Surgeon or oncologist first?
Hi, I had a lumpectomy for early breast cancer four weeks ago and have possible further surgery pending as didn’t get clear margins. With all the time one gets between the steps of the treatment process, husband has just asked why I was directed to a breast surgeon initially and not an oncologist. I feel foolish to have not considered this. I tend to “trust the process” and perhaps don’t question enough. I think I understood, perhaps wrongly, that surgeon consults closely with oncologist prior to surgery in multidisciplinary meetings… Is it standard to only meet oncologists once ready for radiation and endocrine treatments? Wouldn’t an oncologist be the best to advise on appropriate margins pre-surgery? I’m interested to learn about the sequence of your interactions with specialists if anyone is happy to share please.
Anastrozole
Hi all. I was diagnosed with invasive lobular carcinoma in October 2024. I had mastectomy of left breast in February with all clear margins. I am 75 years old and went to see the oncologist yesterday. He has prescribed Anastrozole to be taken one a day for five years. After hearing all the side effects from him and reading more I wonder if it is really worthwhile going ahead with treatment. Has anyone else had this dilemma?
Triple Positive HER2+
Hi everyone BCNA Online Network established a Group with Triple Positive breast cancer which is useful also for people who might be HER2+ but not positive for oestrogen or progesterone. This post is also to alert previously accepted Triple Positive Group members: you might not have been automatically transferred across to the Triple Positive Group with the recent upgrade to the new BCNA Network site. Please do request to rejoin the Group (I did)! Ned01CheriSukiCheriAnna15FeRnurserachMareealsoTriplebreast240Number2CaitySXC1947
Hello Fellow Peeps
Hello - Lovely to meet you all! Didn't expect there would be so many of you! Didn't expect to be here - but here we are! Thanks to BreastSceen Qld and team of pathologists - they found DCIS G#3. What an amazing group of caring people. Next is an appoint re treatment - only 17 more days to wait - not that one needs to be impatient about such things. Ha. In any case I kind of know the options - but would love to hear from anyone regarding their treatment and recovery and choices - especially if you're a runner/jogger and a multiple dog mum who loves 2 walks a day. Thanks so much and take care everyone :-)
Here we go again...
I've decided I was a bit nieve (not sure of spelling) about original diagnosis/treatment in 2023 so facing it again in 2025 is a bit of a shock. I live in Bundaberg and can not fault the system from detection, diagnosis and treatment as it was speedy. Might have been why my attitude was.....got breast cancer, have treatment, get over it and move on so I didn't let it consume my life. I felt blessed it was found early, I was told if you have to get cancer it is the better variety(grade 2, invasive lobular carcinoma in situ er +, Pr - ,her2 - )and it wasn't in any nodes so it was lumpectomy, radiation and hormone blockers. I have to say none of that terminology means anything to me now so I need to do a refresher. As part of my annual checks, concerns arose around a lymph node and two months later I'm home from surgery having lymph nodes removed. That's about all I know so not sure where to from here other than changing my attitude and thinking I'd better pay more attention to cancer and connect with others. I do think I'll tell the medical oncologist I don't like being in the 20% band where the blockers didn't work 😉🙂 as facing cancer again was not on my radar.