Is anyone else foating adrift?
CJ
Comments
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swimming against the current
Depending on where you live with respect to insurance, there are naturopathic doctors specializing in cancer that *might* be useful for basic support. Otherwise finding the most informed supportive doctor for basic orders and oversight is important as well as specific disciplines, like surgery and radiology.
Hal, do your CT/MRI scans come with the radiologist's reading printed out? We rely most on self directed lab tests like CBC, CEA, liver enzymes, INR, calcium (lots of vitamin D), ESR plus others that have been far more sensitive *so far* than CT. We assiduously maintain a large bag with complete records ready to go, and I maintain a spreadsheet of monthly blood lab results. I feel the frequent blood labs will likely be better at early detection given my wife's history and consistent biomarkers when directly analyzed with papers in the medical literature.
Last surgery last year, I mentioned that we were still looking for some magic oncologist that we could talk to profitably on a continuing technical basis. One surgeon, said he was looking a long time too, but gave up already and supports a lot of his own patients on "chemo forever". So we get ongoing support from about four doctors (alternative med/internal medicine MD doing a lot of alt cancer work, CRC/oncology surgeons, radiologist) and any others as needed right now. I do a lot of footwork, home study and research.
If anything pops up, we'll interview several doctors from all relevant disciplines as necessary.0 -
I think I'd try and get ontanstaafl said:swimming against the current
Depending on where you live with respect to insurance, there are naturopathic doctors specializing in cancer that *might* be useful for basic support. Otherwise finding the most informed supportive doctor for basic orders and oversight is important as well as specific disciplines, like surgery and radiology.
Hal, do your CT/MRI scans come with the radiologist's reading printed out? We rely most on self directed lab tests like CBC, CEA, liver enzymes, INR, calcium (lots of vitamin D), ESR plus others that have been far more sensitive *so far* than CT. We assiduously maintain a large bag with complete records ready to go, and I maintain a spreadsheet of monthly blood lab results. I feel the frequent blood labs will likely be better at early detection given my wife's history and consistent biomarkers when directly analyzed with papers in the medical literature.
Last surgery last year, I mentioned that we were still looking for some magic oncologist that we could talk to profitably on a continuing technical basis. One surgeon, said he was looking a long time too, but gave up already and supports a lot of his own patients on "chemo forever". So we get ongoing support from about four doctors (alternative med/internal medicine MD doing a lot of alt cancer work, CRC/oncology surgeons, radiologist) and any others as needed right now. I do a lot of footwork, home study and research.
If anything pops up, we'll interview several doctors from all relevant disciplines as necessary.
I think I'd try and get on board with another oncologist, someone who can interpret your scans and bloodwork...although it's awesome your surgeon is following up on your scans. Surprised your surgeon doesn't know of a good oncologist to recommend, in his practice you'd think he is in contact with several dealing with other patients. Tans why do you monitor calcium in lab tests (I may have asked this before)....this is an additional test I see my oncologist ordering on my blood tests, it's an extra along with the CEA. This one still mystifies me.0 -
Don't wait until you start sinking
You need to have someone who is monitoring your progress. Like tanstaafl said, "finding the most informed supportive doctor for basic orders and oversight is important..."
Having a (good) oncologist is very important unless you have the resources and time to do all of the legwork yourself. Many don't. I had my brother help in the beginning and I got hooked up with a very good oncologist who I'm happy with. If you "wait until/if they are needed" that could be too long.
A better situation is to head off any problems by monitoring your health and taking care of things before they become a problem...
I would look for another oncologist.
Good luck, they are out there...
-phil0
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