2nd opinions

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Scaredoutofmind
Posts: 60
Joined: Fri Mar 13, 2015 7:24 pm
Facebook Username: Ilene Mastrangelo

2nd opinions

Postby Scaredoutofmind » Tue Aug 25, 2015 11:26 am

My DH is being treated at one of the top cancer centers in the country, UPenn the Abramson Cancer Center in Philly and the docs are great!

My question, has anyone seeked out a 2nd opinion with other institutions during treatment just to see if they would do anything differently?

midlifemom
Posts: 1358
Joined: Wed Jan 15, 2014 10:58 am
Location: NJ

Re: 2nd opinions

Postby midlifemom » Tue Aug 25, 2015 4:07 pm

What I have gathered from this board is that the first round of chemo, at least for stages 1-3, are pretty standard. I believe second opinions are sought more for stage 4, recurrences, or surgery/radiation.

I did not get a second opinion when initially diagnosed - did the recommended surgery and 6 months of adjuvant chemo. When cancer showed up in my liver I went to MSKCC for a second opinion. They did end up recommending a different treatment than my original oncologist/surgeon.
Stage 3 cc - dx Jan '14 age 53, cea 2.9
t2n2m0, KRAS mutant, MSS
Folfox Feb - Aug '14
Nov '14 cea 27.7 -2 liver masses
Dec '14 left lobectomy and HAI
Jan '15 FUDR and FOLFIRI
Aug '15 fudr done, liver clear, add avastin for lungs. Cea 4.3
Feb '16 CEA rising
May '16 2 wk break then drop Iri for 6 weeks.
Jul '16 cancer grew, constricted main bile duct. Stent inserted. On break till jaundice clears. CEA climbing. Doing reduced Folfox. Allergic to Oxali.
Sep'16 chemo failed. Trial or hospice?

Coyote
Posts: 9
Joined: Mon Feb 02, 2015 2:55 pm

Re: 2nd opinions

Postby Coyote » Tue Aug 25, 2015 4:19 pm

I would encourage you to seek another opinion even if you are satisfied with the treatment so far. The more minds at work on the problem the better.
I was pleasantly surprised to find my insurance even pays for this.
Good luck.
5/13 RCa Stage I, Age 51
7/15 CR to IMRT + Xeloda
9/16 Lung Mets
4/19 Capecitabine
8/19 PR to SBRT
11/20 New Lung Mets

daniel.qin
Posts: 25
Joined: Tue May 26, 2015 9:07 pm
Location: Sunnyvale CA

Re: 2nd opinions

Postby daniel.qin » Tue Aug 25, 2015 4:43 pm

I have the same situation with midlifemom. If you think current onc is not good, it is better to seek second opinion. When I went to stanford cancer center for treatment after the surgery, the surgeon wanted to do open surgery again, because the previous surgeon leave some cancer inside. Then I went to Mayo clinic for second opinion, their surgeon suggested repeat scan in two months. Eventfully, I did not have the surgery, because the cancer seems normal after two months.
39 years old Male
4/12 - colon surgery stage III
12/12 - 12 round FOLFOX
5/14 - met to spleen, colon surgery, spleen remove, radiation, XELOX
KRAS-mutated, BRAF wild type, MSI-stable.
11/14 - Abdomen wall met, surgery, FOLFIRI+Avastin
3/15 - CT, NED
Chinese herbs medicine
5/15 - CT, progressing-FOLFIRI+Avastin
6/15 - cannabis oil supplements
8/15 - Xilonix fail
10/15 - RRX 001


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