What happens at your first Oncologist appointment?

Hi Gotchya, can only speak from my own experience, but my first appointment was really just to discuss radiotherapy and hormone treatment. I don’t think there was any physical examination and definitely no marking up for rads - that was all done at the rads planning appointment. So, treatment options were discussed and agreed - 3 weeks rads and got prescription for Anastrozole (hormone treatment). I didn’t get any dates, just an assurance that I’d be contacted by the radiotherapy department. And the oncologist also requested a dexa scan (to check bone density) because Anastrozole can thin the bones. Timescale wise, my rads planning meeting (when I had a CT scan and had my 3 free tattoos) ended up being a few weeks later and I started rads 4 weeks after the oncology appointment. Things were a bit delayed due to Christmas and New Year. The dexa scan came through for mid way during rads. It all seemed to take forever! But I got there in the end! Just to add that the oncology appointment, dexa scan and radiotherapy were at 3 different hospitals so I don’t know if that makes any difference to timescales. 

Good luck with it all, do make a list of questions for Thursday if you haven’t already, I know my mind goes blank in these situations and I forget everything I wanted to ask! HFxx

Thankyou for your reply,hope it happens faster than yours,lol,or else that might mean my Christmas might be buggered up,for the want of better words lol.But I need a rough time scale so your info was helpful,thankyou.xx

It’s pretty much as happy feet says.

the oncologist will go through what radiotherapy is.....the benefits and side effects and get you to sign a consent form for treatment.They will also

tell you how may sessions are required.They will also discuss or hormone treatment.

The oncologist then refers you to radiotherapy and that department will contact you with your planning appointment.Treatment starts 2 to 3 weeks after planning 

Thanks Extragirl,my opp was 19th Aug. Sounds like it will be probably over 3month when I go for rads,do they fast track the more serious,?I am stage 1A ,lymph nodes were unaffected,oestrogen fed. So,I think I can count myself lucky.x

Obviously they treats all parts of the body and some cases are more urgent and RT is the first line of treatment 

At 1a and clear margins no nodes you are technically cured and the RT is your insurance policy.

I was the same as you and started 9 weeks after surgery 

12 weeks is the max time I would expect you to wait

Your case sounds very similar to mine. It was 10 weeks in the end between op and start of rads. I was anxious about the gap but was probably good in retrospect as it gave poor boob more time to heal. Everyone’s op is different but I had a very long scar as the surgeon used the same excision for getting the beast out and sampling the nodes. And I felt some reassurance as I was on Anastrozole from the date of the oncology appointment. 

Good luck for Thursday xxx

Thankyou for that,I feel more at ease now with timings,have been following posts for sometime knowing I was going down this path,we are lucky to have you onboard.x

Sounds like yours was worse than mine,I was pleasantly surprised with everything about my journey so far,recovery was good,absolutely no pain,just tiered for 2/3 days.The fact that I couldn’t exercise until healed was a bummer,but hay ho,so walked a lot.I do a mix of walking and aerobic exercise,keeps the mind healthy at such times.Not taking meds yet but have a note in my possession for Dr.once I have seen Oncologist,it,s for Tomexafen ugh,but I reckon there all ugh,lol.Hate the thought of these and for so long.

You sound well enough after your experience so well done.x

Always happy to help if I can.

Good luck going forward x

night night x