Telephone consultations

Hi
I have had an appointment for my first oncologist appointment which is over the phone. I have been informed by his secretary that he won’t be available on site until October.

I am quite shocked and worried that I won’t get the right care over the phone. Is this normal practice?
Thank you
Lilly

My new oncologist is a locum and she is just doing telephone consultations. My previous one was also a locum but he saw people face to face. I find a telephone consultation quite difficult, but you can put the loud speaker on and have someone else in the room with you as long as you explain that at the beginning. Maybe you could ask for a video consultation instead? Then at least you can see facial expression, gesture etc. Maybe he is moving into your area but won’t be living there until October. But I much prefer face to face.

Hi @lilly123 I admit I had my first oncologist appointment face to face in October 2022 but it was with a Registrar - basically a(very) junior doctor - who couldn’t answer any of my questions and merely read out what my treatment plan would be (rads and Letrozole). I had another scheduled appointment a month later to see how I was getting on with Letrozole, which was also with her but was via telephone. I was then discharged back to my GP but was annoyed that I hadn’t had my questions answered so requested via the BC nurse an additional appointment (which was grudgingly granted) but that was also a telephone appointment with a more senior oncologist who had no more idea about answers to my questions than the Registrar. So I think it is quite standard now to have telephone appointments and for your prescription (if you are having endocrine treatment) via your GP. I have to say, October does seem like a long time to wait but I’m sure if the MDT thought there was an urgency to your case, you’d be seen earlier so :crossed_fingers:it is a good sign that it can be delayed a while.

Hi
Thank you for your reply.
I have grade 3 stage 2 HER2 positive and ER negative invasive cancer so will be having chemo and targeted therapy before surgery. The cancer is aggressive and my tumour is rapidly growing, a few weeks ago I had to search for it now and can feel it when my arm brushes over my breast.
I was told that he will talk to me about the treatment during our call next Friday. Everything just seems so far away. it’s reassuring to hear that others have had appointments over the phone. I guess it’s not the oncologist that actually gives you the treatment.

I have been fortunate enough to see my oncologist every 3 weeks. I’m having chemotherapy and will have hornonal treatment too. I have had a couple of telephone appointments with him too. I am under him privately but not sure if I would have had the same if it was under the NHS.

Hi Lilly

Thanks for your post.

It’s understandable you’re shocked and worried about having your first oncology appointment over the phone. Waiting for treatment to start can be a very difficult and anxious time.

As @BiRo and @Tigress have commented, telephone consultations seem to happen quite regularly now, and different oncology departments will do things in different ways according to the availability and capacity of consultants and their teams.

Your case and treatment will have been discussed at a multi-disciplinary team (MDT) meeting, which means that the team discuss and agree your care rather than one specialist.

You can still ask all the questions you need to during the telephone consultation. If you’re not sure what would be helpful to ask you can find a list at the bottom of the webpage via the link above. You might also want to ask if your case was discussed at the MDT meeting. You can also ask that you have face to face consultations in the future as soon as this is possible.

Your breast care nurse is there to be your advocate, provide support and answer questions and it may be possible for you to meet her in person at this time, so you maintain some face to face contact with your team.

Talking to others who’ve had a similar experience can also often help at this time. Our Someone Like Me service can match you with a trained volunteer who’s had a similar experience to you. You can be in touch with your volunteer by phone or email and they can share their personal experiences to answer your questions, offer support or simply listen to how you are feeling.

You can ring the Someone Like Me team on 0114 263 6490 or email them at someone.likeme@breastcancernow.org, so they can then match you to your volunteer.

You may also wish to join the Chemotherapy monthly threads here on the forum so you can connect with others going through treatment at the same time.

Please do also call our helpline to talk this through more or ask any further questions. The helpline team have time to listen, talk things through and signpost you to more support and information if necessary. Your call will be confidential, and the number is free from UK landlines and all mobile networks. The number is 0808 800 6000, (Relay UK - prefix 18001).

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Best wishes

Catherine

Breast Care Nurse

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