Who is now my PCP?

Teach76
Teach76 Member Posts: 354 Member
in Breast Cancer #1

I have been recently diagnosed and waiting for chemo to begin 7/23 to shrink tumor away from chest wall before surgery.  Over the past few days I have also developed what I believe is a sinus infection.  I don't want my chemo to be delayed!  For conditions beyond the cancer, should I be contacting my primary physician, or now, does the oncologist regulate everything?  Thanks for the advice.

Comments

  • jessiesmom1
    jessiesmom1 Member Posts: 915 Member
    #2
    PCP or Oncologist

    It can certainly be confusing which doctor to see once you have had a cancer diagnosis. I was diagnosed with breast cancer in Dec 2009 and finished treatment in August 2010. During that time I continued to see my neurologist for an autoimmune issue and my family practitioner for the run of the mill things like a cough and blood pressure. All the doctors consulted with each other to make sure that any drugs being prescribed would not be detrimental to anything else for which I was being treated. In fact, one of my chemo drugs was altered slightly at the request of my neurologist. The bottom line is make sure any doctor you see is aware that you are undergoing cancer treatment. If there are any doubts on how your issue should be treated I would defer to the oncologist. 

    Good luck and be well.

    IRENE

  • New Flower
    New Flower Member Posts: 4,294
    #3
    jessiesmom1 said:

    PCP or Oncologist

    It can certainly be confusing which doctor to see once you have had a cancer diagnosis. I was diagnosed with breast cancer in Dec 2009 and finished treatment in August 2010. During that time I continued to see my neurologist for an autoimmune issue and my family practitioner for the run of the mill things like a cough and blood pressure. All the doctors consulted with each other to make sure that any drugs being prescribed would not be detrimental to anything else for which I was being treated. In fact, one of my chemo drugs was altered slightly at the request of my neurologist. The bottom line is make sure any doctor you see is aware that you are undergoing cancer treatment. If there are any doubts on how your issue should be treated I would defer to the oncologist. 

    Good luck and be well.

    IRENE

    Hi please take your sinus infection with care

    while you want to start your Chemo ASP ideally you should be healthy. It is enough time to take 7 days course of antibiotics and come out without bacterial infection. Please contact both doctors on Monday so they collaborate and make your feel better. Due to compromising immune system during Chemo sinus infection can create additional problems. Sometime patients are taking both Chemo and antibiotics at the same time.

    ghod luck and us posted

  • Double Whammy
    Double Whammy Member Posts: 2,832 Member
    #4
    New Flower said:

    Hi please take your sinus infection with care

    while you want to start your Chemo ASP ideally you should be healthy. It is enough time to take 7 days course of antibiotics and come out without bacterial infection. Please contact both doctors on Monday so they collaborate and make your feel better. Due to compromising immune system during Chemo sinus infection can create additional problems. Sometime patients are taking both Chemo and antibiotics at the same time.

    ghod luck and us posted

    10 Days to tackle sinus infection

    Go to someone Monday.  Probably your pcp will be able to get you an earlier appontment, but be sure that your oncologist is at least aware of what treatment you may be on.  You have 10 days from Monday before your first scheduled chemo and delaying it a few days probably won't matter, but if you can start on something Monday - there's 10 days.  Just make sure the right hand knows wht the left is doing - i.e., your oncologist knows about the sinus infection and what medication you are on.  Sometimes (actually most of the time) we have to be sure information is being communicated.  When I was being treated, my oncologist only deal with issues that were related to her treatments for cancer which you haven't begun yet. 

    Suzane

  • Teach76
    Teach76 Member Posts: 354 Member
    #5
    Thank you, friends.  Of

    Thank you, friends.  Of course, this had to start over a weekend, but glad my PCP is a Monday early bird!  Thanks also for the advice of being responsible myself for the communication between physicians.  it's odd to have a "T minus" countdown - then to find out there is a possible monkey wrench thrown in.  I feel like being excited for my flight only to find there is a cancellation or delay.  I just want to get chemo over so I can have surgery and begin to heal.  Tumor is too close to the chest wall so we are trying to shrink it first.

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