How many opinions - deciding on treatment

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Kobe
Posts: 27
Joined: Wed Mar 01, 2017 10:29 am

How many opinions - deciding on treatment

Postby Kobe » Tue Apr 04, 2017 8:46 am

I'm curious - how many oncologists did you talk to before deciding on treatment? I've seen three - two are on the same page the other has a different view. I know ultimately it's up to me but it's a hard position to be in.

mike218
Posts: 28
Joined: Mon Dec 07, 2015 5:34 pm

Re: How many opinions - deciding on treatment

Postby mike218 » Tue Apr 04, 2017 11:08 am

it sucks because you never know you've made the right choice-like dealing for a car (could I have done better)??
another thought see if any friends used one of the oncologist--basically you've seen 3 and 2 agree, unless I had strong reasons for doubting them -I'd go with the whichever one I was more comfortable with --this is a long-term relationship

mike
Colon Ca surgery 8/28/14-open laparotomy, hemicolectomy, 1 area 1/23 nodes positive, left hemicolectomy site, 10/34 nodes positive
6 months chemo FolFox (oxyplatin held 2 doses neuropathy
T4aN2b--K-Ras positive
2015 scope April clear
CT 3/2015 no disease some lung nodule
CT 7/15 lung nodules stable
CEA up 10.8 in Sept-CEA 19.3 in Oct.
CT/PET November 11mm left para aortic lymph node
HIPEC? proton therapy?
March 2015 Folfiri /Avastin 6 treatments
can't find tumor
May 2015-CEA rising-waiting on tumor

User avatar
PGLGreg
Posts: 1427
Joined: Sat Nov 04, 2006 12:38 am
Location: Waimanalo, HI

Re: How many opinions - deciding on treatment

Postby PGLGreg » Tue Apr 04, 2017 12:26 pm

I only saw one oncologist. I'd take one of the two that are on the same page, I guess, to decrease the odds of getting a screwball who has his/her own idiosyncratic theories.
Greg
stage 2a rectal cancer 11/05 at age 63
LAR 12/05 with adjuvant radiation+5FU,leucovorin 1-2/06
NED for 12 years, cured

PainInTheAss
Posts: 673
Joined: Tue Jul 02, 2013 3:08 am

Re: How many opinions - deciding on treatment

Postby PainInTheAss » Wed Apr 05, 2017 6:44 pm

My surgeon set up my appointment with my Oncologist, and I had no reason to seek another opinion. Everything I was told matched up with what I was reading other people on this board's experiences (I found this board before I was even officially diagnosed). The one exception was when I couldn't get a follow up PET scan approved even with an appeal, I had read on here that other patients were getting MRIs instead. I asked him if we could get an MRI, and he said yes like it was a great idea and wondered why he didn't think of it himself.

I would suggest you look around at signatures and see what treatments were offered to patients it's your same stage, especially recently. Sometimes the lone opinion is keeping up with the latest research. Ultimately, you have to go with your gut.
47yo single mom of 4 (24, 21, 18, 16) at Dx
6/13 - RC T4b IIIc 5LNs on PET CEA 5.4
8/13 - Finish chemorad
10/13 - APR/hyst+ovaries/perm colostomy 2/12 nodes+
6/14 - Finish Xelox 6 rds
1/15 - CT clear CEA 0.2
10/15 - CT/MRI clear CEA 0.7
4/16 - CT clear
10/16 - CT/MRI clear CEA 0.6
5/17 - PET clear? Follow up MRI to verify inflammation


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