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posted by Brian
20 August 2023

Options for Prostate Cancer Diagnosis

Last reply: 25 November 2023 14:19
I have been diagnosed with prostate cancer during the week. My consultant recommended two options: 1. Radical Prostatectomy or 2. Hormone Treatment for 4 months followed by 7 weeks radiation 5 days a week. The consultant is terse and not comfortable with patient communication- the review consultation lasted 6 minutes. I asked about my suitability for brachytheraphy and his response was "- it's not available in this hospital and it has fallen out of favour " and "it will render you unsuitable for later prostatectomy if needed". He favours Prostatectomy. I am to see him again in two weeks, however I am considering a change of consultant to someone who has better patient communication skills and who is willing to discuss other options rather than dismiss them. I have also explored NanoKnife and made contact with the King Edward v11 Hospital in London. They will review my histology report and MRI report (when I receive them). I have a Gleason 3+4, with 2 of the 14 biopsy samples being 5.1 (Grade Group 2) and MRI :PIRADS 4. I feel with such scores that I should have more options than radical prostatectomy. I plan to seek my histology report and MRI report from my current consultant tomorrow but I am unsure of the protocol. Should I ask my GO, whom I am also meeting tomorrow, to request them or request that they be sent to my GP.
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posted by Andrew
15 August 2023

Disjointed medical care

Last reply: 16 August 2023 19:33
Hi, I don't honestly know if I'm looking for advice, or if I'm just having a rant at the apparent shambles of care my mother has gotten since she was diagnosed with bladder cancer in the middle of March. Synopsis: - 14 March Tralee. diagnosed with bladder cancer - 21 March - 12 April ULimerick Hospital Consultation, and kept for test that they kept postponing until she said she was leaving if we they didn't do the remaining tests. (Over 3 weeks in Limerick for tests that should have been done in a week max, in my opinion). I've forgotten many of the dates in-between, but she began chemo with the idea that she would have surgery after, if she responded well, but it didn't work out for her as she was too wrecked after the chemo even when it was reduced. She wasn't coming around as she usually did after her final chemo treatment and as she wasn't getting treatment her weekly blood check had also stopped. -20 July. My dad took my mom to the GP as she was very very weak and GP left her home again don't even remember what his "diagnosis" was, if he had any. (This is the same GP that allowed 2 years of recurring UTIs go on without thinking further testing might be advisable). - 23 July. I called the ambulance, she wasn't eating, wouldn't take all her meds, was confused. Turns out she had Urosepsis and was in hospital for over a week. - 2 August. Discharged, without a care plan 🙈 (After I explained to numerous different medical staff that there was already a fully dependent adult in the household, so it has gone from a house where two adults cared for one person to a house where one person cares for two. (There are supports in place for the previous care situation, that's not what I'm talking about). We had to phone around and follow up to eventually get some care support ( Just once every second week, as that's what my mom wants, minimal intrusion. She is back walking around again. - 10 August (Last Thursday) Multidisciplinary team met with all of the updated test results. My mom followed up today, no response from the doctors involved, while she anxiously waits the next steps. What is wrong, why do we have to keep chasing up with people to get them to do their job and at least communicate what is happening. - 15 Aug (today) Phoned GP to get report from recent MRI, he is on holidays. Mom felt like she might be getting another UTI so saw one of the other GPs at her practice, was given 3 days of antibiotics, and a print out of the MRI. Why are all the communications so disjointed? How long should it take for somebody from the Multi Disciplinary Team to get back to us and tell us what the next plan is? The above doesn't include everything, but it's all I have the energy to write at the moment. There have been some great care staff in the hospitals, but they are all over worked. This state is a joke.
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posted by slippingin
15 August 2023

Is it always an in person meeting for results?

Last reply: 16 August 2023 10:27
Hi there, my mother has an appointment for Friday for results of a biopsy taking after calcifications found on routine mammogram. The clinic just called to move her appointment forward 2 hours. If the news was good would they have just told her over the phone or do they always bring you back in for a face to face regardless of the results? Feeling very worried. Thanks so much in advance
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posted by internalsolutions
14 August 2023

If you had the courage what questions would you have liked to ask?

Last reply: 19 September 2023 00:36
Hi, I am a breast cancer survivor and currently supporting someone going through their journey with breast cancer. I have been asked to give a talk to a group about my journey with cancer and that of a supporter. I want to give as much value to this group as I possibly can and I just want to ask the women and men in this group who are going through their journey or who have gone through their journey with breast cancer 1. If you had the courage what questions would you have asked? 2. What questions did you most want the answer to. 3. What information supported you the most. 4. What were you most afraid of? Thank you in advance.
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posted by Ned707
14 August 2023

Mammogram wait time after breast clinic assessment

Last reply: 28 November 2023 23:46
Hi, Has anyone not had a mammogram and ultrasound on their first visit and would you know the wait times for scans?? I should add I was with the Waterford hospital breast clinic… I was assessed at the breast clinic within 6 days of seeing my gp after finding a large enough lump in left breast. Long family history for TRBC on my mams side. My mams cancer was only found after biopsy (was told nothing suspicious up until then) mine is in the same place and feels quite similar to what she described hers to be.. So I am freaking out and so stressed waiting to be called for mammogram and ultrasound. I was seen by the consultant and am down for a review annually until 50 due to history (if all this turns out ok). I was told it would be a week but it’s been over 2 now…
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posted by AdaJ
11 August 2023

Pathology results from Mastectomy

Last reply: 16 August 2023 11:26
I was diagnosed with ER/PR+ breast cancer in February 2022. I was advised to have two surgeries after which they were unable to reach clear margins. On this basis I was advised that chemotherapy was necessary. Five weeks after chemotherapy my surgeon advised a full mastectomy, completed in October 2022. The final pathology from the tissue following my mastectomy stated there was no disease present in the breast. Has anyone here has a similar experience with the same ER/PR+ T2N1 diagnosis?
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posted by Lainey16
06 August 2023

Bone scan results

Last reply: 08 August 2023 12:37
I have been scheduled for a full body bone scan on Wednesday for a lesion on my sternum,I am going on holidays on Sunday and I'm just wondering does anyone know how quick I could get results,would love them before my holiday
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posted by RB238
01 August 2023

Recurring Breast Cancer

Last reply: 02 August 2023 20:39
Hi, I've been diagnosed for a 3rd time with breast cancer March 2023. In 2017 I was diagnosed with Invasive ductal carcinoma, HER2 positive. Had Lumpectomies in both breast. AC chemo therapy (4 sessions) Taxol for 18 sessions & 8 weeks of radiation. In remission for 4 years. In February 2022 I found a lump behind my left nipple & because of my history I got checked out & they discovered 2 small tumours under my breast. Had 4 sessions of chemo & than a double mastectomy in November 2022. No treatment follow up. In March 2023 I again found a small lump on my left chest wall. After investigation etc it has been discovered that the cancer has come back and has now spread into my skin & the muscle of my left chest wall which is horrendously painful. I'm 8 sessions of chemo in. Long story I know but I'd like to know if anyone else has experienced something like this? I'm told there is a new "Super" drug called Astrazeneca. Has anyone heard of it? Any information or advice would be lovely. Thanks
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posted by twig88
01 August 2023

Post radiation on breast

Last reply: 03 August 2023 14:33
Hi, I had a lumpectomy July 2022 followed by chemo and then radiation. I finished my radiation 7th June this year so 8 weeks ago. I’m beginning to have some pain in my breast near my scar and towards my armpit, also my breast feels like there’s a lump near my scar also, could this be something to do with the after effects of radiation?
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posted by Bowie11
01 August 2023

Dad has melonoma

Last reply: 09 August 2023 11:24
Recently found out my dad has melonoma from a mole in his leg. He has gotten it removed and is getting tests done. He got an ultrasound on his groin and is due to get a PET/CT scan. I’m so worried and panicked and I read that these are only requested for advanced melonoma. Is this the case? I am in a constant state of shock as his diagnosis and can’t get it out of my mind, feels like a bad dream.
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