The latest from my MD Anderson trip

[Traveler001]

Hello all,

Well as I kinda thought, the story has changed slightly since my initial consult.

Today I met with the surgeon for the first time and we went over everything.

After looking at my scans, he feels that he wants me to do some chemo before surgery. They will be taking some lymph nodes out that are enlarged and he feels that chemo will maximize the outcome, get rid of the microscopic stuff pre-surgery, etc.

So I will be heading home tomorrow and will be starting 6 rounds of Folfiri with Avastin. I am fine with it, It makes sense to me.

What I liked is that while I was in the office, the surgeon instantly got on the phone with my primary Dr, and they talked about it. Then I went back downstairs to the primary Doc, and got my chemo orders dialed up right away. He also wrote out 4 prescriptions for the potential side effects. Then I contacted my new Onc back in Chicago and got the ball rolling right away.

I am pretty happy about the speediness there. I am impressed by the surgeon and my primary doctor too. Definitely I will be back.

So overall I feel much better mentally too. Glad to be starting on something very soon, and happy about who I will be doing it with.

Traveler001

[Lara239]

Hello all,

Well as I kinda thought, the story has changed slightly since my initial consult.

Today I met with the surgeon for the first time and we went over everything.

After looking at my scans, he feels that he wants me to do some chemo before surgery. They will be taking some lymph nodes out that are enlarged and he feels that chemo will maximize the outcome, get rid of the microscopic stuff pre-surgery, etc.

So I will be heading home tomorrow and will be starting 6 rounds of Folfiri with Avastin. I am fine with it, It makes sense to me.

What I liked is that while I was in the office, the surgeon instantly got on the phone with my primary Dr, and they talked about it. Then I went back downstairs to the primary Doc, and got my chemo orders dialed up right away. He also wrote out 4 prescriptions for the potential side effects. Then I contacted my new Onc back in Chicago and got the ball rolling right away.

I am pretty happy about the speediness there. I am impressed by the surgeon and my primary doctor too. Definitely I will be back.

So overall I feel much better mentally too. Glad to be starting on something very soon, and happy about who I will be doing it with.

Traveler001

I am so glad! that sounds like a great plan. I am sure you feel a lot better now that things are set in motion!

[Angiemarie2000]

I'm so glad you have a plan that your comfortable with. I'm glad you shared, I am wanting to go to MD or Sloan as well. It's very helpful to know your experiences through this.

Angie

[NWgirl]

You've really done your research and the plan sounds solid. Lots of us have had success with FOLFIRI and Avastin. I'm not on either right now, but I was on Avastin for almost 18 months (plus 5FU or Xeloda). I got almost immediate results with it. My first scan after starting that regimen, the lymph node between my lungs no longer lit up and it hasn't lit up since.

I only had a couple of rounds of FOLFIRI; it made me pretty sick so we decided to put it on the back burner for now. I know lots of folks here have had great success with FOLFIRI and tolerated it much better than I did.

Best of luck with the chemo and hoping the side effects are minimal.

[mysweetgrace]

Glad to see you have a plan of action and I hope you do well during the treatment, and that it works for you!

[jdepp]

From the outside looking in, you seem to have done a remarkable job -- you were proactive, you found the right people to help you, and you have an excellent treatment plan with the best possible chance of a good result. Well done!

I wish you the best of luck with chemo, surgery, & recovery. It will be over before you know it.

[lauragb]

Congratulations on having a plan in place. Sounds like you are at a great place.

Laura

[RixInPhx]

Sounds like a good plan, BOL!
-Rick

[Lara239]

From the outside looking in, you seem to have done a remarkable job -- you were proactive, you found the right people to help you, and you have an excellent treatment plan with the best possible chance of a good result. Well done!

I wish you the best of luck with chemo, surgery, & recovery. It will be over before you know it.

I agree with this, you HAVE done such a wonderful proactive job in our own health. I think it is great. I would (if my hubby would agree to it) go right now to MD Anderson to start his chemo there instead of here at Vanderbilt (even though they are also a good hospital) so cheers to you for being your own health advocate!

[WorriedWife]

How is everything going Traveler? Wondering about you!!

[jacekica]

What a post, it is amazing how all works out for you - because YOU put an effort and put things and people and hospitals to work for you. It seems docs at MD are really good and quick to solve and resolve everything for patients benefit. As you wrote - all seems very good all in all, I am sure that you have the goal now and also a peace in body and soul because things are done so nicely because you tried to found the best solution - and find it. really nice news