Aa
Should I bother to get a 3rd opinion?
I saw a great Dr yesterday at Penn. He tweaked my protocol that the other Dr I already saw gave me. Chemo every 2 weeks 8 times (instead of every 3 weeks). He also called the other Dr and they agreed on everything. The problem is that now I have another appointment on Monday to see yet another oncologist. I dont know if I should waste her time or mine. I'm sure she will say the same thing but I was hoping to work with women Drs. The female Dr I am seeing is well respected but apparently the hospital she works out of isn't (at least by the top doc I saw yesterday) Who can I trust?
Jen
Jen
Go to the third appointment, my experience with some of the top specialists (the good olde boys ) is that they are all about their relationships with the other doc's and my experience with my female breast surgeon is that she at least was empathic and that is important! We need to feel understood with this process!!
IrishGal.. I understand that some of the best medicine in the world is now in Ireland, though the facilities have not (as you describe) yet met the brilliant minds yet.. Good luck to you.. I was on my way to Galway when I received the news of my own diagnosis.. I guess Dad's birthplace with have to wait a while longer!!!
IrishGal.. I understand that some of the best medicine in the world is now in Ireland, though the facilities have not (as you describe) yet met the brilliant minds yet.. Good luck to you.. I was on my way to Galway when I received the news of my own diagnosis.. I guess Dad's birthplace with have to wait a while longer!!!
The world seems a much smaller place when we all join together to help others fight our common cause. I have really felt a common bond with those I met who have also had breast cancer.
I remember during chemo when I was in the store trying to find socks that weren't tight because of the chemo effect on my toes. A very perfect stranger tapped me on the shoulder, asked me if I was having chemo, and and wanted to know if I could use a hug. I guess my wig wasn't a realistic as I thought or maybe it was the missing eyebrows, but she saw through and shared her story.
Thanks to you Ireland doesn't seem very far away today.
I remember during chemo when I was in the store trying to find socks that weren't tight because of the chemo effect on my toes. A very perfect stranger tapped me on the shoulder, asked me if I was having chemo, and and wanted to know if I could use a hug. I guess my wig wasn't a realistic as I thought or maybe it was the missing eyebrows, but she saw through and shared her story.
Thanks to you Ireland doesn't seem very far away today.
No problem with you disagreeing and you are right, it does seem to be very different in the US re oncology and chemo than in Ireland. You're advise is very good for Jen and as is from someone from her own country who has experienced BC treatment in the US as well.
I agree with the waiting times. Thankfully in my centre the delays were not too long most of the time and I chose a Monday for my day. However they had these horrible grotty leather recliner chairs that had be used for what looks like 20 years. There was no privacy at all. You could be lucky or unlucky with the people on either side of you, I experienced both. The nurses were wonderful, could not say enough good things about them. However there were never enough chairs and sometimes you had to sit outside in a corridor and wait and wait. Other times when going for my bloods I was told to go down to coffee shop for an hour or so and then come back. Not the nurses fault, you could hardly swing a cat in the place. Personnally I preferred to go to my chemo sessions on my own, it was my choice, I handled it better that way. But if someone accompanied another patient, there was no room for them to sit with the patient. This in particular freaked out a lot of the older patients.
I agree with the waiting times. Thankfully in my centre the delays were not too long most of the time and I chose a Monday for my day. However they had these horrible grotty leather recliner chairs that had be used for what looks like 20 years. There was no privacy at all. You could be lucky or unlucky with the people on either side of you, I experienced both. The nurses were wonderful, could not say enough good things about them. However there were never enough chairs and sometimes you had to sit outside in a corridor and wait and wait. Other times when going for my bloods I was told to go down to coffee shop for an hour or so and then come back. Not the nurses fault, you could hardly swing a cat in the place. Personnally I preferred to go to my chemo sessions on my own, it was my choice, I handled it better that way. But if someone accompanied another patient, there was no room for them to sit with the patient. This in particular freaked out a lot of the older patients.
Sorry IrishGal2I, but I disagree with your comments regarding oncology " it does not really matter where the treatment is carried out". I suspect things might be different here in the States.
You are going to see your oncologist more than any of the surgeons etc. You will have followup appointments for years, so you want it to be someone you are very comfortable talking with even about intimate details. Oh yes, find out if you will continue to see the oncologist, some centers transfer you to a Physicians Assistant for checkups.
Also, check out that actual area where the chemo is administered. The alternatives I had were extremely different. Some are designed as one big room with a bunch of dentist type chairs, others have private room where you sit or lie down, etc. one I saw had actual living room type recliners. You might want to have other chemo patients to talk to or you might prefer more privacy. Check out the waiting times at your center. At my center, first you have to have lab work completed before you see the oncologist, who then has to examine you before they start the actual treatment. The people were fabulous, but the waiting and delays were awful. Sometime I was there 3 hours before we even started the treatment. Also what day do you want to have chemo? I had mine Thursday, took Friday off and was back to work on Monday. Some chemo centers are only open certain days, or treat certain types of Cancer on a particular day of the week. Ask what the policy is for the centers you are considering.
As for your surgeon. I had a fabulous female surgeon for the mastectomy, but different surgeons for reconstruction. You'll spend a lot more time with the reconstruction. I think the key thing is to take a notebook, write down questions before you go, write down answers while you are there and ask for copies of test results.
Also ask if you can email questions between visits, that was the best part of my surgeon. Reading written answers was even better than listening when my mind was going 50 different directions in his office.
You are going to see your oncologist more than any of the surgeons etc. You will have followup appointments for years, so you want it to be someone you are very comfortable talking with even about intimate details. Oh yes, find out if you will continue to see the oncologist, some centers transfer you to a Physicians Assistant for checkups.
Also, check out that actual area where the chemo is administered. The alternatives I had were extremely different. Some are designed as one big room with a bunch of dentist type chairs, others have private room where you sit or lie down, etc. one I saw had actual living room type recliners. You might want to have other chemo patients to talk to or you might prefer more privacy. Check out the waiting times at your center. At my center, first you have to have lab work completed before you see the oncologist, who then has to examine you before they start the actual treatment. The people were fabulous, but the waiting and delays were awful. Sometime I was there 3 hours before we even started the treatment. Also what day do you want to have chemo? I had mine Thursday, took Friday off and was back to work on Monday. Some chemo centers are only open certain days, or treat certain types of Cancer on a particular day of the week. Ask what the policy is for the centers you are considering.
As for your surgeon. I had a fabulous female surgeon for the mastectomy, but different surgeons for reconstruction. You'll spend a lot more time with the reconstruction. I think the key thing is to take a notebook, write down questions before you go, write down answers while you are there and ask for copies of test results.
Also ask if you can email questions between visits, that was the best part of my surgeon. Reading written answers was even better than listening when my mind was going 50 different directions in his office.
Hey Jen .. Whom to trust ??? Your own inner voice of course. I truly believe the more you see, read, know ... the more confused you become. You know the Surgeons do these procedures day in and day out and it does seem like you are working on #s rather than human patients at times. Tell him how you feel about it ... shock him out of the "rote" you might be suprised and he might be nice, and caring too. Give it a try.
It never hurts to inquire. I was lucky my onc called a bunch of other oncs to decide my treatment. Boy was he a good doc, hate to see him not doing oncology anymore.
As for the surgeon...I had one of those, too. I ended up finding me a new one after all was done from the first. I now see a woman surgeon and she is much nicer than the first, no attititude.
So, once the node thing is done, start searching for another who will take your case.
Good luck on the surgery!!! Hope all is clear.
Lisa
As for the surgeon...I had one of those, too. I ended up finding me a new one after all was done from the first. I now see a woman surgeon and she is much nicer than the first, no attititude.
So, once the node thing is done, start searching for another who will take your case.
Good luck on the surgery!!! Hope all is clear.
Lisa
Thanks Annette - I'm sure youre right. I am getting tired of all this running around. The dr I saw yesterday is one of the top docs in our area. He actually wrote many papers on how bc protocol is designed. He's almost retirement age!
I have met and heard that the oncologist I saw first (who the top doc knows and respects) are really very good. I just had such a crappy experience when I first met the surgeon who did my biopsy- I dont know what to think. This surgeon is doing my node biopsy on Friday so I guess I'll figure out then if he is the bc surgeon for me. It was just such a shocking experience when I had that biopsy - I even told the nurse coordinator what I went through and she thought that was not good - she couldnt believe it. I felt like a number by this surgeon when that biopsy was taken. I dont know what to do. I have to trust him - like I said - he's operating on me Friday.
Uhg
Jen
I have met and heard that the oncologist I saw first (who the top doc knows and respects) are really very good. I just had such a crappy experience when I first met the surgeon who did my biopsy- I dont know what to think. This surgeon is doing my node biopsy on Friday so I guess I'll figure out then if he is the bc surgeon for me. It was just such a shocking experience when I had that biopsy - I even told the nurse coordinator what I went through and she thought that was not good - she couldnt believe it. I felt like a number by this surgeon when that biopsy was taken. I dont know what to do. I have to trust him - like I said - he's operating on me Friday.
Uhg
Jen
One dilemma after another for you, so hard to take in.
I guess the first thing I would be looking at is the treatment course each of them are suggesting. They all seem to be agreeing and that is a good thing. Go to the 3rd appointment, it will not hurt to have the 3rd opinion.
I think the Oncology element of the treatment is the worst, but once course of treatment is agreed upon, it does not really matter where the treatment is carried out (just my opinion from my experience and understanding of the health system in Ireland).
The part of your treatment where you need to be very careful is when it comes to surgery i.e. the skill of the surgeon for specialising in breast surgery and the reconstruction options available at each hospital by the cosmetic surgeons. I think this is going to be the key decision maker for you.
Ideally, it is best to start and finish all your treatments in the same hospital, all under one roof as you will be going back to visit Doctors and Consultants for years to come like all us survivors.
Nobody can make the decision for you, only give you advise. I have always relied on my gut instinct to make the final decisions after weighing up the pro's and con's logically. I know you will make the right decision. Trust yourself.
Annette
I guess the first thing I would be looking at is the treatment course each of them are suggesting. They all seem to be agreeing and that is a good thing. Go to the 3rd appointment, it will not hurt to have the 3rd opinion.
I think the Oncology element of the treatment is the worst, but once course of treatment is agreed upon, it does not really matter where the treatment is carried out (just my opinion from my experience and understanding of the health system in Ireland).
The part of your treatment where you need to be very careful is when it comes to surgery i.e. the skill of the surgeon for specialising in breast surgery and the reconstruction options available at each hospital by the cosmetic surgeons. I think this is going to be the key decision maker for you.
Ideally, it is best to start and finish all your treatments in the same hospital, all under one roof as you will be going back to visit Doctors and Consultants for years to come like all us survivors.
Nobody can make the decision for you, only give you advise. I have always relied on my gut instinct to make the final decisions after weighing up the pro's and con's logically. I know you will make the right decision. Trust yourself.
Annette
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