walk me through getting a 2nd opinion

weety

walk me through getting a 2nd opinion

weety

I'm not sure exactly where to post this, but I will start here since I am (I think) stage 1.  I am currently finishing up chemo (TCH) in a month and my onc has encouraged me to get a 2nd opinion on where to go next.  I was node negative, but the cancer was in my inner breast, so I guess that raises the risk of the intramammary nodes being postive.  I didn't have any scans before I started chemo--my onc just wanted to get the chemo started asap as my tumor was aggressive and HER2+. So we really don't even know for sure there was no spreading before I started chemo.  Radiation and tamoxifen are both possiblilities, but due to the location of the tumor and the fact that I was only "weakly" positive for ER, the onc is not sure yet what to recommend.  I have also been talking to her about having zometa to help with the reduction of bone mets.  She is willing to do it, but is still encouraging me to get a 2nd opinion before we get to the next phase in my treatment.

How do you even go about getting a 2nd opionion?  I am hoping that someone who has been through this whole process can walk me through how to even begin!  What do I need?  How do I contact them/arrange all the samples to get to where they need to go?  What do they do in a 2nd opinion consultation?  How much do they cost?  How do you decide where to get a 2nd opinion?  Do they really take the time to read each case carefully or is it just a formality?

 As you can see, I have a zillion questions about it.  Please help walk me through it from step 1 if you can!

ccbaby

As far as rads, you need to talk to a radiologist. Your onc should recommend one to you. After I met with my radiologist, he was iffy about whether I needed rads or not and suggested that I get a second opinion and even set the appointment up for me.  I am 0% er and pr, so I am not able to take tamoxifen, so I cannot help you with that. Good luck.

Anonymous

Hi Weety911,  Well this is what I would probably consider.. I would check out the well known oncologists associated with your hospital or a good teaching hospital, or cancer treatment center in you area.  Then I would make a phone call to line up an appt. and make sure that particualr onc is covered by your ins.  Then make sure you get all of your records forwarded to this dr.  And if you get to go to your appt. trust your gut.  Persoanllly I would have felt better if my onc did scans before doing chemo, so thay can be done sometime after finsihing chemo.  I would also talk to the onc about treating with radiation even if it only made it to 1 node.  Radiation after chemo is kind of a little insurance policy in catching any little cancer buggers that escaped into other nodes.  I would want the second opinion to treat me aggressively.

dlb823

weety ~  I got my 2nd opinion @ UCLA, and it was really easy.  For women who have already been dx'd and had some tx, they have something called a Multidisciplinary Clinic.  When I went, it was on Wed. afternoons.  They need all of your records (films, surgicial report, pathology, etc.) sent to them a week before your app't.  Then on the afternoon of your app't., they put you in an exam room and a team of specialists (surgeon, onc, rad onc, psychologist) rotates to meet with you, with each exam or interview taking about 1/2 an hour.  They then give you a break while they get together and discuss your case.  A pathologist is involved in that conference.  When they get back together with you, they will tell you where you are and what they think needs to be done next.  You are free to take their recommendations back to your own doctors, or, as I did, switch to UCLA for any additional recommended tx.  As far as I'm concerned, it's the best possible scenario, because you don't have to make individual appointments, and you get a very thorough, instant "tumor board" type review of your case.

Since it looks like you're in the LA area, I thought this might interest you.  Feel free to PM me if it does, and I can give you phone numbers and more info'.     Deanna