Paul Adams, can I pick your brain?

Theresa4Dad

Hello Paul,

My dad has now had 6 rounds of chemo over the last 12 weeks. He is treated every other week with 5-FU and Oxaliplatin. Background, just in case you hadn't read it anywhere, he is stage 4, tumor at the junction...mets to liver and multiple lymph nodes, surgery not an option.

Next week he is going for his first scan since chemo started. Although he has been feeling pretty good, aside from some neuropathy and nausea during the treatment and minimally thereafter, I am preparing myself for all scenarios.

He opted not to get a second opinion at the onset, I think he just wanted to get things going, but we talked and he is not opposed to getting a second opinion after we get the CT results next week. I was wondering if you had any recommendations for hospitals in my area? I know you have posted some great information for people so I thought I would ask you for your thoughts. We live in northern NJ about an hour NW of New York City. I am just curious if it is better to go to the "big" hospitals where they have a tremendous amount of experience with it. I would think if surgery ever became an option, you wouldn't want to have it anywhere else. I am ok with his treatment thus far, and it seems like he is receiving the same "cocktail" as many others but I don't want to be unprepared.

I would appreciate any thoughts and info you may have.

Theresa

paul61

I think a second look is a good idea

Theresa,

I would definitely consider a second opinion at this point. Particularly if the scans show that he has had a good response to the chemotherapy. While there are standard protocols for chemotherapy for esophageal cancer, there are some new and innovative approaches to treating secondary tumors in the liver that they may be able to offer your Dad. And of course, if the result of the scans in not as good as you had hoped, a second opinion at a leading cancer center could offer clinical trial based options not available to your Dad locally.

If I were going to seek a second opinion I would go to a National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) certified cancer treatment center. There are two relatively close to you. They are:

Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center

New York, New York

800.525.2225

http://www.mskcc.org/

And

Fox Chase Cancer Center

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

1.888.FOX CHASE (1.888.369.2427)

www.foxchase.org

 

Here is the link to the NCCN list of member cancer centers.

http://www.nccn.org/members/network.asp

 

I have heard positive outcomes from both centers.

 

I will be sending positive thought for good news from your Dad’s scans next week.

Best Regards,

Paul Adams

McCormick, South Carolina

DX 10/2009 T2N1M0  Stage IIB - Ivor Lewis Surgery  12/3/2009 - Post Surgery Chemotherapy 2/2009 – 6/2009

Cisplatin, Epirubicin, 5 FU - Three Year Survivor

 

 

 

Theresa4Dad

paul61 said:

I think a second look is a good idea

Theresa,

I would definitely consider a second opinion at this point. Particularly if the scans show that he has had a good response to the chemotherapy. While there are standard protocols for chemotherapy for esophageal cancer, there are some new and innovative approaches to treating secondary tumors in the liver that they may be able to offer your Dad. And of course, if the result of the scans in not as good as you had hoped, a second opinion at a leading cancer center could offer clinical trial based options not available to your Dad locally.

If I were going to seek a second opinion I would go to a National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) certified cancer treatment center. There are two relatively close to you. They are:

Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center

New York, New York

800.525.2225

http://www.mskcc.org/

And

Fox Chase Cancer Center

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

1.888.FOX CHASE (1.888.369.2427)

www.foxchase.org

 

Here is the link to the NCCN list of member cancer centers.

http://www.nccn.org/members/network.asp

 

I have heard positive outcomes from both centers.

 

I will be sending positive thought for good news from your Dad’s scans next week.

Best Regards,

Paul Adams

McCormick, South Carolina

DX 10/2009 T2N1M0  Stage IIB - Ivor Lewis Surgery  12/3/2009 - Post Surgery Chemotherapy 2/2009 – 6/2009

Cisplatin, Epirubicin, 5 FU - Three Year Survivor

 

 

 

Thank you!

Paul,

Thank you so much for the information, I have never heard of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network. I appreciate the hospital information and will be sure to look into both of them. Slaone-Kettering we know of by name, but Fox Chase is new to me. Thank you for your logical and clear responses as well, your words offer guidance and help to keep me calm.

Thank you for the positive thoughts! I will see you here again or on the FB group.

Theresa 

Theresa4Dad

paul61 said:

I think a second look is a good idea

Theresa,

I would definitely consider a second opinion at this point. Particularly if the scans show that he has had a good response to the chemotherapy. While there are standard protocols for chemotherapy for esophageal cancer, there are some new and innovative approaches to treating secondary tumors in the liver that they may be able to offer your Dad. And of course, if the result of the scans in not as good as you had hoped, a second opinion at a leading cancer center could offer clinical trial based options not available to your Dad locally.

If I were going to seek a second opinion I would go to a National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) certified cancer treatment center. There are two relatively close to you. They are:

Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center

New York, New York

800.525.2225

http://www.mskcc.org/

And

Fox Chase Cancer Center

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

1.888.FOX CHASE (1.888.369.2427)

www.foxchase.org

 

Here is the link to the NCCN list of member cancer centers.

http://www.nccn.org/members/network.asp

 

I have heard positive outcomes from both centers.

 

I will be sending positive thought for good news from your Dad’s scans next week.

Best Regards,

Paul Adams

McCormick, South Carolina

DX 10/2009 T2N1M0  Stage IIB - Ivor Lewis Surgery  12/3/2009 - Post Surgery Chemotherapy 2/2009 – 6/2009

Cisplatin, Epirubicin, 5 FU - Three Year Survivor