2nd opinion on Cancer #1 tomorrow

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This thyroid recurrence is still ongoing.  It's been over 2 months since routine testing turned into panic, then into more waiting.  I have 6 areas of cancer in neck/chest right now, and my ENT deemed it inoperable.  He told me to just "deal with it" and get on with life. What a jerk!  I left that appointment disheartened, depressed and angry.  He was incredibly smug.

 

So...a few days later, and researching experts, I requested my GP to refer me elsewhere.  I see him tomorrow, with less than a 2 week wait.  I hope he disagrees with the other surgeon.  I'm not ready to give up yet!! There's got to be something they can do for me.  I realize it's risky operating again (would be 4th time), but RFA is an option too.  wish me luck!

Comments

  • dpitts2014
    dpitts2014 Member Posts: 17
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    Best of luck!

    I just can't imagine being told to just deal with it.  I wish you the best of luck at your appt tomorrow. 

  • rainsandpours
    rainsandpours Member Posts: 136
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    Best of luck!

    I just can't imagine being told to just deal with it.  I wish you the best of luck at your appt tomorrow. 

    Thank you xoxo.  Ya, he's a

    Thank you xoxo.  Ya, he's a great surgeon, but a terrible person.  He's p*ssed me off multiple times in 2.5 years I've been dealing with him.  He's history now.  I'm a single mom of a young child- doing nothing and letting the cancer continue to spread isn't an option.

     

    Not sure if you know my history?  I've had thyroid cancer, RCC and an extremely rare form of borderline breast cancer called a Phylloides.  3 time loser.  Which makes his mistreatment of me even more strange.  With all that I've dealt with, taking chances would be dumb

     

     

  • dpitts2014
    dpitts2014 Member Posts: 17
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    Thank you xoxo.  Ya, he's a

    Thank you xoxo.  Ya, he's a great surgeon, but a terrible person.  He's p*ssed me off multiple times in 2.5 years I've been dealing with him.  He's history now.  I'm a single mom of a young child- doing nothing and letting the cancer continue to spread isn't an option.

     

    Not sure if you know my history?  I've had thyroid cancer, RCC and an extremely rare form of borderline breast cancer called a Phylloides.  3 time loser.  Which makes his mistreatment of me even more strange.  With all that I've dealt with, taking chances would be dumb

     

     

    Wow, I am so sorry you have

    Wow, I am so sorry you have had such a rough time of it.  You are incredibly brave doing this all by yourself.  I was a single mom for a couple of years, before I met my husband 22 years ago.  It is so hard!  How old are you, if you don't mind my asking.  

    Sending lots of prayers and hugs your way!

  • rainsandpours
    rainsandpours Member Posts: 136
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    Wow, I am so sorry you have

    Wow, I am so sorry you have had such a rough time of it.  You are incredibly brave doing this all by yourself.  I was a single mom for a couple of years, before I met my husband 22 years ago.  It is so hard!  How old are you, if you don't mind my asking.  

    Sending lots of prayers and hugs your way!

    I'm 42.  But my head thinks

    I'm 42.  But my head thinks I'm 22.  Just body ain't cooperatin'

  • foxhd
    foxhd Member Posts: 3,181 Member
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    I'm 42.  But my head thinks

    I'm 42.  But my head thinks I'm 22.  Just body ain't cooperatin'

    You are on the right track

    There is ALWAYS another doctor to see. Finding the right one can be a challenge. But worth the effort. Repeating this is getting old but important. I was told I had no chance by 4 oncologists at 4 cancer centers. Yet here I am because I got that life saving 5th opinion.

  • GSRon
    GSRon Member Posts: 1,303 Member
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    foxhd said:

    You are on the right track

    There is ALWAYS another doctor to see. Finding the right one can be a challenge. But worth the effort. Repeating this is getting old but important. I was told I had no chance by 4 oncologists at 4 cancer centers. Yet here I am because I got that life saving 5th opinion.

    Da Fox knows..!  You may have

    Da Fox knows..!  You may have to find the right Doc.. and once you do, you will know it..  

    Good Luck..!

    Ron

  • Djinnie
    Djinnie Member Posts: 945 Member
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    Wishing You Good Luck For Tomorrow!

    Sorry to hear of your recent experience Rains, I know you have been through so much already. To be given such news and to be told to 'deal with it' is horrendous. You like to think Doctors go into practice because they care for the welfare of society, but there are so many of them out there who are wide off the mark. He should certainly go back and revise the Hypocratic Oath!

    I hope all goes well with your appointment tomorrow and the Doctor not only treats you with sensitivity and respect but is able to map out a way forward. I will be thinking and praying for you, please let us know how it goes!

     

    Djinnie x

     

  • APny
    APny Member Posts: 1,995 Member
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    Djinnie said:

    Wishing You Good Luck For Tomorrow!

    Sorry to hear of your recent experience Rains, I know you have been through so much already. To be given such news and to be told to 'deal with it' is horrendous. You like to think Doctors go into practice because they care for the welfare of society, but there are so many of them out there who are wide off the mark. He should certainly go back and revise the Hypocratic Oath!

    I hope all goes well with your appointment tomorrow and the Doctor not only treats you with sensitivity and respect but is able to map out a way forward. I will be thinking and praying for you, please let us know how it goes!

     

    Djinnie x

     

    Smart going to someone else.

    Smart going to someone else. He may be a great surgeon but there are other great surgeons. Fox was the first person I thought of and how he kept looking until finding the right doctor. And one that says to do nothing just deal with it isn't the right doctor for sure. Wishing you the best with your appointment! 

  • rainsandpours
    rainsandpours Member Posts: 136
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    APny said:

    Smart going to someone else.

    Smart going to someone else. He may be a great surgeon but there are other great surgeons. Fox was the first person I thought of and how he kept looking until finding the right doctor. And one that says to do nothing just deal with it isn't the right doctor for sure. Wishing you the best with your appointment! 

    Thank you everyone!  I'll

    Thank you everyone!  I'll post an update this afternoon after I see him. 

  • dpitts2014
    dpitts2014 Member Posts: 17
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    foxhd said:

    You are on the right track

    There is ALWAYS another doctor to see. Finding the right one can be a challenge. But worth the effort. Repeating this is getting old but important. I was told I had no chance by 4 oncologists at 4 cancer centers. Yet here I am because I got that life saving 5th opinion.

    Wow, fox, those are very

    Wow, fox, those are very affirmative words to hear!  It would be really easy to let myself get depressed over all the ailments I have had to overcome, and even easier to just give up when the odds are against me.  But, you survivors on this board make me know that no matter what, I need to keep looking for the next alternative - and never stop looking!  I leave for my appointment in about half an hour, and I am so ready to tackle this monster head on.  JJ Watt will have nothing on my defense!

  • rainsandpours
    rainsandpours Member Posts: 136
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    Thank you everyone!  I'll

    Thank you everyone!  I'll post an update this afternoon after I see him. 

    WEll, not much came out of

    WEll, not much came out of that appointment.  I waited 3 hours only to be told I was a complicated case and he wasn't sure what to do with me.  Arg.....I was given 3 options:

    -do nothing

    -look into surgery, but due to scar tissue and probable risk, it would require a sternotomy and thoracic surgeon

    -radioactive iodine and/or radiation.

     

    The problem is, my masses haven't been biopsied yet (even after a year!) so until that's done, plan is on hold.  He thinks we can do the radiation first and see if that blasts it out. RFA isn't an option because apparently it's been known to burn through the esophagus eeek.  So now I wait.  He wants to view all my discs from every test I've had, and consult with a few endocrine specialists, then I'll hear from them.

     

    2-3 months more then I might know something.

     

    After that, I went to go home and found my car had towed.  Cripes.  I sat waiting for so long I went through $15 in parking! 

  • Djinnie
    Djinnie Member Posts: 945 Member
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    WEll, not much came out of

    WEll, not much came out of that appointment.  I waited 3 hours only to be told I was a complicated case and he wasn't sure what to do with me.  Arg.....I was given 3 options:

    -do nothing

    -look into surgery, but due to scar tissue and probable risk, it would require a sternotomy and thoracic surgeon

    -radioactive iodine and/or radiation.

     

    The problem is, my masses haven't been biopsied yet (even after a year!) so until that's done, plan is on hold.  He thinks we can do the radiation first and see if that blasts it out. RFA isn't an option because apparently it's been known to burn through the esophagus eeek.  So now I wait.  He wants to view all my discs from every test I've had, and consult with a few endocrine specialists, then I'll hear from them.

     

    2-3 months more then I might know something.

     

    After that, I went to go home and found my car had towed.  Cripes.  I sat waiting for so long I went through $15 in parking! 

    Frustrating Day!

    All in all it sounds like you had a pretty frustrating day Rains. Are they not able to complete a biopsie now then?

    Djinnie 

     

  • TillieSOK
    TillieSOK Member Posts: 252
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    WEll, not much came out of

    WEll, not much came out of that appointment.  I waited 3 hours only to be told I was a complicated case and he wasn't sure what to do with me.  Arg.....I was given 3 options:

    -do nothing

    -look into surgery, but due to scar tissue and probable risk, it would require a sternotomy and thoracic surgeon

    -radioactive iodine and/or radiation.

     

    The problem is, my masses haven't been biopsied yet (even after a year!) so until that's done, plan is on hold.  He thinks we can do the radiation first and see if that blasts it out. RFA isn't an option because apparently it's been known to burn through the esophagus eeek.  So now I wait.  He wants to view all my discs from every test I've had, and consult with a few endocrine specialists, then I'll hear from them.

     

    2-3 months more then I might know something.

     

    After that, I went to go home and found my car had towed.  Cripes.  I sat waiting for so long I went through $15 in parking! 

    hey, Rainsandpours, Are we related?!?!? LOL. I

    Are we related?!?!? LOL. I know, it's not funny, but sometimes you've got to laugh to keep the tears at bay.  I'm kind of in that same capsizing canoe in the crap creek, but not nearly as bad as you.  I'm getting ready to have hip replacement surgery in two weeks and after that, I will be changing both primary care doctor and oncologist.  Neither one seems to give a flying flip and this is the only life I was given!  I'm not going to sit back and let them jeopardize what time I have left.  You hang in there and keep asking questions and demanding answers.  Don't ever forget that YOU are paying THEM, and that makes them your employees!!!  You CAN fire their butts!

  • Jojo61
    Jojo61 Member Posts: 1,309 Member
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    TillieSOK said:

    hey, Rainsandpours, Are we related?!?!? LOL. I

    Are we related?!?!? LOL. I know, it's not funny, but sometimes you've got to laugh to keep the tears at bay.  I'm kind of in that same capsizing canoe in the crap creek, but not nearly as bad as you.  I'm getting ready to have hip replacement surgery in two weeks and after that, I will be changing both primary care doctor and oncologist.  Neither one seems to give a flying flip and this is the only life I was given!  I'm not going to sit back and let them jeopardize what time I have left.  You hang in there and keep asking questions and demanding answers.  Don't ever forget that YOU are paying THEM, and that makes them your employees!!!  You CAN fire their butts!

    Hey Ransandpours...I am

    Hey Ransandpours...I am feeling for you. The frustration with the "wait and sees" must be driving you mad.

    Thinking about you and hoping you find an answer soon!

    Hugs

    Jojo