Newly diagnosed
Hello I'm newly diagnosed as of last week,I see my surgeon this coming Tuesday. My head is still spinning with my diagnosis.Ive started to write down questions for my surgeon but its so hard to no w...
Forum Discussion
Hi @kyles1
Commiserations, this isn’t where you want to be but welcome nevertheless. I had one tumour and several suspect lymph nodes (only one turned out to be malignant). So...
it’s likely your surgeon will be looking at removal of the cancer and also chemotherapy. You want to ask if he/she plans surgery first or chemo first (there are good reasons for both depending on the nature of the cancer). Radiation is often used to kill off cancer cells in any breast tissue remaining after surgery or any area close to
the cancer. Hormonal therapy (pills) helps protect against any development due to
oestrogen in the body, which may encourage your particular cancer.
You will want to get a clear path of treatment and a time frame for critical starts. Your surgeon may recommend an oncologist - you are not bound to this recommendation but if your surgeon and oncologist work together regularly and maintain patient notes (as mine do) it can be very useful.
Cold caps may help save your hair if you have chemotherapy - ask if it’s available. It doesn’t work for everyone but it’s worth a shot! Ditto ice covers for hands and feet to
protect against peripheral neuropathy (may be particularly important if you have any of the taxane chemotherapies).
Ask, ask everything. This is brand new to
you and you are justified on asking all questions that matter to you. Most good practitioners are happy to know that their patients want to know.
Best wishes.
Commiserations, this isn’t where you want to be but welcome nevertheless. I had one tumour and several suspect lymph nodes (only one turned out to be malignant). So...
it’s likely your surgeon will be looking at removal of the cancer and also chemotherapy. You want to ask if he/she plans surgery first or chemo first (there are good reasons for both depending on the nature of the cancer). Radiation is often used to kill off cancer cells in any breast tissue remaining after surgery or any area close to
the cancer. Hormonal therapy (pills) helps protect against any development due to
oestrogen in the body, which may encourage your particular cancer.
You will want to get a clear path of treatment and a time frame for critical starts. Your surgeon may recommend an oncologist - you are not bound to this recommendation but if your surgeon and oncologist work together regularly and maintain patient notes (as mine do) it can be very useful.
Cold caps may help save your hair if you have chemotherapy - ask if it’s available. It doesn’t work for everyone but it’s worth a shot! Ditto ice covers for hands and feet to
protect against peripheral neuropathy (may be particularly important if you have any of the taxane chemotherapies).
Ask, ask everything. This is brand new to
you and you are justified on asking all questions that matter to you. Most good practitioners are happy to know that their patients want to know.
Best wishes.