Surgeon vs. Oncologist
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Thanks!
♥ Cathy
Comments
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onc/surgeon
I would ask your surgeon to contact your oncologist to discuss the course of action. You are the customer and should feel comfortable and informed about what they are doing to your body. A re-do isn't really an option. I would think you might even be able to set up a conference call...where you could be on one end too.
Jenn0 -
Decision!
You're right, the surgeon and the oncologist should be on the same page as far as your treatment is concerned. I remember when I first met with my surgeon, she gave me the option of having some chemo before I had my mastectomy. My tumor was 2 1/2 cm. She said it might shrink it down a little, but I just wanted the beast out of me. So that's what we did, and I'm very thankful, because the cancer had already spread to 2 of the centinel nodes, but no further. I had 8 rounds of chemo followed by 30 radiation treatments. Now I'm waiting for reconstructive surgery in December. I think you should sit down with both you surgeon and oncologist at the same time and come to a decision, and you need to put in your two cents, because it's your body. Connie0 -
I agree! My Oncology surgeonLC815 said:Team Approach
I only have this to say:
Yes, your onc and surgeon should be talking to one another -- definitely!!! This should be a joint treatment plan.
Peace.
Linda
I agree! My Oncology surgeon and my Medical Oncologist are associates.0 -
I had 4 cycles of A/C chemo
I had 4 cycles of A/C chemo before surgery. Then had surgery about a month later. Didn't shrink as much as the surgeon liked I guess because they had me take 4 more cycles this time of Taxotere. Then waited another month and had 6 weeks of radiation. I didn't have the Herceptin but don't know why. I was a stage 3a with tumors of 6cm and 3cm. After the first 4 cycles I was a stage 2.
The onc and surgeon should talk to each other and decide which treatment is best for you.0 -
My surgeon and Onc talk to
My surgeon and Onc talk to each other. I saw my surgeon first - within days of positive biopsies - but he would not think about doing surgery until after I had chemo to shrink it. I had 4 doses of A/C 2 weeks apart and then had a mod. rad. mastectomy 2 weeks after the last A/C. The day of the last A/C I saw the chemo Dr and he was unsure if he wanted to do a bit more chemo first or not so he was going to talk with surgeon so they could decide the best route to go. They decided to go ahead with surgery and start chemo again after - so 3 weeks, 1 day after surgery (a week ago today) I started Taxol weekly for 12 weeks then will go on to rads and Femara. I'll be seeing my PA on Monday as I haven't seen her (though I have talked with her on the phone) since the day the biopsies were taken.
Different cancers proceed differently and call for different protocals. I have a very aggressive form (Inflammatory Breast Cancer) that had literaly progressed rapidly within a very few weeks to VERY large so time was of the utmost concern. Talk with your Drs about your concerns and do research to better educate yourself of options.
Good luck and prayers!
Susan0 -
Hey CatRague said:My surgeon and Onc talk to
My surgeon and Onc talk to each other. I saw my surgeon first - within days of positive biopsies - but he would not think about doing surgery until after I had chemo to shrink it. I had 4 doses of A/C 2 weeks apart and then had a mod. rad. mastectomy 2 weeks after the last A/C. The day of the last A/C I saw the chemo Dr and he was unsure if he wanted to do a bit more chemo first or not so he was going to talk with surgeon so they could decide the best route to go. They decided to go ahead with surgery and start chemo again after - so 3 weeks, 1 day after surgery (a week ago today) I started Taxol weekly for 12 weeks then will go on to rads and Femara. I'll be seeing my PA on Monday as I haven't seen her (though I have talked with her on the phone) since the day the biopsies were taken.
Different cancers proceed differently and call for different protocals. I have a very aggressive form (Inflammatory Breast Cancer) that had literaly progressed rapidly within a very few weeks to VERY large so time was of the utmost concern. Talk with your Drs about your concerns and do research to better educate yourself of options.
Good luck and prayers!
Susan
Well...you know what I think. Personally...I dont understand why only 2 rounds and Herceptin is typically taken for a year when HER2+...Im on it already with chemo and I would think you should be too....Im going to have surgery asap after chemo. Yes, my surgeon and onc are talkin..girl, you know your body better than those docs. Those are words spoken directly from the mouth of my Onc Surgeon, lol...so demand it. Dont get pushed around...you own your body! You deserve it..and if you dont like it, get another opinion. Stand up for yourself...wish I was there with ya...Id tell em for ya!
Sam0 -
CatSam726 said:Hey Cat
Well...you know what I think. Personally...I dont understand why only 2 rounds and Herceptin is typically taken for a year when HER2+...Im on it already with chemo and I would think you should be too....Im going to have surgery asap after chemo. Yes, my surgeon and onc are talkin..girl, you know your body better than those docs. Those are words spoken directly from the mouth of my Onc Surgeon, lol...so demand it. Dont get pushed around...you own your body! You deserve it..and if you dont like it, get another opinion. Stand up for yourself...wish I was there with ya...Id tell em for ya!
Sam
I am in a different situation. My surgeon and Onc collaborate very well though. I had the surgery...lumpectomy for IDC and sentinel lobe before chemo. But the number one issue here is you have to be comfortable that you are getting the best treatment possible. I would press for them to communicate. In my prayers as always.
becky0 -
I have to wait 4 weeks from
I have to wait 4 weeks from chemo for surgery, or until my blood work is okay for surgery. In regards to surgeon v/s oncologists is concerned, mine disagree and I feel it is their job to explain both sides, than I decide.
I have no tumor, cancer showed up as a lump in my nodes in armpit and spread to the muscle under the breast by the side. Onc wants me to have a mastectomy with axillary clearnce. Top breast surgeon in the area recomends node dissection only because there is no tumor and radaition will take care of what little cancer is in the breast. I decide on just the nodes.0
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