why was a hematology oncologist recommended

lmede64
lmede64 Member Posts: 32 Member
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
My sister had surgery in August of 2009 for stage 1 colorectal cancer. The surgeon told us that the tumor was contained and that she got it all. Although this confused me a little (I was surprised at the total confidence having been through breast cancer surgery myself) it was welcome news. A month ago she went in for a follow up blood test and found out that she had elevated CEA levels. Unfortunately, they were unable to compare her results to the CEA levels prior to surgery because this test wasn't done. At any rate, because she smokes and that can elevate the levels, they did another CEA test and found that the levels had increased again.
Now she is scheduled for a PET-CT scan. This was set up for her by a doctor recommended to her by her surgeon. Upon researching we see that this doctor is a hematology oncologist who practices at a center where they specialize in the treatment of malignancies and diseases of the blood.
She is going to research this further, but in the meanwhile, I thought I'd ask if anyone else has gone this route (with this type of specialist). Aside from surgeons, the only reference I see to specialists on this blog is to gastroenterologists.

thanks, everyone!

Comments

  • tootsie1
    tootsie1 Member Posts: 5,044 Member
    #2
    Interested to know
    I really don't have the answer for you, but I'm very interested to hear what she finds out. I, too, was diagnosed with Stage 1 colon cancer. So far so good!

    *hugs*
    Gail
  • Shayenne
    Shayenne Member Posts: 2,342
    #3
    tootsie1 said:

    Interested to know
    I really don't have the answer for you, but I'm very interested to hear what she finds out. I, too, was diagnosed with Stage 1 colon cancer. So far so good!

    *hugs*
    Gail

    My Onc....
    Is a Hematology onc, who I was sent too, highly recommended to me, and did mention I was seeing her, because I was highly anemic. Is your sister anemic at all? they have to watch the blood more as well when treating people who are anemic, since it may vary to people who aren't anemic, that's the only thing I could think of. Hema is a medical term for blood.

    Hugsss!
    ~Donna
  • Kathryn_in_MN
    Kathryn_in_MN Member Posts: 1,252 Member
    #4
    A lot of practices
    A lot of practices are hematology and oncology together. Mine is. Quite common.
  • snommintj
    snommintj Member Posts: 601
    #5
    Kathryn_in_MN said:

    A lot of practices
    A lot of practices are hematology and oncology together. Mine is. Quite common.

    conductor
    The hematologist/oncologist is going to be able to track down the root of her problem. Elevated CEAs aren't necessarily a bad sign but they can be. If something does show up, the h/o will be the one directing the battle. He or she will coordinate the chemos and the surgeries and evaluate her health along the way.
  • geotina
    geotina Member Posts: 2,111 Member
    #6
    Hematology/Oncology
    George's onc's sign also says, hematology/oncology like many others. To be honest, I never questioned it or thought about it. He is highly recommended and has done wonderful by us. I would not worry about it, long as the doctor is good, highly recommended, etc. and has a good connection with sister I would not give it another thought. Do you know what her CEA level is/was? Tina
  • beachinmom
    beachinmom Member Posts: 73
    #7
    geotina said:

    Hematology/Oncology
    George's onc's sign also says, hematology/oncology like many others. To be honest, I never questioned it or thought about it. He is highly recommended and has done wonderful by us. I would not worry about it, long as the doctor is good, highly recommended, etc. and has a good connection with sister I would not give it another thought. Do you know what her CEA level is/was? Tina

    Hematology & Oncology---great combo.
    My oncologist was both as well, board certified in internam medicine as well.

    Did your sister ever have a PET or a ct before? I am suprised if she did not. That is the only way to tell if the cancer may have traveled to another organ.

    I am someone who is/was stage 1, and I visited an oncologist at the recommendation of my surgeon as well. We determined that I needed to do chemotherapy because of the type of tumor that I had. Before my surgery I had a PET/CT to determine if my cancer had spread.

    She is headed to the right people it sounds like. I just wouldn't worry about it either. It would be a good idea for her to take someone with her, or even record the meeting. I find the first meetings there is alot of info shared, and it is helpful to have someone else to help remember what is shared.

    Good luck to you both.
  • dianetavegia
    dianetavegia Member Posts: 1,942 Member
    #8
    Here, too
    My oncologist specialized in hematology but is board certified in both. I love him. He's part of a big group out of Atlanta and patients are put before their group as a whole for decisions on treatment. That means 14 doctors helped decide what was best for me. I'm sure your sister will be in good hands.
  • KATE58
    KATE58 Member Posts: 299
    #9
    dianetavegia said:

    Here, too
    My oncologist specialized in hematology but is board certified in both. I love him. He's part of a big group out of Atlanta and patients are put before their group as a whole for decisions on treatment. That means 14 doctors helped decide what was best for me. I'm sure your sister will be in good hands.

    Hemotology and oncology seem
    Hemotology and oncology seem to go together.
    my doctors are "hem/onc" docs!
    I guess because chemo can really mess up your blood counts
    and bone marrow,they need to be experts in both fields.
    my doctor was head of internal medicine for nine yrs at lankenau hospital
    before she changed specialties to "hem/onc"
    so I feel I have the best of all worlds in her.
  • Annabelle41415
    Annabelle41415 Member Posts: 6,742 Member
    #10
    Common
    You will find that this is very common to have more than one area they specialize in. Hope all will work out with you sister. Keep us informed.

    Kim
  • k1
    k1 Member Posts: 220 Member
    #11
    Shayenne said:

    My Onc....
    Is a Hematology onc, who I was sent too, highly recommended to me, and did mention I was seeing her, because I was highly anemic. Is your sister anemic at all? they have to watch the blood more as well when treating people who are anemic, since it may vary to people who aren't anemic, that's the only thing I could think of. Hema is a medical term for blood.

    Hugsss!
    ~Donna

    highly anemic
    I'm also highly anemic. The reason I was referred to a hemotologist oncologist by my surgeon wasn't anemia though -- this doctor was overseeing a clinical trial for the medical center and my surgeon recommended I go to him to enroll in the clinical trial.

    Kim

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