Who of you got a second opinion?

The recommendations for stage III breast cancer treatment are fairly straight forward.  When I was diagnosed, I read the treatment recommendations from NCCN.  They were exactly what my oncologist recommended as well.  If you meet with the oncologist and don't like him or her, I would find someone you "click" with.  I liked my oncologist and felt a lot of support and encouragement during my visits.  My own opinion is that something as specialized as diep breast reconstruction is worth a trip out of town, but dose dense Adriamycin, Cytoxan and Taxol can be administered safely locally.  I believe I've seen a study that compared community versus university centered chemo treatment and the survival rates was similiar.  Also, my oncologist felt that at least in my case, ( highly estrogen positive) that the aromatase inhibitors were more important for treatment than chemo. 

I think your friends are looking for a magic bullet.  I wish it were that simple.  It takes a long time to wrap your head around this disease.  You are at the very beginning.  I would meet with the local oncologist.  If you feel like you want a second opinion he/she can probably help arrange one for you. I found I got a lot of meaningful information from these boards.  These first few days are the worse.  It will get better.

I would like to present a couple of different angles.  First, if you have any doubts whatsoever, get a second opinion.  Most insurance companies pay for this when it comes to cancer treatment.  Many times the second opinion just gives you peace of mind that your first onc is doing the right thing. 

Although the treatment guidelines in the NCCN document are straightforward the way the treatment is conducted may have variations.  For instance, my chemo was done weekly rather than the usual two or three week cycles.  The theory is that it lessens the side effects and keeps a more constant level of chemo in me.  Honestly, by the time I hit the middle of treatment I think I was no different in side effects than the ladies with the longer cycles.

But that brings me to the other side of treatment.  The support you recieve for dealing with side effects and keeping your blood counts monitored is very important.  Having that support as close as possible (as long as it is good support) is helpful. 

Lastly, you may hear about trials if you go to a major cancer center.  I was dead set against any trials  until I got my second opinion from Seattle Cancer Center.  I knew I had to try something different than my sister's tx (we had the same dx of stage III ILC) and the trial was phase II so I knew that I would be getting the additional drug.  Phase III trials are usually blinded so you don't know if you're just getting standard treatment or standard treatement with the trial drug.  I decided to go for it because they could provide my treatment through a local hospital and I wouldn't have to travel to Seattle. 

I'll be honest.  By the time I was done with chemo (it was neo-adjuvant so the tumors weren't removed until after chemo was done) it was determined that I had no response to chemo.  That means the shrinkage was less than 50%.  But if I had to do it over again, I'd still do the trial.

But I completely agree with Elizabeth that your friends are looking for the magic bullet. 

For all who are interested, the main Breastcancer.org site has some great information on Getting a Second Opinion.

Hope this helps!

--The Mods

Good luck!

I am currently being treated through Fox Chase,
I picked them because they treated both my parents and they are just great.
I'm doing well with them- if you need a testimony.
They're worth my 100 mile round trip every week.

My MO is Dr. Cairoli. He's just great. and warm. His RN is the best.

Both my parents (Mom in 1995 and Dad in 2002) were treated in Philly- My insurance won't cover anything in Philly- so I am staying in NJ and going to Virtua in Mount Holly- their whole 4th floor is Fox Chase.

My AC infusions were probably about 3 hours- My Taxols are a lttle bit less time- probably 2 hours.


I also still have yet to get surgery- I have NO idea what my armpit looks like inside- and It's kinda scary since I have to wait until surgery to find out how many are in there- but the area is large and lumpy. I've been able to feel this cancer since May inside me.
I am getting significant tumor shrinkage in the breast (I have 1 large one and 3 small ones) and the armpit JUST started to go down too. It could all be scar tissue as well- who knows.
My BS, reconstruction doc and Dr Cairoli all work together anyway- it's great to see them communicate with each other. gives me mucho peace of mind.