Page 1 of 1

How to talk to oncologist in Canada about 2nd opinion

Posted: Thu Mar 16, 2017 10:24 pm
by Apple1291
My dad was recently turned down for HIPEC at Mt. Sinai in Toronto. We are currently seeking second opinions and since my parents are willing to travel they have a consultation set up at Johns Hopkins. My dad will be seeing his current oncologist here in Toronto next week to get the results of his recent ct scan. My parents aren't sure if they should tell him about this consultation. So far he has been adequate at best and sometimes quite rude. Is there any benefit to telling him about the consultation? Can he help us in any way? He seems like the type to get offended about seeking other opinions. Has anyone been in a similar situation?

Re: How to talk to oncologist in Canada about 2nd opinion

Posted: Fri Mar 17, 2017 12:55 am
by Steph20021
I haven't been in a similar situation, but if it were me I wouldn't bother saying anything to the oncologist until after the consult, if at all. If and when things start to proceed and he is approved for Hipec then I'd mention it then.
I was approved for the first Hipec at Toronto but, when cancer was back only nine months later, I was rejected from having a second one because of some particular infected lymph nodes in my back area. Never got another opinion as wasn't able to travel and their reasoning for rejection sounded sound.
Best of luck, please keep us posted how things go.

Re: How to talk to oncologist in Canada about 2nd opinion

Posted: Fri Mar 17, 2017 1:43 am
by Achilles Torn
Go ahead with the second opinion but fire the Oncologist if it's even a question if you should tell him. My experience has been in BC but I can tell you there are some doctors I would refuse to see and your dads Onc may be in that category. I've met with 4 oncologists out here - 1 was a complete ass, and 1 was incompetent. My primary Onc is decent and when we disagreed he setup a second opinion (in house) with a top GI oncologist at the BCCA who was excellent. They both have been clear I can switch oncologists if I wish and second opinions are welcomed both in house and external.

Its hard in Canada as we don't have options outside of our provincial agencies. But if you advocate firmly you can get to the right people.

Just my 2 cents.

AT

Re: How to talk to oncologist in Canada about 2nd opinion

Posted: Fri Mar 17, 2017 2:07 pm
by CRguy
I don't see anything wrong with seeking input on other options if your current Docs are not willing to on your behalf.

IME, there is a certain " this is the way we do things here " mindset within provincial / regional health bodies, so your Onc may well say " you won't find others here who will follow up for HIPEC for you " ... which is then, your entry into .. "then we would like to at least explore other options while we can."

If your Onc is offended = tough shit is my personal opinion .. BUTT with my own experiences and medical training I am in a position to discuss and argue with them, and many patients are NOT. You need to weigh the situation to see if it would affect what you follow up with. IF he is only adequate and often rude .. AND not going to bat for you = I would shop for another Onc anyway.... unless he's the only game in town.

I have kicked docs to the curb.
I am not looking for warm and fuzzy touchy feely ... I want the BEST doctor for my situation, and IF they happen to be personable = great
... BUTT I have had a couple of buttheads who worked well for me and were great at what they did, so I went with it when I needed to.

Steph probably has the best handle on the Ont scene
Achilles Torn experience in BC kind of mirrors mine, as patient and when I was advocating for my Dad.

Best wishes
CRguy

Re: How to talk to oncologist in Canada about 2nd opinion

Posted: Sun Mar 19, 2017 12:51 pm
by LoraCF
If there's one thing we've learned in our so-far two years of dealing with the Cancer Agency here in B.C,, it is that you MUST be your own advocate and never blindly trust anyone.

My partner currently has a choice of Stereotatic radiation or surgery for his sacrum met.

However, we were initially told by our oncologist that there was really nothing that could be done for this situation and that my partner could look forward to perhaps one to three years of increasing pain before death.

Really? When there are two perfectly viable options available?

I know that a panel of specialists (surgical, radiological, oncological) gets together to discuss each case. That being so, one has to wonder how it's possible for an oncologist to be so unaware of possible treatments for this condition.

Terrifying.

In our case, we're hoping that we'll no longer need the oncologist, but if we do, we will ask for someone else. My partner has only the one life. Being polite might kill him. We need to be working with someone who is up on the latest information.

I say go for the consult and then, based on what you hear, fire the oncologist if necessary. Like my partner, you've got one life.

Re: How to talk to oncologist in Canada about 2nd opinion

Posted: Sun Mar 19, 2017 9:24 pm
by CRguy
LoraCF wrote:If there's one thing we've learned in our so-far two years of dealing with the Cancer Agency here in B.C,, it is that you MUST be your own advocate and never blindly trust anyone.

vancouver, surrey, abbotsford, kelowna, victoria, prince george ?????? ...... WHICH BCCA ???

YES be your own advocate
NO don't take their "word" as WORD ! all the time
NEVER take surgical advice from an ONC !!!! unless they are board certified SURGICAL oncologists ... most are not
( AND never take medical oncology advice from a radiologist, never take radiology advice from a surgeon ... JUST to be complete here ! )

EACH have their own specialty ... to which they should confine their remarks and advice ...
UNLESS their opinions are requested outside their areas of expertise.

YEAH
get a second opinion
get a third opinion and IF they ALL disagree ... GET A FOURTH opinion !

My Life = MY choice ... BUTT I have to have ALL the options and all the info, and then I will decide.

WORD !

( PM me if you need / can supply more specifics. I have personal experience @ Vanc / Kelowna / Surrey )

Re: How to talk to oncologist in Canada about 2nd opinion

Posted: Wed Mar 22, 2017 5:58 pm
by LPL
Lora wrote:
I know that a panel of specialists (surgical, radiological, oncological) gets together to discuss each case. That being so, one has to wonder how it's possible for an oncologist to be so unaware of possible treatments for this condition.
Terrifying.
In our case, we're hoping that we'll no longer need the oncologist, but if we do, we will ask for someone else. My partner has , the one life. Being polite might kill him. We need to be working with someone who is up on the latest information.

I and hubby, who is the one with colon cancer, are not in Canada - but your words rings so very true tu me!
We live in Europe. I do Not like hubby's oncologist - but I love his surgeon!! - I Really hope that they have this "panel" that they say they have !?! taking a joint decision in hubby's case. Right now I'm holding my breath that we will not need hubby's oncologist anymore - and if that will not be the case... I will fight for getting a new oncologist, someone that WE can communicate with !
Thank You for writing the words that was looked in my head... Best of Luck to your hubby & you /LPL