Hi Sunnywriter,
I just returned home after 10 days in Sutter Roseville Hospital and see you wanted to know about Dr. Elliott. I would highly recommend him as your surgeon. My surgery (removal of ovaries and omentum and bowl reconstruction) went extremely well. His diagnosis was right on and there were no surprises during or after the surgery. While I was in the hospital I heard many great comments on what a terrific surgeon he is. Dr. Elliott also put in my Power Ports, however the port by my collarbone didn't have a long enough tube, so it was necessary to put in a PICC (a line inserted into your arm) to administer chemo and draw blood. I feel so fortunate to have changed to Sutter Roseville Medical Group on April 1st and was diagnoses with Ovarian Cancer on April 17th. Dr. Sivikumar Reddy is my oncologist who is doing the agressive chemo therapy on me (IV drip of Taxol for 24 hours, 2 litres of Displatinum in the stomac and 6 days later 2 litres of Taxol in the stomach) I had to fight to use a little friendly persuasian to get him to take me and so glad I did. I've just completed my first round of chemo with 5 more to go. I met another gal in the hospital that Dr. Reddy is treating that is having the same exact treatment as me. She was having her fifth treatment with one more to go. She's handlng it very well. Good luck and let me know if there is anything I can do for you.
Hugs, Dee
Hi Donnie Girl's Mommy,
I am considering using Dr. Kevin Elliot. Would you recommend him?
Thanks!
Hi Alan,
Thank you for the site to visit for books, tapes, etc. I plan on learning as much as possible about my Stage 3 OV/CA. I expect I will respond well to any drugs given to me because at 65, I was only taking aspirn occasionally. The hardest thing for me to get through my head, is in April, I was working full-time, 50-60 hrs a week and driving 120 miles per day round trip to work I felt good, just a little tired but was pushing to reach full retirement in May, 2008. Now three months later, my life has slowed to a crawl. I love being home, but the time passes slowly while waiting for treatment to start. I still don't feel as sick as the docs are telling me I am.
Hi Dee,
Get a pain specialist. My mom is nearly 1 year post-op and still has the same pain. Hydromorphone ("Dilaudid") works good for her, but everyone is different. Morphine isn't the best for everyone, etc. A pain specialist (my mom finally got one nearly 6 months post-op) will work with you to try out different medications and dosages. The key is to keep on schedule especially when the pain is chronic. Eventually it may ease of, depending on the cancer and the type of pain.
The NCI has some good books on pain management including a video and a pain scale.
Her is more info via my site: http://www.alanpeto.com/ovarian_cancer/infobase/questions/6/Free+books%2C+videos+and+other+materials+from+NCI
Good luck and remember you DO NOT have to be in pain. Many physicians are teriffied to prescribe the correct pain medication even though there is no basis behind their fears. The NCI and DEA have both said that cancer patients need to have the proper pain management, but rarely are due to physician ignorance to the facts (they still believe you can be addicted which is rare in chronic cancer pain, despite federal government statements stating otherwise). Also many States passed laws allowing physicians to prescribe higher pain dosages without fear of being sued...if that helps ease their conscience.