Meeting with oncologist

Hi that is great news your scans were clear. Do you have any details about your tumour? I find knowledge is power so why don't you write all your questions down and ring your nurse on Monday. If you're like me your mind will go blank when they plonk a doctor in front of you!

I'm having chemo before surgery and it is quite common so try not to worry too much about it. Are they trying to preserve your breast rather than mastectomy?

It can all be overwhelming at first so try not too worry too much. I know it's easy to say xx

He never said anything about preserving the breast just said the surgeon would like it to be smaller before they operate . I’m dong 4 sessions of AC chemo , then another type beginning with a T can’t remember the name for 12 weeks with herceptin as I’m her 2 positive. 

I’m just hoping that he wouldn’t tell me it was curable if he didn’t think it was . 

Sorry to be so down. 

Have you started your chemo yet ?? Think that’s freaking me out aswell. 

Thank you for your reply xxxx

Hi BigJean,

My wife's tumour needed shrinking before they operated and we were initially told that the type of surgery (lumpectomy or mastectomy) would be dictated by the tumour's response to the chemotherapy. However, despite the tumour being completely destroyed by the chemotherapy, they still did a mastectomy. That may not be the case for you, but I can tell you categorically that the oncologist would NOT tell you it was curable if it wasn't.

It basically becomes incurable when it's spread, and your scans have come back clear, meaning it hasn't spread so it *is* curable.

Jen had Docetaxel, Trastuzumab, Pertuzumab (DTP) and Epirubicin, Cyclophosphamide (EC), along with Tamoxafen, Herceptin, Zoladex, Zoledronic Acid...those are the ones I can think of off the top of my head but there are others I can't think of without consulting my notes. The first two combinations were the primary chemo treatments and some she had before, some during and some after.

Everyone's drug combination is different depending on a wide range of factors, but the oncologist will never lie to you - it's not in their interest or yours.

I hope this helps you a little.

Wishing you the very best.

Hi Onetoomanybiscuits , 

thank you for encouraging words . Your wife has a fantastic support in you . Please pass on my best wishes to her . 

I feel a good bit better after reading your post , I haven’t been negative about this up until the last few days as it becomes more realistic that it’s happening to me . I think when I go into the doctor im afraid to ask any questions in case I hear the worst , but this has not been the case . 

The oncologist and breast surgeon were both v positive with me so I’ll just focus on that . I just keep looking at my 4 children and am praying that I will be around to see them grow up . 

Thank you again for all your advice .

j xxxx

Hi ,

So glad your scans were clear and completely agree with OneTooManyBiscuits about your oncologist.

We all have our wobbles and I think we are allowed to feel any flipping way we like, there’s no ‘Normal’, everybody will cope differently and we do cope somehow. I have 4 children too so I know exactly how you feel hun.

I’m sure you will feel better when your treatment starts, everything that is done is going to help, baby steps.

Gentle Hugs Tina x