Get copies of all scans, all lab work, everything!

alice124
alice124 Member Posts: 896 Member
in Kidney Cancer #1
I know for you tenured members on this group, this is a no-brainer. But--for the newbies--let me stress the importance of getting all of your medical records. You'll need them if you want a second opinion plus there is no way your doctor knows everything on your records. Believe me. My husband's doctor -- Dr. Hammers -- is a highly respected kidney cancer oncologist. But as a Hopkins doctor, he teaches; he sees patients both in the office and the hospital; he's on call 24 hours a day; and of course, is highly involved in kidney research. He keeps hours like our resident vampire--Texas Wedge--who I'm convinced never sleeps. (But his lack of sleep benefits us all. Thanks Tex.)

John and I have even butted heads on this, and he's a smart man, probably too smart for his own good. Basically he puts all his trust in his doctors. It drive me mad!

But I have made some progress on this front as we did ask Dr. Hammers for a copy of his scan yesterday after he discussed with us. The report was not yet available and Hammers told us an we could get it next visit.

Since John had to return today to Hopkins to get his port out, he stopped at medical records to get a copy of the scan.

I'm still trying to decipher the info on the report, but one thing for sure we've discovered that the doctor failed to mention yesterday was two NEW nodules in the lungs. Maybe it's no big deal but it seems that it's something that should have been mentioned. Please tell me if I'm making something out of nothing, but it doesn't seem right to me.

Comments

  • Texas_wedge
    Texas_wedge Member Posts: 2,798
    #2
    No, Alice, you're not making too much of it. You're correct on all points (except about me - I do sleep sometimes, upside-down admittedly!)
  • garym
    garym Member Posts: 1,647
    #3
    Texas_wedge said:

    No, Alice, you're not making too much of it. You're correct on all points (except about me - I do sleep sometimes, upside-down admittedly!)

    Bats...
    Should have expected that one. LOL
  • Texas_wedge
    Texas_wedge Member Posts: 2,798
    #4
    garym said:

    Bats...
    Should have expected that one. LOL

    and canines
    It all begins to make sense - I thought something had gone wrong with our mirrors and then everything started to taste funny. I may take more blood than they reckoned for after my next op.
  • cindygodfrey2
    cindygodfrey2 Member Posts: 70
    #5
    copies of scans
    I read this this morning and told my husband to get copies of everything. He had his scans of lungs and liver and the surgeon (hubby hasn't had surgery yet)is out of town! So we have nothing but these pictures to look at and i cant make heads or tails out of them yet. I'm an RN and think i should be able to! LOL....seems like all we do is wait, wait wait
  • alice124
    alice124 Member Posts: 896 Member
    #6
    cindygodfrey2 said:

    copies of scans
    I read this this morning and told my husband to get copies of everything. He had his scans of lungs and liver and the surgeon (hubby hasn't had surgery yet)is out of town! So we have nothing but these pictures to look at and i cant make heads or tails out of them yet. I'm an RN and think i should be able to! LOL....seems like all we do is wait, wait wait

    making sense of scans
    At least if you decide to get a second opinion, the Dr. will (hopefully) be able to read! John hasn't received the cd's of his scans yet, but he did pickup the radiologist's report. While I don't understand lots of it, I've googled a lot of the medical jargon today trying to make sense of it all. The one thing the report makes perfectly clear. though, is that two NEW nodules appeared in the lungs. Still waiting for Dr. to tell us about that. All this is so new and--you're right--the waiting is the pits. I've never been good at waiting. I sure hope your hubby's report makes the wait worthwhile. Good luck to you both!

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