Should I seek an Oncologist?

Hi all. As I muddlle through the anxiety ridden first months of being a 'survivor', it occurs to me that I have never sought the opinions or care of an Oncologist. Maybe it's not the ideal time for it, and I would have probably been better served to have sought one out before my surgery, but I didn't. I'm confident that I made the correct treatment decision, but I think I may feel better and may be able to deal with anxiety better if I have the consult of a doctor whose area is specifically cancer. After all, my urologist is just that, a urologist, not a cancer specialist.

Then the question is what kind of oncologist: a medical oncologist or a radiation oncologist?

Thoughts or advice? Thanks

I'd only get one if you're thinking you're going to need more treatment. As long as the surgery worked, you don't really need to go down that road.

If you do, seek out one of the doctors that specializes in PC - Dr. Myers and docs like him. Some of the guys here have had good results with someone like that.

As I recall from your previous threads your post-op pathology put you on the high side of intermediate risk -- Gleason 7 (4+3) with a tertiary 5, wasn't it? -- but your margins were good. If I am remembering right then talking to a medical oncologist now would represent an excess of caution but would not be irrational. If it would make you more comfortable to talk to someone who can walk you through what would happen if your PSA doesn't continue to behave I don't see why you shouldn't.

I'd look for a medical oncologist who works at a cancer center that also has radiation guys. Talking to a radiation oncologist at this point seems premature but if you are already hooked up with a place that could treat a recurrence it should take some of the worry out of the possibility that one might occur.

You can ask your urologist to recommend someone. Assuming that it is true, you can tell him that you are satisfied with the care he is giving you and that you only want to talk to the oncologist because it will make you more comfortable to have all of your contingency plans ready should a need occur.

your surgeon should be able to tell you what would be in your best interest based on the post-op pathology.

If your margins were clear, and your psa a zero, I'd just sit tight in your shoes. IF it comes back you'll have plenty of time to investigate. But it all depends on your personality and what you think is best for you.

Sounds like you want to verify what the plan will be should the cancer come back.

Glade to hear everything is going well. I just wanted to say my uro once told me if anything is on my mind, how ever irrational it may seem, to ask, he'd set me up to talk with who ever I needed to. Part of this healing process is 'anxiety' riddled and if that can be eliminated, all the better. He even gave me his personal email so I could bounce questions off him if something comes up between check ups.

I guess what I'm saying is... If it will make you rest a little easier than do it.
All the best.

I'm confused about these terms. I have a radiation oncologist who, obviously, is treating me with radiation. But does the oncologist part of his title mean anything? Other than that he treats cancer patients?

Then I have a urologist who was trained in oncology. He's primarily a surgeon but with his oncology training should he know more oncology than the radiation oncologist?

Then we have a medical oncologist. Is that someone who knows more about oncology than a urologist or RO? Or is it someone who couldn't become either a surgeon or a RO so became a medical oncologist? If the former, how do you find these people? Internet searches in my area just pull up oncology surgeons or radiation guys.

Im with you reach out. I just figure if I recure, don't you love words. recurrence/recure, same or different??? Oh yeah. I figure if I recure, I'l see my surgeon and hopefully…. recure? Oh well back to my comic books….

Reachout,
An oncologist is a doctor that has a speciality in cancer. If a surgeon is an oncologist too, it means that he uses surgery to combat the cancer. A Radiation oncologist is one who uses radiation. Oncologists also specialize in different diseases like urological oncology that would include prostate cancer as well as other urological cancers.
A Medical onclogist primairly uses chemo therapy or drugs to combat cancer.
I tend to group Surgeons and radiology oncologists as more of mechanics that use mechanical tools to treat cancer. Medical oncologists tend to look a lot more of the biology of the cancer and try to treat the biology. They will also use surgeons or ROs if appropriate.
There are about 100 medical oncologists specializing in PC in the US. You can find a list of Chuck Macks web site at Witchita US Too or in the appendix of "Invasion Of The Prostate Snatchers".

JohnT you beat me to the answer!! Great explanation.