Questions to ask?

Hi KCS

I'm sorry to read that you have had your breast cancer spread to your lymph noes. I am replying to your post to 'bump it' back to the first page as I'm guessing no-one was around who's been in this position when you posted initially.  Hopefully a lady is around now who can help you with a list of questions to ask.

Kindest wishes, Lesley

Not an exhaustive list and I haven’t been in the same position, but I think I would want to ask the following

- what do they know about the extent of the cancer?  Are more tests needed to establish this? From what they know already, is it likely to be treatable?  You may want to know more about your prognosis or might prefer not to know, of course.

- I don’t know if you have had any biopsies done but if they have, what’s the grade of the cancer and what receptors does it have? If not, what are they doing to establish this?

- You don’t mention the primary tumour but how big is it? How many nodes are known to have cancer?

- how do they propose to treat you? What specifically, and in what order? If chemo, then which chemo drugs, how many cycles?

- Will they be sampling lymph nodes or are they recommending an axillary clear out? Will you need a mastectomy or WLE, and does having chemo first open more options? Will radiotherapy be needed?

- Are there any clinical trials you could benefit from?

- is any longer term hormone treatment needed (this is linked to what receptors your cancer has). 

- what are the timelines for all of the above  

Hope this helps. You might not get all the answers from one appointment- in my experience the consultants each only talk about their specialism. 

Thank you so much, this really helps, I have more to add but this is great. I’ve already had biopsy and didn’t ask what type what grade etc so need to remember to ask this time.

thanks so much x