When do you get assigned an oncologist?

Posted by chipe @chipe, Aug 24 7:50am

Hi all,
I have a surgeon and a urologist, but no oncologist (yet?). So when does an oncologist get involved? When it's time for hormone therapy or time for radiation? Thanks.

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VancouverIslandHiker | @vancouverislandhiker | Aug 27 10:13am

Sir I was thinking about your question and wanted to comment on it again. Its never too early to see a Radiation Oncologist - RO . The RO will monitor your case , another set of eyes and ears and council . Now , I live on Vancouver Island where this is possible. I have had an operation in March / 2021 , and now post 1 year EBRT - External Beam Radiation ( 22 sessions) .PSa went from 0.14 to 0.072 , now 0.056 ... next PSA in 2.5 weeks . Due to my father dying from prostate cancer about 25 years ago ...I get anxiety when I think of dad . But my point here is get to a RO as soon as you can . I gather you have already had an operation ? Get ahead of curve so hopefully you wont need ADT and radiation , etc .... God Bless you Sir !. James on Vancouver Island .

chipe | @chipe | Aug 27 10:36am

I just sent an email to my surgeon (surgery scheduled 9/16) about getting an oncologist

northoftheborder | @northoftheborder | Aug 27 11:29am

In reply to @chipe "I just sent an email to my surgeon (surgery scheduled 9/16) about getting an oncologist" + (show)

I suggest that you bring someone else with you to your first meeting with the oncologist to take notes. There will be a lot going on, and it's nice for you just to be able to talk without worrying about remembering everything.

lag | @lag | Aug 27 4:07pm

In reply to @northoftheborder "I suggest that you bring someone else with you to your first meeting with the oncologist..." + (show)

Absolutely! Great advice. Having another set of ears and a scribe at your appointments is essential.

kujhawk1978 | @kujhawk1978 | Aug 28 7:11am

Well, the short answer is it takes a multi-disciplinary team to manage your PCa care. So, consider a proactive approach to add them to your team - oncologist, radiologist, cardiologist...

northoftheborder | @northoftheborder | Aug 28 8:14am

In reply to @kujhawk1978 "Well, the short answer is it takes a multi-disciplinary team to manage your PCa care. So,..." + (show)

That's very true. I once sat down and tried to list all of the types of specialists I've since since I went into hospital with back pain (turned out to be a prostate-cancer lesion), and it's crazy:

- neurologist
- urologist
- orthopedic surgeon
- pain-management specialist (post-surgery)
- radiation oncologist
- medical oncologist
- lung specialist (pneumonia)
- hematologist (for DVT)
- dietician
- psychologist
- urologist
- bariatric doctor
- occupational therapist
- physiotherapist

I'm sure I've missed a few. As @kujhawk1978 mentioned, it takes a team, so a multidisciplinary centre is always best if there's one accessible to you.

(I should note that I didn't have to deal with getting authorisation from private insurers here in Canada, and it might be a bit different in the U.S.)