2nd opinion?

Lauracec

we have alot of air miles added up on a credit card and my husband wants to get a second opinion just to make sure we are doing everything we can. he e-mailed me a list of places that are suppose to be top 5 in us. he put them in order of wich is closes to us. we live in oregon. I'm not sure if it will do any good or not. I think we are most concerned with the tumor on and now posibly in my liver and on my pancreas gall bladder fosfa etc. my doc said another surgery not an option because I have lots of little ones. anyway here is the list if anyone can advise me on places if we go Mayo clinic arizona, university of texas md anderson, John Hopkins maryland, Dana Farbercancer inst boston, memorial sloan kettering new york. we now have kaiser and it seems like they are doing what they probably are suppose to just not as much personal attention as they are very busy. sorry for going on and on just still in a little funk. not to bad most of the time just sometimes. God bless everyone and thankyou for letting me just get thoughts out. Laura

green50

Mayo be my choice
I have heard a lot of great things with the Mayo Clinic that would be my choice I cant have surgery mine are in lymphnodes of ovarian cancer and they said it is best just to take chemo. Keep the faith Laura and my prayers are with you you will find the right place and treatments. I have seen woman in your place and they have been doing good with chemo. Best to ya
Prayers and hugs
Sandy

JoanC

2nd opinion
Laura,
As you know I have Kaiser also......and I think they are doing all they can but I am glad you are getting a 2nd opinion....it can't hurt and hopefully will help. Dr Cappuccini is my gyn/onc and I like him alot. I don't have advice on which to pick but I do think getting a 2nd opinion is a good thing. I think of you often and am so glad you told me about this site
Prayers and Hugs, Joan

BonnieR

they are all great
Hi Laura, wish I could shorten list with suggestions, but they are all great. I would have to put the names in a hat and draw. :-) God Bless

saundra

All good
These are all good. M.D. Anderson is the one I am most familiar with. It is very good and has lots of studies going on all the time. I had a choice between it and Texas Oncology in Dallas. I chose Texas Oncology because my gyn said that the treatment was more personable but the same, and I have found that so. Plus the gyn/onc surgeon that did my surgery comes to Midland Cancer center every other month for physicals and I don't have to go to Dallas. My surgery was done in Dallas at Baylor Medical Center, a large teaching hospital. I did have three tumors in my liver that were inoperatable that they got another surgeon in to burn them out with radio frequency ablation. The spleen was removed completely with the other stuff. I also was willing to go anywhere from the very start. Thats the scoop from Texas as I know it. In addition, the head of the gyn/onc department at Texas Oncology is my surgeon and he was at M.D. Anderson 13 years prior to moving to Texas Oncology. Saundra

LPack

advice
Laura,

I have no recommendations for you as I live in St. Clairsville, Ohio with no big cities around. The first big hospital we ever went to for cancer was for my husband mom and that was Cleveland Clinic.

When people in our area get cancer, they tell them to get out of the Ohio Valley and go to Pittsburgh, Columbus or Morgantown!! I am glad my doctor sent me to West Penn in Pittsburgh. We have no gyn/onc in our area.

Glad you can get a second opinion.

Love,
Libby

ladyjogger31

Laura
Hi Laura, I have heard good things about all of them also. I live in Scranton, Pennsylvania and my onc made an appointment for me to go to Fox Chase. I asked him about Sloan Kettering because that is really where I wanted to go, and he said it's a very good hospital. The only thing he didn't like was they had poor communication with the Dr's in my area. I called Sloan Kettering on my own and had all my medical records faxed, I'm just waiting for an appointment. They said the earliest they would have would be the 3-4 week in April. Both places are 2 1/2 hours from where I live. I'm not going just for a second but a third. I'm not giving up and you can't either. We are in the same boat. I was told the same as you about a 2nd surgery. Good Luck. God is great and he will follow us through this difficult time we are dealing with.
Hugs and Prayers, Terry

kris43

2nd Opinion
Mayo Clinic is always a good choice I think. DanaFarber is supposed to be wonderful - if you've ever watched or read Kris Carr's Crazy, Sexy, Cancer - that is where she goes. I think they are a "whole body" kind of place.

What about one of the cancer centers of America?

Cedars Sinai in LA?

I honestly think any doctor who is doing the latest, greatest type of treatment available and has access to clinical trials is where you want to be. Anywhere near a medical school would be of benefit also.

I do not envy you have to make that choice - especially with the stress you are already under. Hang in there Laura. I'm thinking of you often.

Big Hugs!
Kris