Confused- why not see Oncologist?

Friends and family Supporting someone with breast cancer
1

Hello all, in reading over a bunch of these posts I’m noticing that most people seem to be going to a general practitioner or gynecologist or family doctor of some sort not following up with the specialist-oncologist or medical oncologist.

I’m here in Canada and when we are first diagnosed our general practitioner, gynecologist or nurse practitioner, or family doctor no longer has anything to do with us in regards to anything cancer related, everything goes through either the surgical oncologist or the radiologist oncologist or the medical oncologist which is the one we spend most of our time with and is with us for the full 10-15 or even 20 years depending on the treatment. It’s a regular monthly visit for the first little while and then every two to three months after that.

But in these posts I’m seeing that you guys don’t seem to be regularly seeing your medical oncologist so how is it you guys are taken care of by a general practitioner who is not trained in cancer treatment specifically, and would most likely I think, miss a great deal of things that a woman would be needing while going through these treatments, and who even orders the treatments you are doing then if not the oncologist?.

I’m so confused how your medical system is and I am assuming in the USA is where this is operating.

Can anyone kinda fill me in on how all that works there in your country?

Thanks

2

Hi,

It is the same here (UK) as it is in Canada i believe.

  • We see a GP initially who refers us to breast clinic

  • At BC we see a breast surgeon, sonographer and breast care nurse

  • Once we get results if cancer has been found we are transferred over to Oncology where we remain until discharge

xx

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Also in the UK once discharged we have an annual mammogram for 5 years, then it reverts to every 3 years. We can also call the Breast Unit at the hospital if we have any concerns. I recently found a neck lump and rang them. I had an examination, scan and a cancer neck/head specialist check it. Thankfully it’s benign.

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