Asking for a second opinion

[Hears The Water]

How does one go about doing that? I am very confused by what the oncologist said yesterday (First visit to the oncologist... (mild girl talk)) and think that a second opinion by the other gyn/oncologist in my area might help clear things up. Of course if he says the opposite of what onc. #1 said then I would be very, very confused.

So, in order to do this, do I call onc. #1 or do I call the clinic that diagnosed me in the first place for a referral to onc. #2? Once I get there should I tell #2 what #1 said? Should I tell #1 that I want a second opinion and am going to #2? The nurse practitioner from the clinic is a great gal and I have a call in to her to ask her opinion so that may help too. I am very confused. I don't want to risk a surgery if it is not recommended, but I also am scared that every day we wait, that this cancer will get bigger and at some point it will be too late and nothing will help me. I know that when I am scared I don't think too clearly either. Thanks for helping me know how to ask. I would appreceate any prayers for direction please.
God bless you and yours
Deb

[claytonpiano]

I asked for a second opinion by telling my original doctor that I wanted to hear the "tumor" word from a second person and then I wanted to know who the best doctor in the area was for treatment. Apparently, this happens a lot and he didn't hesitate to make the recommendation for me. My insurance company paid for the visit to the "second opinion", but not all do that.

[thequeensblessing]

When I received my breast cancer diagnosis 12 years ago, my immediate reaction was that I wanted a second opinion. I found a doctor, took the lab and pathology results with me, and told him that I was there to get a second opinion. I didn't tell him what the first doctor told me because I didn't want that to color his own opinion.
Good luck on this journey. I'll keep you in my prayers and thoughts.

[Ann-NWIowa]

I'd not hesitate to go back to or at least call the specialist you saw today and ask more questions. Its not unusual for patients not to grasp the conversation first time around. When ds went for his first cancer consult dh went with him and dh understood more of what the doctor said than ds did. When dh went for his cancer consult I went with him and between the two of us we got most of what the doctor said but still called back with questions.

Also, you can find a lot of information on the Internet concerning your particular type of cancer and the various treatments for it. I did that for both dh and ds. The protocols suggested for both dh and ds by their doctors followed Mayo Clinic list of treatment. If the treatment recommended by the doctor you saw today is not one of those suggested, then definitely get a second opinion.

However, I wouldn't go to the expense (financial and emotional) of a second opinion before I'd researched thoroughly what this doctor said and asked him a whole lot of questions.

I'll add you to my prayer list that you'll receive the guidance you need to make the best decision for your treatment and peace about it.

[AngieM2]

Debbie - I've not said much - but I'm praying for you getting thru this.

Angie

[Cat]

HTW...

I didn't read the entire post so I can't comment much, but what I can say is that I would highly, HIGHLY recommend the Cancer Treatment Center of America, in Tulsa. I wouldn't go to any other facility. In fact, I have a cancer policy and that was the one deal breaker as to whether I took the policy or not was my ability to choose my treatment facility. I lost a sister to colon cancer who first started treatment locally before finally going to the CTC, and my Mother is a colon cancer cancer survivor who was diagnosed & treated at Tulsa. My entire family feels that if my sister had gone to Tulsa she'd have beaten it. Not only because she received bad treatment here, but because of the outstanding care Tulsa provides in EVERY aspect of the disease & living with and fighting the disease. It's a 7 hour drive from here to Tulsa so I completely understand the hesitance some people have, but there are a lot of ways they can help you even if you feel as if the drive would be too far, or too stressful, or what have you. Mom's treatment was 1 week a month and she did that while taking care of my dying sister and her 4 kids as well as my Dad and both houses. I really, really, really want to urge you to call them if nothing else, talk to a case worker, if your experience is anything like my Mother's the phone call alone could convince you to go. I'm actually planning on calling soon because I need to get a colonoscopy myself and have failed to do so.

[Elffriend]

I would call the clinic where you were diagnosised. Tell them you already saw oncologist #1 and would like to get a second opinion. Ask them for copies of your test results and any other records they have concerning your diagnosis. Then call dr. #2 and make an appt. I would wait until you get to the appointment to mention that you're looking for a second opinion. Give the new dr. all your records and see what he/she has to say.

I would not call dr. #1 or let him know you are going for a second opinion until after you've already gone. If there are only 2 gyn/oncologists in your area, he's going to know who you are going to and might place a call to discuss your case before you even get there. You do not want the 2nd dr. opinion to be influenced.

Good Luck.

[deb]

Originally Posted by Ann-NWIowa

Also, you can find a lot of information on the Internet concerning your particular type of cancer and the various treatments for it. I did that for both dh and ds. The protocols suggested for both dh and ds by their doctors followed Mayo Clinic list of treatment. If the treatment recommended by the doctor you saw today is not one of those suggested, then definitely get a second opinion.

However, I wouldn't go to the expense (financial and emotional) of a second opinion before I'd researched thoroughly what this doctor said and asked him a whole lot of questions.

I second this recommendation! Make a follow up appt with your doctor in about a week or so and in the meantime, spend a lot of time at National Cancer Institute and The Mayo Clinic. Learn about your type of cancer, the standard treatments and your drug prescriptions. If you don't understand a term, look it up at these sites or google it.

You won't become an expert, but you certainly will understand more of what is considered "standard" treatment and be able to better understand what he is saying to you.

When was the last time you had a full physical? Have you ever had a stress test? Both would give a doctor a much better idea of your ability to survive the operation. If you haven't had either recently then perhaps he doesn't have all the information he needs to accurately judge your situation.

deb
in wi

[sewsilly]

Count me in the ranks of people who without a second opinion would have definately died. The first group (I saw at two of the three there) was treating me for something else entirely, and sort of insinuating that I was just nervous and highstrung and had an irritable bowel. The second opinion doctor, told me that he'd do tests to make certain but that he knew what he was looking at. Tests proved it to be Ulcerative Colitis. These tests were never done at the first office. IBS does NOT equal IBD. Both clinics were well respected. I sure am glad I questioned the first one.

If you head OR your heart is telling you to get another opinion, get it. Your head and your heart will tell you what you should do, if the opinions vary. There's too much at stake to not follow the instinct that you're blessed with.

You're in my thoughts and prayers as you make this journey.
dawn

[Hears The Water]

I really appreceate all of the suggestions here. I have been researching this kind of cancer quite a bit. I also have joined a message board for women that have had hysterectomys and there is a specialty room just for women that have had or still have cancer. I have seen where young women with endometrial cancer have been put on drug therapy to slow the progress of the cancer so that they can have children. And the doc did mention that in his discussion about slowing it in me to give me time to loose weight. I did some futher searching about the panniectomy (what my friend and I were calling the fat-ectomy) and have found several papers where statistiacally speaking it is a safe procedure to do and in fact helps the doctors to get at more lymph nodes so I am pretty ok with that part. Still more to do, but as of yet I have not seen any research on using one of the meds mentioned for my kind of cancer, but I will be calling the National Cancer Institute and probably the National Gynicological cancer org tomorrow to see if they have any info on it. Still not finding the risk factors for obese surgery patients. But perhaps I am not googling it correctly.

As far as the Cancer Treatment Centers of America, they are a wonderful place, but they will not even talk to you if you don't have insurance. And I don't. They won't take my state's insurance either. They were the first place I called. One of my friends' dad is a patient there and he LOVES it. While they were there at their last appointment his wife went and tracked down a social worker and told her about me and my situation and she was told that they just don't accept any patients anymore without insurance. What can I say? They do have a buisness to run.

In any case, thanks for your prayer, thoughts and suggestions. I will keep them all in mind.
God bless you and yours
Deb

[Cat]

That's a crying shame. We're facing the same thing with my Mom, I guess, she hasn't gone back for check ups because her insurance got too expensive to keep. I don't know, I don't think anyone is 'entitled' to anything, but it just seems wrong that people can't get good, reliable care in such circumstances. My thoughts & prayers are with you.

[hassette]

Originally Posted by Hears The Water

Still not finding the risk factors for obese surgery patients. But perhaps I am not googling it correctly.

I googled "surgical risks obese patients" and got tons of hits.

The results showed obese patients had much higher rates of postoperative complications than non-obese patients, such as:


* Five times higher rate of heart attack

* Four times higher rate of peripheral nerve injury

* 1.7 times higher rate of wound infection

* 1.5 times higher rate of urinary tract infection


The overall death rate did not vary between obese and non-obese patients, but
the death rate was nearly twice as high among morbidly obese patients compared with non-obese patients (2.2 percent versus 1.2 percent).

[Shepherd]

Deb, my thoughts and prayers are with you.

I would definitely get a 2nd opinion.

[Ashtina98]

It sounds as if you are on the right track. Keep yourself as informed as possible and don't just take a doctors word for it. I had a very well known and respected doctor tell me my stage III rapid growing breast cancer was probably just a cyst and was ready to dismiss the whole thing. If when you are talking to the doc.'s do not hesitate to stop them and make them explain things to you, you need to be your own advocate. Stay strong, you're doing great! Oh and those message boards can be great, just talking to someone who has gone through the near same thing as you can do wonders for your nerves, sanity.

Dee

[PonderosaQ]

A neighbor of mine had a panniectomy. Her recovery was straightforward and she has never regretted it as she is much more comfy now. I know she had drains in for a while and wore compression garments.I'd get more info for you but she is on vacation now. I think it's wonderful if someone will help you get that to help.
It's considered pretty routine to get a second opinion, to be an informed consumer. Don't be embarrassed about asking for one. You should be very proud of how well you are handling all of this. I don't think I woud do as well. Good luck, my prayers and thoughts are with you,
PQ

[hfwarner3]

I had an osteoma on my jaw that just started getting bigger one day -- still don't know why. My family doctor sent me to a specialist who took a look at it and said, "It's not cancerous so I would just leave it alone. I can cut it off if you want, but it will leave a scar since I will have to go in through the side of your neck."

That didn't sound right to me. I called my family doctor back and told him I wanted a second opinion and asked him who he would send his wife to if she had a tumor. He paused for a second and gave me the name of an oncologist. I called my insurance company and told them that I wanted a second opinion on my tumor and that I wanted to see this doctor. They said he was covered and all I had to do was make an appointment.

I went to the second doctor (it took a little longer to get an appointment) and he was able to remove the tumor by going in through my mouth -- no scar. It turned out that the tumor was pushing on the nerve - thus the pain and numbness - so it was doing damage even though it was benign. Two weeks later, I was good as new.

I would ask a doctor you trust who they would use and I would run it passed your insurance if that might be an issue. I would not ask onc. #1 since he will most likely send you to a like-minded doctor and in this case you really want someone who will take a different approach to make sure they get the same result.

[MarleneS]

Debbie - you do whatever you feel you need to do to make yourself have as few doubts as possible about doing what is best for you. If you have a questions, keep asking...

Marlene

[Hears The Water]

THANK YOU Hassette!!! Yay! That was the wording I was looking for! I admit that by the time I was posting on here last night my brain was oatmeal. I was both emotionally and physically worn out. Now I am off to google like crazy!
God bless you and yours
Deb

[Ann-NWIowa]

Does your state have a respected teaching hospital? If so, maybe you could get a referral there for your second opinion. My ds has cancer and no insurance and is getting excellent treatment at University of Iowa Hospitals. My dh has Medicare and insurance and his local specialist referred him to U of I Hospitals (actually choice between U of I or Mayo and doctor considered them equal) for his cancer surgery. Both have received excellent care there.