2nd Opinion with Dr. Lagios

The oncologist and radiologist I saw after my lumpectomy both said I must have 33 rounds of radiation and go on Tamoxifen for 5 years. I was so confused and in shock that I signed the papers and made all the appointments to get things started. After the shock wore off I started to question if this is the right course of action for me. So I started doing my homework - which is how I ended up here. That is when I decided to contact Dr. Lagios and wanted to share the results of my consultation with you.

Over the weekend I received my written report from Dr. Lagios and this afternoon I had my follow-up phone consultation. I am a 6 on the Van Nuys Prognostic Index. This indicates that my recurrence rate without irradiation therapy is 6.2% and with irradiation it's 2.5% at 12 years mean followup. He really felt strongly that Tamoxifen would be of very little benefit to me. He clearly makes all your options known and then gives his own suggestion. He suggested I go to Sloan-Kettering for a 6 month mammo and MRI, as my new baseline. He wasn't happy that the lab didn't test more of the tissue than they did, so he is requesting they do more testing. I will see where that leads. The Oncologist I went to set up an appointment for me with a Genetic Counselor. Dr. Lagios feels this isn't necessary, because there is no family history that warrants it. Coincidently the counselor's office called to postpone my appointment and I told them I would call them back - I believe I am now going to cancel the appointment. I am going to wait for the lab to present their findings on the additional testing and set up an appointment to discuss everything with my BS.

Beesie - I got the written report first so the first thing I did was phone my BS to have them forward my report and request to the lab. When I talked to Dr. Lagios he said he would be contacting them directly. My BS office said they may or may not comply, so I am hoping the 2 requests help them with their decision. Dr. Lagios felt that further testing should have been done as the MRI showed something that they called "debris" - Dr. Lagios wants that area tested. I do believe that is just dry blood from where I had a nipple discharge, but Dr. Lagios said unless it is tested we won't know for sure. He also assured me that if it was just "debris" it will not show up in my next MRI.

At least for now I am feeling more positive and less confused. In the meantime I am searching for a good nutritionist to help me eat to prevent future cancer.