What do I ask the Oncologist?

• By chamomile
• Posted June 23, 2009 at 4:18 pm
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Hi Butterflyrose. What were you staged at? Was the cancer adenocarcinoma or squamous cell? What are your desires to have children?

I'm surprised that your surgery is scheduled so soon. My first cone was 2 months after cancer was diagnosed from a punch biopsy. Who is doing the surgery (your gyn or the gyn/oncol)? Don't let them rush you into the surgery. Unless your cancer is very advanced, then you have time to get a 2nd or 3rd opinion if necessary. A hysterectomy is major surgery and has traditionally been recommended as a quick fix. Please take your time in making this decision and finding a doctor that you trust completely.
Here are some questions to ask:

-what is the type and stage of cancer?
-where your margins clear after the leep?
-what are your treatment options?
-when do you recommend treatment?
-was there any lymphatic space invasion noted?
-ask for details about the surgery itself and take some time to research it. He/she should allow you to have a chance for follow up questions at another day if needed.
-what will the recover be?
-what follow up care will be needed?

The first appointment with an oncologist is scary and overwhelming for sure. Write down your questions and take notes while you are there. Make sure that he/she sits down with you before or after your exam when you are fully clothed to discuss your options (it's less intimidating).

Good luck. I know it's hard, but you will be OK. If need be, ask about any support groups in your area that you could be referred to.

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• By crickett305
• Posted June 23, 2009 at 7:43 pm
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I totally agree. Don't be rushed into anything. I expected my first appointment with my oncologist to go differently than it did. I thought he would say hyst, and that would be that. He wouldn't do anything until after he had done a CAT scan, PET scan, chest Xrays, and labs. After all of that, he said chemo and radiation, no surgery. I was staged at 1b1. I had no lymph node or vascular envolvement. Get checked out completely first. What if they do the hyst, and its in the lymph nodes? You will end up having to do chemo and radiation anyway. Why go through all that if you can avoid it.

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• By butterflyrose
• Posted June 24, 2009 at 12:34 pm
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Thank you Chamomile, No one has told me what stage it is at they just keep saying it is very early and the hyst. should take care of it. It is Squamous cell. I have 4 children and had a tubal ligation 7 years ago when I had my son, so that is not an issue for me. and the gyn/oncol is going to do the surgery.

After the punch biopsy my gyn called said it was stage 3 precancer and that I only needed a LEEP. I had the LEEP done June 2. I opted to be asleep for the procedure, and by the time I was awake he was gone. He called on the 10th and said it came back without clear margins as miroinvasive cancer and said if I wanted to I could have another LEEP or we could do a hyst. But that he had sent all my slides and path reports to a Dr. at the UW. And that Dr. would decide what the next best step would be. When I went in to see my gyn 2 weeks after the LEEP he said he did a cone at the same time, I was anware of that until I went to that appt. I thought it had just been the LEEP. So by then I was not having a lot of confedince in him. He makes me feel like he is not telling me everything. So I got the name and number of the gyn/Onc that he had sent everything to and called them directly (thanks to all the info on this site). The nurse for the gyn/onc told me it is invasive cancer and that there is no evidence that it has traveled outside the cervix. And the gyn/onc feels a total hyst will take care of it. I found all this out on monday from the gyn/onc and still have not heard from my gyn regarding the gyn/onc recomendations.

I am ok with hyst, it is the cancer that scare me. And I do worry about the what if it isnt as simple as they keep telling me it is. Thank you again.

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• By flowershoplady
• Posted June 24, 2009 at 12:38 pm
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butterfly, you want to see the gynecologic oncologist and have him/her do the hysterectomy. most probably you'll have a radical hysterectomy rather than a total hysterectomy since you've been diagnosed with cancer - and they should be telling you the stage. and, you may want to take a look at your medical records to see the pathology results yourself. keep asking questions, and be sure to get the best care you can get - you need and deserve it!

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• By Beege
• Posted June 24, 2009 at 9:50 pm
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I as well was told that a hysterectomy would "fix it"......I then went for my scans...a PET, CAT and an MRI along with pre-op lung x-rays and blood work. To my surprise I was a later stage than my gyn/onc stage me "visually".
It was recommended that I go the chem-rad route as they were afraid that something "micro" could be missed. My scans showed no node involvement, however there was a "suspicious" spot on my left parametrium. I am cancer free thus far. Go with your Dr's recommendations but make sure that he/she specializes in gyn cancers.

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