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Rhonda, I know exactly how you're feeling, as my onc transitioned to a new practice this spring and I was feeling pretty "shakey" for awhile there, as until he was established and set up with staff I was being followed by a partner at the old practice. Fortunately his new digs are just up the hill from the old ones and I'm able to continue seeing him now.
Could you possibly continue to see your onc as a "second opinion", while the new onc and you get to know each other? That way you'd have the security of knowing you're being followed by your onc who knows you, and get the benefit of both worlds. As they say, "two heads are better than one"!
Being unsettled at this stage of the game is entirely normal, because you still don't feel like things are "normal", and in fact they aren't. It takes time to find the new normal, and sometimes a little chemical help in the way of an anti-depressant or even a simple anti-anxiety med that you can take on an as-needed basis, if you feel this is really affecting your quality of life.
Talk to your onc about this, or your primary care, they may be able to help.
Best wishes,
<3 Lolly
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Sept.'99 - Dx.Stage IIIB, IDC ER/PR-, HER2+++ by IHC, confirmed '04 by FISH. Left MRM, AC x's 4, Taxol x's 4, 33 Rads, finishing Tx May 2000. Jan.'01 - local/regional recurrence, Stage IV. Herceptin/Navelbine weekly till NED August 2001, then maintenance Herceptin. Right Mast. April 2002. Local/Regional recurrence April '04, Herceptin plus/minus chemo until May '07. Gemzar added from Feb.'07-April '07; Tykerb/Abraxane until August '07, back on Herceptin plus Taxotere and Xeloda Sept. '07. Stopped T/X Nov. '07, stopped Herceptin Dec. '07, started Avastin/Taxol/Carboplatin Dec. '07. Progression in chest skin, stopped TAC March '03, started radiation.
Herceptin has served as the "Backbone" of my treatment strategy for over 6 years, giving me great quality of life. In 2005, I was privileged to participate in the University of Washington/Seattle HER2 Vaccine Trial.
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