Survey Please, what to ask your oncologist ? |
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scared 
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Joined: Nov 09 2009 Location: Seattle Status: Offline Points: 224 |
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 Topic: Survey Please, what to ask your oncologist ?Posted: Jul 29 2010 at 10:41am |
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Hello all,
I am sort of excited to see my wife's oncologist today because it has been three months since our last visit. It has been two years since our diagnosis and we are approaching our thee year mark. Between now and then I feel we are slowly getting to our third year, so I would appreciate it if you have any great questions I could ask her about my wife's treatment.
If today was your appointment what great questions would you ask?
By the way, we are doing fine, Becky got a call from an ex co worker that is in a management position and asked her if she is ready to return to work! Becky said she is and is now studying for the exam she will need to take.
Might have a Christmas after all!!
Dave
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Wife diagnosed 7/08 stage 2B 4.78cm with 3 nodes. 15 weeks of Adriamycin and Cytoxin, Mastectomy, 12 weeks of Taxol, and 6.5 weeks of radiation.
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trip2
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Joined: Jun 03 2007 Location: Under Palm Tree Status: Offline Points: 8549 |
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Posted: Jul 29 2010 at 11:13am |
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Hi Dave,
Make sure he/she does an exam on Becky.
Ask when next check-up will be. Maybe she can graduate to a longer time span.
If Becky has any physical concerns be sure and tell the doc.
Congrats on things going so well Dave, I am happy for both of you. You will both have a wonderful Christmas. Becky going back to work sounds like the perfect thing to do.
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Stage 2 2003
Stage 1 2007 BRCA 1+ |
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123Donna
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Joined: Aug 24 2009 Location: St. Louis, MO Status: Offline Points: 13510 |
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Posted: Jul 29 2010 at 2:20pm |
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Hi Dave,
Good to hear from you. It sounds like you and Becky are starting to get your life back to "normal" or whatever the new normal is for us. I always ask my onc if there is anything new for tnbc that she's aware of or if there is something else I could be doing to help prevent a recurrence. Take care, Donna |
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DX IDC TNBC 6/09 age 49, Stage 1,Grade 3, 1.5cm,0/5Nodes,KI-67 48%,BRCA-,6/09bi-mx, recon, T/C X4(9/09)
11/10 Recur IM node, Gem,Carb,Iniparib 12/10,MRI NED 2/11,IMRT Radsx40,CT NED11/13,MRI NED3/15 |
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Lillie
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Joined: Jul 10 2009 Location: Eastern NC Status: Offline Points: 3616 |
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Posted: Jul 29 2010 at 2:37pm |
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Hi Dave,
As Pam said, make sure Becky gets a good examination. Check lymph nodes, both breast sites. etc..... As Donna said, be sure to let Onc know that you are still interested in anything new for TN's. If you or Becky have any concerns (no matter what) be sure to bring up your questions to the Onc. Nothing is too insignificant if it is bothering you. Praise the Lord and "Pass The Biscuits". Old Southern saying when something is really good. I think Becky getting an opportunity and showing interest in going back to work is WONDERFUL.... Yes Dave and Becky, there is life after cancer.. God Bless, Lillie |
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Dx 6/06 age 65,IDC-TNBC
Stage IIb,Gr3,2cm,BRCA- 6/06 L/Mast/w/SNB,1of3 Nodes+ 6/06 Axl. 9 nodes- 8/8 thru 11/15 Chemo (Clin-Trial) DD A/Cx4 -- DD taxol+gemzar x4 No Rads. No RECON - 11/2018-12 yrs NED |
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TNBC_in_NS
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Joined: Jul 26 2009 Location: NS Canada Status: Offline Points: 2028 |
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Posted: Jul 29 2010 at 5:19pm |
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Dave & Becky, I am so glad to hear about your new normal! Yeahhh!
As the girls have said "ask whatever comes to your mind" and start writing things down now so you don't forget anything. I asked for another PET scan to be done, just to find out for sure. I am not sure if they will book it or not, but I asked. You might want to have the bloodwork done as well. Check her Vitamin D too. As far as anything else, I can't think of anything else to add.
It must be wonderful to be this far out! Becky you're almost there girlfriend!!! Bless you both,
Helen in NS
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Diag@57TNBC04/092.5cm Lquad 05/09 TCx4Radsx30CT03/01/10 FU03/31/10ClearBRCA- 01/2011 RTNBC BMX 06/14/2011~2013 clear
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123Donna
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Joined: Aug 24 2009 Location: St. Louis, MO Status: Offline Points: 13510 |
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Posted: Jul 29 2010 at 5:44pm |
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Helen,
Great recommendation about the Vitamin D. If we're not checking it regularly, at least once a year for us bc patients, we should be. Dave, I'm assuming they run normal blood panel tests for Becky. They can check for Kidney and Liver function. Do they do tumor markers? Some oncs do and others don't. Donna |
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DX IDC TNBC 6/09 age 49, Stage 1,Grade 3, 1.5cm,0/5Nodes,KI-67 48%,BRCA-,6/09bi-mx, recon, T/C X4(9/09)
11/10 Recur IM node, Gem,Carb,Iniparib 12/10,MRI NED 2/11,IMRT Radsx40,CT NED11/13,MRI NED3/15 |
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hdeall
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Joined: Jan 03 2009 Location: Southern Calif Status: Offline Points: 42 |
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Posted: Jul 29 2010 at 8:48pm |
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Checking is great, but with me the cancer was back (or had never left) in the lymph nodes and it never showed on the tumor markers. It 'luckily' swelled up and told me it was there. I've switched drs for this round- my first oncologist didn't believe in scans...with our tn I'm not sure we can afford to not believe it scans.
I just finished my third round of the BSI-201...having blood issues- but hopefully the parp inhibitor is all it's made out to be!
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54 yrs, TN, Brca+, Stage 1-right side only in Nov 08, BiLateral mast. immediate reconstruction Jan 09, Chemo, Oopherectomy Dec 09, Now bi-lat lymph nodes-Mar 10,Stage IV. BiLat lymph surgery Apr10.
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TNBC_in_NS
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Joined: Jul 26 2009 Location: NS Canada Status: Offline Points: 2028 |
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Posted: Jul 29 2010 at 9:04pm |
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Awhhh, I am so sorry you are dealing with this (still)! My onc never did the tumor markers either and we still don't know if the chemo worked for me or not. I have not had any scans since finishing treatment. Oh, yes I had the mammogram, but they don't show much unless it is big enough to remove... he, he,he...
You were lucky it swelled up so that you could catch it! Blessings to be sure! Hope your blood issues stop so that you can continue your treatments! Is it your white blood cells? Maybe you need Neupogen injections after each chemo. That is what I had to do for five days after. Hard but doable. I found filling the syringes for three days on day two worked for me because by the third day, I was good for nothing. I had no strength to do anything let alone shake all over trying to get that injection in me. I will keep you in my prayers for complete recovery!
Your sister on the journey, Helen in NS
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Diag@57TNBC04/092.5cm Lquad 05/09 TCx4Radsx30CT03/01/10 FU03/31/10ClearBRCA- 01/2011 RTNBC BMX 06/14/2011~2013 clear
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123Donna
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Joined: Aug 24 2009 Location: St. Louis, MO Status: Offline Points: 13510 |
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Posted: Jul 29 2010 at 9:42pm |
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Dave,
I know some oncs do scans and others don't unless symptoms appear. You may ask their opinion about scans. My onc likes to do them at least once a year for the first 3 years with TNs. |
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DX IDC TNBC 6/09 age 49, Stage 1,Grade 3, 1.5cm,0/5Nodes,KI-67 48%,BRCA-,6/09bi-mx, recon, T/C X4(9/09)
11/10 Recur IM node, Gem,Carb,Iniparib 12/10,MRI NED 2/11,IMRT Radsx40,CT NED11/13,MRI NED3/15 |
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scared
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Joined: Nov 09 2009 Location: Seattle Status: Offline Points: 224 |
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Posted: Jul 30 2010 at 11:51am |
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Thanks for all your kind responses, I am at work so I cannot write much more than that. The oncologist did check Becky and felt her nodes and said everything looked and felt great! She was going into dermatology before she decided upon oncology and said my wife's skin was nothing to be concened about.
Thanks, will write more when I get home!
Dave
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Wife diagnosed 7/08 stage 2B 4.78cm with 3 nodes. 15 weeks of Adriamycin and Cytoxin, Mastectomy, 12 weeks of Taxol, and 6.5 weeks of radiation.
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scared
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Joined: Nov 09 2009 Location: Seattle Status: Offline Points: 224 |
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Posted: Aug 05 2010 at 11:40pm |
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UPDATE!
Becky was offered a job but had to take a test and score 80% on it. She studied for days and scored 94%, they asked her to come in for an interview and the next day they offered her the position. She is excited and scared at the same time, but we increased our daily walks by three minutes and she is doing other exercises too. We are on a salt, sugar, dairy, and grain free diet. I have lost 17 pounds and Becky's high blood pressure is now normal. I truly believe we are heading back to a place that was different than before cancer but more toward the a new normal. I do not know what tomorrow brings, but what I do know is that you folks are here for us through the thick and thin of it, the good and the bad, the sadness and happiness, through it all, this site has been a blessing to us. Dave
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Wife diagnosed 7/08 stage 2B 4.78cm with 3 nodes. 15 weeks of Adriamycin and Cytoxin, Mastectomy, 12 weeks of Taxol, and 6.5 weeks of radiation.
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Lillie
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Joined: Jul 10 2009 Location: Eastern NC Status: Offline Points: 3616 |
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Posted: Aug 06 2010 at 8:42am |
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Dear Dave and Becky...
I do believe that this will be a huge turning point in both your lives... and totally for GOOD. I am really excited for the two of you; and Dave, you know that I am serious in saying this. God Bless, Lillie |
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Dx 6/06 age 65,IDC-TNBC
Stage IIb,Gr3,2cm,BRCA- 6/06 L/Mast/w/SNB,1of3 Nodes+ 6/06 Axl. 9 nodes- 8/8 thru 11/15 Chemo (Clin-Trial) DD A/Cx4 -- DD taxol+gemzar x4 No Rads. No RECON - 11/2018-12 yrs NED |
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trip2
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Joined: Jun 03 2007 Location: Under Palm Tree Status: Offline Points: 8549 |
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Posted: Aug 06 2010 at 1:41pm |
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Fabulous, congrats to Becky on her new job, how exciting.
I'm so happy for the two of you that you have found your way out of the cancer maze
and back into life w/o cancer. It isn't easy, you two are amazing!
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Stage 2 2003
Stage 1 2007 BRCA 1+ |
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