Forum Discussion
Heartbroken, but unbroken
We have just been hit with a TNBC diagnosis. My wife is 44 and we have two young kids. Our world's been turned upside down. There's so much raw emotion and the sense of grief that we all know all too...
Talk to your wife's surgeon as he/she co-ordinates the treating team. Say that you would prefer to go public for rads and ask for referral to someone in that system - if your surgeon isn't keen, ask why. (I didn't know to ask about public/private but my surgeon was very aware of my financial circumstances and brought it up with me.) Your wife will have a long term relationship with her surgeon and oncologist. Unless tnbc is very different to other bc, she is likely to see her radiation oncologist 2 or 3 times in total...ever.
I'm not familiar with Brisbane's facilities - others may be able to comment - but I haven't heard that private is any better with regard to equipment or treatment. And from what I'm aware, there's just as much appointment shuffling and waiting in both systems but I guess that could be different in different places.
I think you said that you have a friend in a local radiotherapy dept - if you feel you can without prejudice, then ask that person what they think.
I'm not familiar with Brisbane's facilities - others may be able to comment - but I haven't heard that private is any better with regard to equipment or treatment. And from what I'm aware, there's just as much appointment shuffling and waiting in both systems but I guess that could be different in different places.
I think you said that you have a friend in a local radiotherapy dept - if you feel you can without prejudice, then ask that person what they think.