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When should we consider switching Oncologists
Hi all;
I am now being treated for her2- MBC with a new 3 week on, 1 week off Palbociclib pill (iBrance) plus Letrozole every day. As this is new to me I have been lurking and reading past posts on an ibrance link on community.breastcancer.org. It's been very helpful to me and I have noticed how many other women have had their various tumours mutate over time. It's a stage 4 site (unfortunately this is my new reality) and so I'm hearing about all sorts of new treatments which are becoming quickly available. This has gotten me thinking.
I loved,loved my bc oncologist and totally credit him with saving my life first time around. He was very well respected by the hospital I attend and is missed by the younger oncologists. I would no doubt be seeing him now if he hadn't retired. Now I'm seeing a young (young to me, he's in his early 40's) man who is very energetic, upbeat and totally into all of these new drugs. He is convinced that I will be living a longer life than I might otherwise have expected. He is the lead investigator for the OCTANE program at our hospital and is having my ovarian and lung tumour genetically tested as well as my own blood. I am receiving a drug that has been available for only two months in Ontario.
So, I've been kicking around the idea that having someone totally new at this point in my treatment, someone who has worked recently in the US and is up to date on all of the newest treatments and is open minded to all the in's and out's my cancer might offer isn't this the very best thing that could have happened. How comfortable I was with my oncologist and him with me. I wouldn't have changed but if he hadn't retired, should I have? Just a thought.
my best wishes to all,
Cathy
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Cathy
Diagnosed Oct. 2004 3 cm ductal, lumpectomy Nov. 2004
Diagnosed Jan. 2005 tumor in supraclavicular node
Stage 3c, Grade 3, ER/PR+, Her2++
4 AC, 4 Taxol, Radiation, Arimidex, Actonel
Herceptin for 9 months until Muga dropped and heart enlarged
Restarting herceptin weekly after 4 months off
Stopped herceptin after four weekly treatments....score dropped to 41
Finished 6 years Arimidex
May 2015 diagnosed with ovarian cancer
Stage 1C
started 6 treatments of carboplatin/taxol
Genetic testing show BRCA1 VUS
Nice! My hair came back really curly. Hope it lasts lol. Well it didn't but I liked it so I'm now a perm lady
29 March 2018 Lung biopsy following chest CT showing tumours in pleura of left lung, waiting for results to the question bc or ovarian
April 20, 2018 BC mets confirmed, ER/PR+ now Her2-
Questions about the possibility of ovarian spread and mets to bones so will be tested and monitored for these.
To begin new drug Palbociclib (Ibrance) along with Letrozole May, 2018.
Genetic testing of ovarian tumour and this new lung met will take months.
To see geneticist to be retested for BRCA this week....still BRCA VUS
CA125 has declined from 359 to 12 as of Aug.23/18
Last edited by Cathya; 05-10-2018 at 03:17 PM..
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