What should I expect at my first oncology appointment?
I ve had my post op appointment where i was told they had successfully removed the lump along with clear margins and its recommended I have radiotherapy.
Can only speak from my own experience… different areas may do things differently. In my case, the oncologist went through my results, which were I think very similar to yours, and explained about radiotherapy and hormone therapy (mine was oestrogen receptive) as adjuvant therapies to help reduce the chance of recurrence. I signed up for 3 weeks radiotherapy there and then (which was the norm back in 2018), and he prescribed my first month of Anastrozole. The oncologist appointment was quite brief but I spent some time with the oncology nurse afterwards. She was brilliant and explained things more fully. She also arranged a further sick note for me (I was a special needs teacher and definitely not ready to go back to work). She gave me the oncology nurse team mobile number which was really useful when I needed the next month of Anastrozole. It was meant to be prescribed from then on by my GP but the paperwork hadn’t gone through and it was around Christmas so I was panicking! I messaged the nurse team and they arranged a further months supply to get me through till the GPs had the paperwork and from then on I got it through them. The radiotherapy team contacted me direct to arrange a planning meeting at the hospital (Mount Vernon, a separate hospital from where I had my surgery and oncology appointment). Once I’d had that planning appointment, where I had a CT scan and a meeting with one of the radiology nurses, I got my dates for the actual treatment. It all seemed to take ages but we got there in the end! Wishing you well with it all, love and hugs, HFxx
HappyFeet1 xx
Don’t be afraid to cry. It will free your mind of sorrowful thoughts. – Hopi
My oncology appointment was very brief. We spoke a bit about my prognosis, signed consent for radiotherapy and was prescribed tamoxifen. I expected it to be longer/more detailed but I suppose everything was done that was needed! That was the only time I saw an oncologist, my sign off call was done by a nurse. x
