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Jun 8, 2016 03:48PM
- edited
Jun 8, 2016 03:56PM
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Dear Grainne: I can certainly understand your worry and frustration. Breast cancer is terrifying. It doesn't matter what type of bc, stage, or grade that someone is diagnosed with. Yes, more advanced breast cancer is much worse, however, all bc is scary and anxiety provoking. You need to feel that your doctor listens to your concerns and that your doctor has the knowledge and experience to answer your questions. You don't want to feel rushed in your doctors office.
MO: Medical Oncologist. My MO is the person who oversees my care. I will be seeing my MO for years. I love and trust my MO. I am so lucky that I am her patient. She is the BEST! I just found out on Monday, that some people go to their BS: Breast Surgeon for this service and not their MO. I see my RO: Radiologic Oncologist too because he is the doctor who meets with me after my mammograms, sonograms, and/or breast MRI's. I absolutely LOVE him too. He is wonderful. The problem that I have is that I was treated in Texas (M.D. Anderson Cancer Center) and I live in Florida, so it is hard for me to travel/take time off of work/cover the expenses to see my RO.
It seems as if the doctors who you will be seeing on a regular basis will be your BS and your RO. Your GP is similar to the Primary Care Doctor in the US. Your GP is a wonderful doctor, however, s/he may not know much about breast cancer, since that is not his/her specialty. You absolutely must see a doctor who knows about breast cancer. That is crucial. Do not settle for someone who does not know about breast cancer.
Please keep asking your doctors questions. NONE of your questions are stupid. Please don't feel that way. Rephrase your questions and as them again if you are not satisfied with the answers that you are getting. If you think of new questions, then ask those too. This is a great website for information. Do not Google. Googling is not always helpful as there is much mis-information out there. A good idea is to join a support group for breast cancer. I have learned so much from my support group and from this website.
A good book is Dr. Susan Love's Breast Book. I don't remember the exact name but it is something like what I just typed. She gives great information.
One of the posts alluded to the fact that someone told the person she should not worry because she was "only" dx with tubular carcinoma. That is such a ridiculous comment. Tubular Carcinoma IS invasive cancer and it is extremely frightening. The tx definitely involves surgery (either lx or mx) and possibly rads and hormonal therapy. I know someone personally who had a double mastectomy due to her Invasive Tubular Carcinoma.
I hope that I answered all of your questions. If not, ask me more. I will answer what I know. Good luck.
Hormone + Pleomorphic ILC, Pleomorphic LCIS,& Invasive Tubular Carcinoma for 1st BC DX. Hormone negative, Grade 3 DCIS for 2nd BC DX. History of dispersed ALH along with PASH, FEA, and focal atypia. Oncotype 14, Ki67: 21%. Dx Premenopausally.
Dx
6/25/2014, ILC, Left, 1cm, Stage IA, Grade 2, 0/2 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2-
Dx
6/25/2014, LCIS, Left, 1cm, Grade 2, 0/2 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2-
Dx
7/22/2014, IDC: Tubular, Left, <1cm, Stage IA, Grade 1, 0/2 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2-
Dx
7/22/2014, LCIS, Left, 4cm, Grade 2, 0/2 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2-
Surgery
7/22/2014 Lumpectomy: Left; Lymph node removal: Left, Sentinel; Prophylactic ovary removal
Radiation Therapy
9/6/2014 Whole-breast: Breast
Hormonal Therapy
10/5/2014 Arimidex (anastrozole), Zoladex (goserelin)