Questions to ask Doctor

At the ACS home page, type
At the ACS home page, type in the search box "what to ask my doctor". That will give you links to several articles, if I recall they had a printable list of questions that you can take to your doctor.

In my cancer binder I keep blank pages where I write questions as they come to me. If it's not urgent enough for a phone call or email, I save them for my regular appointments.

I agree the most important question is how do I ask questions between appointments...phone, email?

Also, my onc office has a separate phone number for an oncology advice nurse, that's who I call when I have questions about side effects.

You've found a great place for support, please let us know how everything goes on the 22nd.

Hugs,

Linda

Different Ballgame said:

Mickeymo and Linda gave
Mickeymo and Linda gave excellent advice. Find out how fast it is growing. There are three speeds (growth rates). If you don't have the third speed, then you have some time to do your research and time to come to terms with your cancer.

First thing to do is to purchase Dr. Susan Love's Breast Book, 5th Edition. It is a bible for breast cancer women and will help you understand your tests, your status, and everything connected to breast cancer. You can buy this book at your bookstore or order it on Amazon. THIS BOOK IS A MUST!!!!

Always keep business card of all your doctors in your purse. I also have a set that never leaves the house.

Lots of Hugs,
Janelle

Janelle is so right--
My surgeon recommended that book when I was first diagnosed and I read it from cover to cover and referred to it many, many times in the past year since my diagnosis.

Along with keeping all the team's business cards, my husband put all of their phone numbers into my cell phone--that helped a lot.

Come to this site often--I actually got better advice here from the sweet, brave women who have been through this--especially when I had a problem along the way.

Good luck--we're here for you.

Hugs, Renee

Chefrox said:

THANKS
I knew my sisters here would tell me what I needed to know...I doubt there will be a day that I won't be in this room..unless they won't let me have my laptop in the hospital.LOL

I will buy the book tomorrow and get my binder organized and ready to go.

I'll watch for more answers.....

Chef Rox

Chef Rox ... I took my sister, and a girlfriend NOT my
husband to my first appointment with my Breast Cancer Specialist out here at St. Joseph's. A tape recorder is the upmost important item I found that help me figure out which path I wanted to pursue. After my first meeting, my girlfriend was numb and forgot to write much down - my sister was pretty much on target with a lot of the information .. and me and my note taking - forget about it .. but the tape recorder had all pertain information relating to all my questions asked. .. I elected not to take my husband to my first appointment .. because emotionally, he was all over the place -- and he asked the same questions over and over and over again -- he could not deal with my diagnosis the first few months .. he was extremely supportive, took a leave of absence from his job - became the father and mother to our 2 children .. but just could not separate his emotionals from our everyday life -- it took Barb, my ONCO RN to snap him out of it...!

Path report: what does it really say .. size of cyst, Her2 positive or negative --
lumph node involvement - ?

recommendation: lumpectomy or bilateral mact'my

chemo therapy .. type of cocktail - chemo drug name
length of treatment ..

radiation therapy required after chemo

recent stats of recurrence after both chemo and rad

'Bell Standard' information regarding your chemo side efforts, and radiation side efforts .. please don't let anyone tell you all that will happen to your body and soul is that you will lose your hair (yes, this is a big deal --) and that you may be tired .. okay .. I was experienced extreme fatigue, and was fainting several times a day -- the last 6 weeks of my TCH chemo cocktail treatments.

Good luck, and my God be with you!

Strength, Courage and Peace.

Vicki Sam

suggestion
I was every so grateful my husband (of course came along) and good friend (breast cancer 2 x) came along. Just 2 more sets of ears. I heard all he was saying, asked a couple questions-then WHEN I heard him say "survival rate" I LOST IT...and everything we talked about. So if you have someone to go along with you..I highly suggest it for moral support, hand holding and remembering things said!