2011, had surgery in January 2012, had radiation after surgery, and currently am taking Tamoxifen. I'll be happy to answer other questions for you via DM and/or email. Meanwhile I'll be thinking the best for you.
Welcome to the club no one wants to join. I was diagnosed this past January. The two posts above have great suggestions. I would recommend getting a copy of your pathology report, and have your doctors explain it to you. Whether you are ER+, PR+ and HER2+ will make a huge difference in your treatment plan. You may want to ask if it would be appropriate to do genetic testing. If there is a suspicion that you may be BRCA+, which is genetic, that will also affect your treatment plan.
I recommend Dr. Susan Love's Breast Book; it has been super helpful for me. So has breastcancer.org. I would also encourage you to consider getting a second opinion, just to be sure, and to not feel pressured in making any immediate treatment decisions if you are not 100% sure. Except for very rare cases, there is no harm in taking days or even a few weeks to think about things, weigh your options, and seek information.
Please feel free to send me a direct message if you need to talk. The beginning is the hardest part; accepting the diagnosis, all the tests, and then waiting for test results. But I promise you, you can do this, you will get through this. I have had a lumpectomy, 2 port placements (first one had to be removed), six rounds of chemotherapy, a mastectomy, tamoxifen for a month, right now I'm doing radiation and herceptin, and next year will be It's not been easy but I'm getting through it. You are not alone.
Questions for your oncologist & surgeon? I wish you the best of luck and all good things to boot. The ones I have dealt with are either so sarcastic you wish you hadn't asked or plain don't know the answer so they attempt to create an argument.You are dealing with a pompous breed of cat (or rat) and I hope your experience will be proper.
Start with writing every thought, concern and question on paper. Otherwise you might get in there and forget what to say. If possible, take someone else with you.
Also keep a daily journal of calls and visits to docs.
Write down your questions. Also I'd suggest a 3 ring binder and ask for a copy of all labs and other reports. I suggest this, in case you miss something during a doctors appointment you can recall it later on. Also try to take notes, sometimes things will be clinical and technical.
Write down your questions. Also I'd suggest a 3 ring binder and ask for a copy of all labs and other reports. I suggest this, in case you miss something during a doctors appointment you can recall it later on. Also try to take notes, sometimes things will be clinical and technical.
the binder is a great idea. We were given one when hubby started his radiation and we keep everything in it, not always organized but at least it is there.
Questions for your oncologist & surgeon? I wish you the best of luck and all good things to boot. The ones I have dealt with are either so sarcastic you wish you hadn't asked or plain don't know the answer so they attempt to create an argument.You are dealing with a pompous breed of cat (or rat) and I hope your experience will be proper.
I cannot wrap my head around sweeping generalizations based on limited experience. I have a GP, a cardiologist, a gastroenterologist, two surgeons and an oncologist. Not one of them has ever copped an attitude with me, even at my most abrasive.
I'm sorry that you had less-than-sympathetic doctors, but this is not the time to pass on your condemnation of an entire profession to the OP.
For the OP: Writing your questions will make it easier to remember just what it is you want to know. In the beginning, I wrote it down, left a little space between each question for the answers.
The binder is a great idea because it keeps track of your treatment, expenses and most important, your feelings from day to day.
If your medical offices have handout information sheets, read them thoroughly as they may contain some of your answers.
Above all, when people start offering negative comments, dismiss them and focus on the positives that you experience. Sure, there will be days when you will feel down, and everything will seem bleak, but I found that those days were only as bad as I let them be. Good luck.
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