No confidence in Oncologist

I think you are entitled to a second opinion on the NHS. Do the other Aromatase inhibitor not have the same effect on BP and cholesterol. It's up to you I feel if you want to see someone privately if they can't offer you a second opinion. My oncologist presc Letrozole even though I have osteoporosis because he felt it was the right one. He is a Professor of Oncology. He said after a couple of yrs I could move onto Tamoxifen. 

I had a similar experience with my son. The letter she sent afterwards was full of mistakes. Even led to a prescribing error for his Epilepsy meds. 2 conflicting doses on his letter. I discovered she wasn't a Dr when the letter came. She is a Physician Associate, half way between a Dr  and a Nurse. She didn't tell me that. Good luck with your appts, hope you get what you need from them. X

Hello. I had a very similar situation, basically contradicted everything the consultant had said and made decisions against what I had previously been told. She had also put me on tamoxifen initially when i have high risk of blood clots and i did tell her but she said it was worth the risk. I managed to get another appointment and spoke to the consultant and went back to the original plan of treatment and was immediately taken off tamoxifen. It is a little unsettling when you see different doctors and i was lucky that i had another appointment to discuss my issues. She also made a comment that one of the tablets would only give me an extra 2% chance of survival so not worth taking  which was said very callously and still goes around my head. It was as if to her i didn't matter and i was just a number. We really don't need anything else to mess with our heads do we. I've found my doctors very helpful but they have very limited knowledge. Breast nurses have been brilliant, maybe they can help?

Hello

I have dangerously high cholesterol, it's genetic so I'm on high dose Statins and aspirin and I also have bouts of high blood pressure.  My Oncologist prescribed Letrozole for me too as she said it was the best option to stop the cancer returning.  I also have an incurable neurological illness that I take lots of medication for.

I'm having blood tests every three months and monitoring my blood pressure at home daily.  I think of treating cancer when you have other health conditions is like juggling with too many balls!  Definitely ask for a second opinion if you are not happy but I wanted to let you know that you are not alone with the high cholesterol and blood pressure issues and other Oncologists do prescribe Letrozole in similar circumstances.  I hope this helps.

Hi, with respect to the Oncology Pharmacist, I would see what they say. I have spoken to one twice, the same one, just before a bisphosphonate infusion. He is excellent, extremely knowledgeable of side effects and interactions with other medicines. He went through all of my medications with me. He also had the time to listen, respond, and explain. I hope that you have a good experience too. 

Ps. And he also had access to my blood tests, and explained the results of my latest one with me. I’d say that the role of an oncology pharmacist is underrated, but that’s just my experience. 

Thank you for your reply. I have managed to get things sorted today at my Radiotherapy planning appointment

Thank you for your reply. It isn’t the Oncology pharmacist I’m going to be speaking to, it’s been organised by my GP surgery and it’s the local pharmacist attached to the surgery. That’s the reason I’m unhappy about it. 

Oh …. I see. Crikey, no wonder you are unhappy. Perhaps I was just lucky, but I wonder if it might be worth asking your Breast care Nurse if they might be able to arrange an appointment with an Incology Pharmacist? My BCN can arrange some appointments. 

Thank you for the advice I will contact my BC nurse on Monday xx