Hi @cartech78, happy to help. I thought about DM'ing you, but then thought this info might be helpful to others so posting it here. Sorry chadwick for hijacking your thread!
If you are starting treatment on Monday, then you will most likely not get a second opinion from MSK. I tried to get a second opinion from them while I was in the middle of my XELOX treatment last year and it was against their policy. They want you to be out of treatment and have a fresh scan as a baseline for the next thing. So if you really want a second opinion from them, I would consider delaying your treatment on Monday. However, make sure you talk to your oncologist about this, and be sure to call MSK directly, don't wait for them to email back. Yes it is Nancy Kemeny's office, and I have found they are much easier to reach by phone. You will actually start off with a referral specialist (not Kemeny's office directly) who will tell you what records and documents she needs you or your doctor to send to them. You can find the referral number on MSK's website. Just tell them you are interested in the pump program and mention Dr. Kemeny.
I have never heard the term "trial" used in relation to the Medtronic pump. Dr. Kemeny is running a clinical trial, which is the old Codman pumps, FOLFIRI + Vectibix (hiker did this last year). I was not eligible for that trial because I am a KRAS mutant and Vectibix is ineffective for me. So they implanted the new Medtronic pump, which Medtronic is manufacturing as a replacement for the Codman pumps. You are right that they use the Codman catheters. The Medtronic pumps themselves are different from Codman because they are battery powered (Codman is pressure powered) and have to be refilled and reprogrammed every two weeks, even after chemo ends (Codman is every six weeks). I actually didn't realize this until after my surgery, although it wouldn't have changed my mind. My surgeon was Dr. T Peter Kingham and he did the entire surgery robotically and laparoscopically - liver resection and pump implantation. The referral specialist who I initially called and sent documentation to was the one who set up my appointment with him. I think he is the only there who does this surgery laparoscopically. Dr. Kemeny is now my oncologist -- she oversees patients with both types of pumps.i should say that, if you are not a KRAS mutant, you may be eligible for the clinical trial.
It is very easy to get into MSK by calling their referral line. But you have to not be in the middle of treatment. You also need to think about convenience. Is there a pump program in Chicago? This I don't know, but if you go to MSK you will have to fly back every two weeks. Sorry for my ignorance, but I'm not sure how people who aren't proximate to NYC manage the Medtronic pumps. Maybe someone else can chime in.
You are also very fresh out of surgery so I'm not sure how soon they would allow you to have a HAI implantation. Best thing is to talk to your oncologist and call MSK on Monday. If you find out anything different than I just posted here, let us know. Good luck!