Ductal carcinoma in-situ, High-Grade with Comedo; microcalcifications

PhyllisH
PhyllisH Member Posts: 1
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
This is my first time here and I could use some help. This is a long story but I will try to shorten it. I had a tumor show up bad on mamm, 2nd mamm & ultrasound (#5 on Biard, suggesting malignancy, didn't know this at the time). Referred me to a surgeon for biopsy. First visit with surgeon went ok, I thought. He assured me it wasn't anything to worry about but we would do a stereotastic biopsy. Biopsy day he assured me again not to worry because it was going to be ok. I went to his office the next week and he told me he had bad news, it was cancer. He set up surgery for the next week. He said it was a little spot contained & no problem. Had surgery, lumpectomy, and still "no problem". Now here's the problem, when I went for my follow-up appt. the next week, he would not answer any of my questions. On the day I was told I had cancer I was so shocked that I couldn't think of any & now I came armed with notebook in hand. I had not been told anything and now I wanted answers! After refusing to answer any of my questions, saying your radiation oncologist will answer them, I said I needed a copy of my pathology report. THAT brought a reaction. WHY he asked! I replied I needed it for my cancer insurance. The next question I asked was the grade of my cancer. At that point he stood and said he would get the report and as he walked past me told me there would be words on it that I probably wouldn't understand and if I wanted to know to "research it". Well he never returned. His nurse brought in the report and my appt. with the radiation oncologist which is today. Everything I have read doesn't sound good. Do I need to go somewhere else and get a second opinion? Do I need more surgery? A mastectomy? I am hoping to find out more info today. I would like your thoughts on this please!

Comments

  • tgf
    tgf Member Posts: 950 Member
    #2
    Glad you found us ...
    Hi Phyllis. Welcome to our special group of special people ... but I am sorry for the reason you are here.

    All I can say is ... YES ... by all means get a second opinion ... and a NEW medical oncologist. I'm sorry you had such a bad experience at your appointment. It sounds like your doctor forgot to go the classes teaching "bedside manners" and being understanding and empathetic. Sounds pretty much like a jerk to me. I can't believe he would talk to you that way and then walk out of the room. How VERY unprofessional. I would not have anything more to do with him.

    There are many excellent medical oncologists out there who would welcome you as a patient and treat you with the understanding and respect you deserve.

    In my opinion you need to be totally honest with your radiation oncologist and tell him/her about your experience with the medical oncologist ... and ask the radiation oncologist for a referral to another doctor ... one who will treat you and your case ... with respect.

    Shame, shame on that doctor!

    hugs.
    teena

    Photobucket

    P.S. I don't know how much you've been reading on this discussion board ... but you have come to an amazing place. While the reason we are all here is not one we'd wish on anyone ... we are here ... and we are family. We can ask anything ... be totally honest ... and share our knowledge and experiences. Welcome to the family.
  • jnl
    jnl Member Posts: 3,869 Member
    #3
    WOW Phyllis, I am shocked at
    WOW Phyllis, I am shocked at how your "so called" doctor treated you. I would most certainly get another doctor and 2nd opinion. No doctor should treat you that way. And, you need to know what your pathology report says and to understand it. That is what decides your treatment. Don't put up with that horrible treatment, from anyone.
  • CR1954
    CR1954 Member Posts: 1,390 Member
    #4
    Boy, Phyllis......
    I agree with what the other ladies said! You need to get a second opinion AND you need to find a doctor who will answer all of your questions! I would run away from that guy as fast as my legs would carry me!

    I'm very happy that you have joined us here, but also very sorry for the reason.

    Hugs,
    CR
  • Kylez
    Kylez Member Posts: 3,761 Member
    #5
    CR1954 said:

    Boy, Phyllis......
    I agree with what the other ladies said! You need to get a second opinion AND you need to find a doctor who will answer all of your questions! I would run away from that guy as fast as my legs would carry me!

    I'm very happy that you have joined us here, but also very sorry for the reason.

    Hugs,
    CR

    Fire your doctor now!
    You need to get rid of that jerk and find a new doctor. I wouldn't even trust him treating me if he talked like that.
  • tommaseena
    tommaseena Member Posts: 1,769
    #6
    Kylez said:

    Fire your doctor now!
    You need to get rid of that jerk and find a new doctor. I wouldn't even trust him treating me if he talked like that.

    the same thing happened to me
    The same thing happened to me. I was diagnosed 12/8/08 and when I asked questions mine left the room and had his nurses answer some of the questions. I got a second opinion at a breast center in another state. The people at the second facility answered all my questions. When I asked for a copy of my path report and copy of the consult from the first dr they reluctantly gave them to me so I could send them to the second opinion. I went for my 2nd opinion 1/13/09. Had my bilateral mastectomy 2/2/09,,path report stated DCIS, high grad comedo type with focal invasion. My tumor was 2.7 cm in length.

    The copy of the first consult stated "to contact patient within 2 weeks for her decision". I never got a phone call from him. I did get a phone call from the radiation oncology nurse on 2/23/09 asking what my decision was going to be.

    I was not too nice on the phone--I told her that it was f***ing ridiculous that they are finally making contact with me 2 1/2 months later. I told her that I already had surgery and was going somewhere else to have my treatments because of the care I did not get from them and that they needed to take lessons from other centers that have been around for a while".

    Please go get a second opinion--it is your health and not theirs. You need to be comfortable with YOUR decision and it is your decision and not theirs. When you go for your second opinion see if they want your pathology slides sent to them. Get copies of everything in your health record to bring with you.

    Best of luck

    Margo
  • jk1952
    jk1952 Member Posts: 613
    #7
    Amen, sisters!

    Phyllis,

    You should run for the hills, and get a new doctor. Your primarey care physician or your gynelocologist also might be able to help find someone new. Any doctor that you have a good relationship with and you trust, would be willing to help you find a new cancer doctor.

    Joyce
  • Akiss4me
    Akiss4me Member Posts: 2,188
    #8
    jk1952 said:

    Amen, sisters!

    Phyllis,

    You should run for the hills, and get a new doctor. Your primarey care physician or your gynelocologist also might be able to help find someone new. Any doctor that you have a good relationship with and you trust, would be willing to help you find a new cancer doctor.

    Joyce

    I agree...
    Joyce, I agree with everyone's opinion here. You have a right to be treated with respect and a right to your medical records (They belong to you first before they belong to anyone else). I would go as far to report his treatment & behaviour to the Medical Assoc. and Let him know that my attorney would be contacting him as I felt he was withholding medical info about me that he had knowledge of and I felt that it was medical malpractice on his behalf with the way I was treated.....that's just me though (I have a habit of going after things head on and hard!). Truth is, your already dealing with an overwheming condition and don't need any added stress. Hope you find a Doctor that treats you with respect. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you. :) Pammy
  • Christmas Girl
    Christmas Girl Member Posts: 3,682 Member
    #9
    Warm welcome, PhyllisH
    You've joined the perfect group. So sorry for the bad experiences with your surgeon. A doctor should not be so reluctant to discuss and explain ANY test result(s), ever. I'll echo the other members here and highly recommend you seek another doctor to replace him. Having medical care you are comfortable with and confident in is half the battler. I believe your own post was all about your surgeon; and, you speak of a radiation oncologist as next in line. Honestly, I strongly suggest you take your records - especially the post-surgery final pathology results - to a medical oncologist.

    Best wishes to you. Keep us informed of your progress.

    Kind regards, Susan
  • Noel
    Noel Member Posts: 3,095 Member
    #10
    Phyllis, don't walk, RUN to
    Phyllis, don't walk, RUN to another doctor and for a second opinion. Noone has the right to treat you like that, especially not a doctor. If I were you, I would report him to the hospital that he is in. They have patient relations or action lines at most hospitals, just for doctors like him. You deserve to have answers, you deserve to get the best treatment with some dignity and kindness. Let us know how you do please!
  • phoenixrising
    phoenixrising Member Posts: 1,508
    #11
    Hi Phyllis and welcome. It
    Hi Phyllis and welcome. It just doesn't seem right that you are given earth shattering news and then have to deal with a jerk about it. I so agree with all the other gals in that you seek another opinion and definitely get another oncologist. This man will not be helpful to you at all and it's important to have informative and supportive people around you. You are one smart woman to get a copy of your pathology report. Good for you! Let us know how you make out.
    hugs
    jan
  • taleena
    taleena Member Posts: 1,612 Member
    #12
    phoenixrising said:

    Hi Phyllis and welcome. It
    Hi Phyllis and welcome. It just doesn't seem right that you are given earth shattering news and then have to deal with a jerk about it. I so agree with all the other gals in that you seek another opinion and definitely get another oncologist. This man will not be helpful to you at all and it's important to have informative and supportive people around you. You are one smart woman to get a copy of your pathology report. Good for you! Let us know how you make out.
    hugs
    jan

    Seems like we all agree
    Seems like we all agree here... I sorry your here, but glad you found us... amazing group of people here with strenght, humor, hope, and understanding... lots of information too. I agree... find a new doctor.. he sounds like and a**.... you deserve to be treated with kindness, understanding and deserve to have ALL of your questions answered. Know that we are here whenever you need us...

    ~T
  • tjhay
    tjhay Member Posts: 655
    #13
    Dorky Doctor
    Well to be honest my surgeon did not give me a lot of answers either, but at least he admitted that it would be better to talk to my oncologist about everything. Good Luck with your journey, and remember we are all here for you, good times and bad.
    Happy Smiles
    Tj

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