About Chemo on the BC Board Game

good questions here; and it is probably a bit of your own personal style that influences where you go-- i found the bcna handbook a bit dated and with a heavy chemotherapy bias--but i prefered the early breast cancer book i was given by my breast surgeon.  i found some internet info great as some of the research was reflecting my own experince -ie lupectomy, chemotherapy can be overused etc--i liked some new books from the library

but i also used my own intuition as well; so when i was told 3 oncologists who consulted to my surgeon recommended chemotherapy --i felt ill and became profoundly anxious but  my surgeon referred me to an oncologist who i felt comfortable with and he said surgery probably got it all--and hormone treatment vital but why not do radiation as well. He is known for being up on researchand said chemotherapy would get me 1% better outcome  but really i used my own feelings as a guide and that was 'i can do this' and i felt calm. it might be useful on these sites to also post your results as this can influence things a great deal. i went private for breast surgery and that was a good choice and radiation at a public cancer centre --great care but the waiting time was really difficult but private options were too far--when treatment is everyday then physical considerations come into the picture strongly as i worked throughout most of treatment

good questions here; and it is probably a bit of your own personal style that influences where you go-- i found the bcna handbook a bit dated and with a heavy chemotherapy bias--but i prefered the early breast cancer book i was given by my breast surgeon.  i found some internet info great as some of the research was reflecting my own experince -ie lupectomy, chemotherapy can be overused etc--i liked some new books from the library

but i also used my own intuition as well; so when i was told 3 oncologists who consulted to my surgeon recommended chemotherapy --i felt ill and became profoundly anxious but  my surgeon referred me to an oncologist who i felt comfortable with and he said surgery probably got it all--and hormone treatment vital but why not do radiation as well. He is known for being up on researchand said chemotherapy would get me 1% better outcome  but really i used my own feelings as a guide and that was 'i can do this' and i felt calm. it might be useful on these sites to also post your results as this can influence things a great deal. i went private for breast surgery and that was a good choice and radiation at a public cancer centre --great care but the waiting time was really difficult but private options were too far--when treatment is everyday then physical considerations come into the picture strongly as i worked throughout most of treatment

Hey Jessica

Have you checked out  the other resources through BCNA which you can access at the bottom of this page.  I am not sure if they will be able to help with your question.

There is also Cancer Council who is available for many services and they are available on 131120 24/7.  There is also Breast Cancer Care WA which are available to you for various services.  There is also Solaris which is located at SCGH and they offer therapies such as massage, reflexology, councelling, etc. etc.  They are the main services I used through my BC journey.

Your oncologist is the best person to ask any chemo related questions.  Also the same when and if you reach the radiotherapy phase of your treatment.

I am unable to help with choice of oncologist and going between private and public.  My lufly 80 year old next door neighbour who had just gone through back then advised me just to go straight to SCGH of which I did as I had not the faintest idea in the world regarding Private versus Public and I knew nothig of particular practitioners being better than any others at the time and as much as I tried to have as much knowledge as I could I pretty much settled in to the SCGH system and went with it.  I can tell you though that with me going through the Public System you often get to see Registrars when you go for follow up appointments during your chemo and radiotherapy but I did not find that a problem as I believe they have fresh knowledge and know how where as Oncologists who have been in the game for a long time may not have the latest know how and as I found with my Chemo Oncologist that she should have got out of what he was doing before he totally lost all his caring and compassion for his cancer patients.  I can't fault the private system in anyway.  Maybe not as flash as Private but highly trained in what they do and you still have your waiting times when you go for an appt as you do where ever you go.  

Probably doesn't help to answer your particular questions I am sorry but thought it might give you an idea of the public system.

Best of luck with your decision making, luv Mich xoxoxoxo