should i do chemo
Comments
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Your surgeon
isn't an oncologist,how would he/or she know how bad it is?And I'm not saying this against you,it's just that that surgeon had no right to tell you that!
I would get a copy of your pathology report and find a medical oncologist(who specializes in cancer) in your area and ask that doctor!!I wonder if the American Cancer Society could help lead you in the right direction!0 -
thats exactly how i feel.outdoorgirl said:Your surgeon
isn't an oncologist,how would he/or she know how bad it is?And I'm not saying this against you,it's just that that surgeon had no right to tell you that!
I would get a copy of your pathology report and find a medical oncologist(who specializes in cancer) in your area and ask that doctor!!I wonder if the American Cancer Society could help lead you in the right direction!
thats exactly how i feel. Thank you.0 -
Understandable
I was first dx at age 38. I had lymph nodes involved so there was no question but that I should undergo chemo. My onco said on my first visit, 'You are young, we are going to do everything we can to see that you become old.' (Or words to that effect).
That was 23 years ago. I turned 61 this month. I am still trying to get old.
If you have ANY reservations about what your present doctor is recommending, please get a second opinion. You do not want to live with regrets. Do everything you can reasonably do to bring about total and complete healing and give yourself the g i f t of peace of mind.
God bless.0 -
See what the oncologist sayszahalene said:Understandable
I was first dx at age 38. I had lymph nodes involved so there was no question but that I should undergo chemo. My onco said on my first visit, 'You are young, we are going to do everything we can to see that you become old.' (Or words to that effect).
That was 23 years ago. I turned 61 this month. I am still trying to get old.
If you have ANY reservations about what your present doctor is recommending, please get a second opinion. You do not want to live with regrets. Do everything you can reasonably do to bring about total and complete healing and give yourself the g i f t of peace of mind.
God bless.
See what the oncologist says too. It might be different. My surgeon also gave me a possibe treatment plan. I go to a breast care center and she is the doc there so I don't think it is bad she discussed chemo with you. My surgeon is the one who told me I had cancer and set me up with the oncologist. She gave me possible treatment steps but did tell me definitely mastectomy and chemo before I saw the onc. doc.
A second opinion is always good. I am 33 and am wondering if I have exhausted options too early by doning chemo but wasn't given a chice in the matter really.
Kim0 -
OncologistCR1954 said:Welcome lolad......
I agree, seek out a second opinion or find an oncologist to consult with. Then, your mind will be at ease regarding further treatment.
CR
I agree totally with the others ... that your surgeon is not an oncologist. I had a lumpectomy and the surgeon told me all I would need was radiation but the oncologist is the one who interpreted the lab results and determined my treatment ... which did include chemo. I'm of the belief that it's better to be safe than sorry ... so I'm doing everything the oncologist says I need. The surgeon does great surgery ... but the oncologist specializes in cancer.
hugs.
teena0 -
You need a Medical Oncologist to consult with
Hi Lolad, sorry to hear about your diagnosis. My experience was quite different. I go to a cancer center. Therefore, my breast surgeon is actually a surgical Oncologist. He is very knowledgable in interpeting results and making recomendations. However, I will see a Medical Oncologist that will make the final decision & help me to choose what is right for me. If your surgeon was a General surgeon, then ask either him or you PCP for a referral to a Medical Oncologist. Be sure to have all your pathology reports with you when you go. Good luck and keep us posted. Pammy 0 -
Second Opinion!Akiss4me said:You need a Medical Oncologist to consult with
Hi Lolad, sorry to hear about your diagnosis. My experience was quite different. I go to a cancer center. Therefore, my breast surgeon is actually a surgical Oncologist. He is very knowledgable in interpeting results and making recomendations. However, I will see a Medical Oncologist that will make the final decision & help me to choose what is right for me. If your surgeon was a General surgeon, then ask either him or you PCP for a referral to a Medical Oncologist. Be sure to have all your pathology reports with you when you go. Good luck and keep us posted. Pammy
I go to a cancer centre where the doctors all work as a team. Did you see an oncologist before your surgery? If not, then I agree..find one and take all your test results with you.
Good luck and keep in touch! Pat0 -
Welcome, lolad
I wholeheartedly agree with what's already been stated, with no offense meant to your surgeon.
You do really need to consult a medical oncologist for definitive options and possible recommendations for post-surgery treatment.
Best wishes to you.
Kind regards, Susan0 -
Go get a second opinion andconfused123 said:See what the oncologist says
See what the oncologist says too. It might be different. My surgeon also gave me a possibe treatment plan. I go to a breast care center and she is the doc there so I don't think it is bad she discussed chemo with you. My surgeon is the one who told me I had cancer and set me up with the oncologist. She gave me possible treatment steps but did tell me definitely mastectomy and chemo before I saw the onc. doc.
A second opinion is always good. I am 33 and am wondering if I have exhausted options too early by doning chemo but wasn't given a chice in the matter really.
Kim
Go get a second opinion and see an oncologist. Do you have your pathology report? Be sure and get a copy of that. Good luck!0 -
Just want to welcome youcats_toy said:I can only say "ditto" to everyone else.
your surgeon should refer you to the oncologist, who will review all of your information and then decide on your course of treatment.
Keep on top of it.
=^..^=
Just want to welcome you here! And, like the others said, you should be talking to an oncologist about your treatment. Good luck and let us know!0 -
You should get a secondKat11 said:I second all the seconds.
I second all the seconds. Good Luuk
You should get a second opinion for sure! Good luck0 -
Thank you for answeringoutdoorgirl said:Your surgeon
isn't an oncologist,how would he/or she know how bad it is?And I'm not saying this against you,it's just that that surgeon had no right to tell you that!
I would get a copy of your pathology report and find a medical oncologist(who specializes in cancer) in your area and ask that doctor!!I wonder if the American Cancer Society could help lead you in the right direction!
Thank you for answering back. I am going to see an oncologist Tuesday and got my pathology and operative reports to take with me. My surgeon finally told me that she couldnt really give me the treatment options and she set me up with an oncologist. I may have just jumped the gun on her and what she said to me about not doing chemo. I am hoping that all the questions i have about treatment options will be answered by her. Im sure they will be, that is their job, not the surgeons. It is so hard and i feel so drained with all the information the surgeon thru at me. I am looking forward to finally getting answers from the oncologist.0 -
A second opinion is good andconfused123 said:See what the oncologist says
See what the oncologist says too. It might be different. My surgeon also gave me a possibe treatment plan. I go to a breast care center and she is the doc there so I don't think it is bad she discussed chemo with you. My surgeon is the one who told me I had cancer and set me up with the oncologist. She gave me possible treatment steps but did tell me definitely mastectomy and chemo before I saw the onc. doc.
A second opinion is always good. I am 33 and am wondering if I have exhausted options too early by doning chemo but wasn't given a chice in the matter really.
Kim
A second opinion is good and it can help you to decide exactly what treatment you will do. A surgeon shouldn't be giving you a treatment plan. That is for your oncologist to do.
Good luck0 -
Iolad,lolad said:Thank you for answering
Thank you for answering back. I am going to see an oncologist Tuesday and got my pathology and operative reports to take with me. My surgeon finally told me that she couldnt really give me the treatment options and she set me up with an oncologist. I may have just jumped the gun on her and what she said to me about not doing chemo. I am hoping that all the questions i have about treatment options will be answered by her. Im sure they will be, that is their job, not the surgeons. It is so hard and i feel so drained with all the information the surgeon thru at me. I am looking forward to finally getting answers from the oncologist.
Glad that your surgeon set you up with an oncologist!Bring someone with you if you can to be another pair of ears(and moral support!).
I know how you feel about all the info-it can be very overwhelming!
Keep us posted when you can and know that we are here for you.
Patty0 -
my two cents
This is just my opinion (and probably many, including oncologists, would disagree with me): even if there were only a 1% chance of 'it' coming back, I would fight to have chemo. I was scared at the time, but in retrospect, my chemo (four treatments of Taxotere/Cytoxan) really wasn't that bad, and even if it was, I would do it to keep the cancer away.
Good luck with whatever decision you make,
Ohilly0 -
I like what you say Ohilly!ohilly said:my two cents
This is just my opinion (and probably many, including oncologists, would disagree with me): even if there were only a 1% chance of 'it' coming back, I would fight to have chemo. I was scared at the time, but in retrospect, my chemo (four treatments of Taxotere/Cytoxan) really wasn't that bad, and even if it was, I would do it to keep the cancer away.
Good luck with whatever decision you make,
Ohilly
I like what you say Ohilly! Makes sense!0
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