Should I order more tests?

[jenkit]

In two weeks I will be going out of state to see a BC surgeon to determine the extent of my BC. At the moment I only know that I have DCIS grade III along with Invasive Ductile Carcinoma grade II. They were unable to collect all 12 samples during my core biopsy due to extreme pain and had to stop at 3, so the Estrogene, Prog. and Her2 studies have not been done yet.

My question is, should I go ahead and have my doctor here order an MRI, PET or more blood work before going out of state so that I will already have that behind me? I am so overwhelmed I just don't know what to do.

[japdip]

Listen to him --- I was looking at it from the medical side and I know that every institution and Dr. for that matter has their own routines. It's OK to panic ... it's only human after all and the waiting is the worst part which is the same as "not knowing". Take a deep breath and soon you will have the complete picture.    Take care .....

[jenkit]

Thank you. After telling my husband my thoughts on this he suggested I wait until I get to the CC as well. He said that more than likely they will have their own test they will want to do or will just re-do what I have had here.

I guess I am just starting to panic. Not knowing the whole picture is really hard.

[japdip]

OK, I get it .... I would definitely get any additional testing done at the Cancer Center since they no doubt will have routine tests that they prefer. If the medical care is below standard where you live even more reason to have additional testing done at the Cancer Center. They may do it over anyway. Best of Luck and keep us posted.  Thanks...

[jenkit]

japdip, I am going out of state to have my SNB and what ever other surgeries done at a leading Cancer Center. The Health care in the area where I live is not up to par and I have lost one too many family members due to the lack of care in this area. I will not be one of them.

bluebutterfly2222, Thank you. That was my thinking as well.

[bluebutterfly2222]

Hi again jenkit,

Seems to me that it would be efficient to get as much of the workup  as possible done in the next couple of weeks ( unless there is a problem in getting someone in your home area to order the tests, knowing you aren't going to followup there).

The more info you have for the out-of-state BC surgeon, the more valuable the consultation will be, because her assessment and recommendations could be tailored to your specific case, to the extent the particulars are known.

Best wishes and keep us posted on how things go.

[japdip]

Since you already have a diagnosis I can't imagine why you would even consider additional testing at this time. I would think that the Surgeon would be the one to "order" any other testing that he/she might require. After biopsy, surgery is usually the next step unless you have a consult with the Oncologist before the Surgeon. I'm not sure why you would be going to another state for surgery; this seems a very inconvenient move as you are followed rather often post-operatively but I'm sure you must have a good reason. So where do you intend to see the Oncologist after surgery for treatment ?? Unless the circumstances are VERY unusual I would give this some more thought.   Regards ....