A new member and really wishing I wasn't

I chose public even though I have private health cover. What I really like about public systems is the team decision on treatment...not just one oncologist. Decisions and treatement are made on your current health, your type of cancer and good clinical trials which demonstrate the best treatment known for your type of cancer. Whilst keeping hair may sound fantastic I'd be making decisions on stats not hair. Because I had a her2 cancer I had a whole body contrast CT scan and bone scan...all covered by Medicare. I live in rural Australia so chemo was managed not by a breast oncologist but a general one. But my initial consultation was with a breast oncologist and decisions made along the way was always in consultation with him. My treatment was stopped early but this was after a discussion with the oncology team weighing up risks. Many of those public oncologist work in private practise also.

So please don't feel you would get lesser care if you choose public. (Gosh ...that's where the clinical trials are run anyway)

I hope you feel less stressed soon. Lymph node involvement doesn't mean it's not curable. Remember that. My niece had 10 positive nodes and is cancer free 14 years on. I look to her for inspiration.

Take care. Kath x