My dilemma about a 2nd Opinion and a Request for Referrals to a Great Urologist in Portland Oregon

mcin777
mcin777 Member Posts: 66
edited February 2013 in Prostate Cancer #1

Here is my deliema....I want a 2nd opinion regarding my lab results and from agreat  Urologist in Portland Oregon. after looking at my test results...however...since I have been diagnosed with Gleason 7 3+4 no matter what the 2nd opinion has to say am I not just stalling and/or putting off the inevitable which is Robotic Surgery or whateverelse I find that is supposed to work and have the least amount of side effects.

I have been advised by several on this board to get an MRI to find out where the cancer is located and to determine whether or not it has spread.  Won't that be determined anyway at the time the surgery is done?  Is the MRI an unnecessary step?  

 

Thanks for your advice,

Jim

Comments

  • jwoodie
    jwoodie Member Posts: 21
    #2
    Hi Jim,
     
    I am exactly in

    Hi Jim,

     

    I am exactly in your shoes, except I live in Northern California.  The two closest/best prostate centers are UCSF and Stanford, so I will be contacting them about a second opinion.  I will let you know what I find out.  By the way, I'm 65, which is squarely in the middle as far as the radiation/surgery choice is concerned.

     

    John

  • ob66
    ob66 Member Posts: 227 Member
    #3
    The purpose of the MRI in

    The purpose of the MRI in advance of any surgery is to find out if the cancer has metastisized to other areas. If it shows on and MRI, surgery would more than likely not be done or be a consideration. Other options would be used. The difficult thing about an MRI is that if it is negative it also does not necessarily mean the cancer has not metastisized, but that it is not detectable. It is a precautionary measure mostly to eliminate surgery if there is metastisis, not any wonderful confirmation that there is no metastatic cancer. I hope others weigh in but that is my understanding. I remember I was relieved when my MRI was negative, but not too relieved.

  • ob66
    ob66 Member Posts: 227 Member
    #4
    The purpose of the MRI in

    The purpose of the MRI in advance of any surgery is to find out if the cancer has metastisized to other areas. If it shows on and MRI, surgery would more than likely not be done or be a consideration. Other options would be used. The difficult thing about an MRI is that if it is negative it also does not necessarily mean the cancer has not metastisized, but that it is not detectable. It is a precautionary measure mostly to eliminate surgery if there is metastisis, not any wonderful confirmation that there is no metastatic cancer. I hope others weigh in but that is my understanding. I remember I was relieved when my MRI was negative, but not too relieved.

  • ob66
    ob66 Member Posts: 227 Member
    #5
    The purpose of the MRI in

    The purpose of the MRI in advance of any surgery is to find out if the cancer has metastisized to other areas. If it shows on and MRI, surgery would more than likely not be done or be a consideration. Other options would be used. The difficult thing about an MRI is that if it is negative it also does not necessarily mean the cancer has not metastisized, but that it is not detectable. It is a precautionary measure mostly to eliminate surgery if there is metastisis, not any wonderful confirmation that there is no metastatic cancer. I hope others weigh in but that is my understanding. I remember I was relieved when my MRI was negative, but not too relieved.

  • mcin777
    mcin777 Member Posts: 66
    #6
    jwoodie said:

    Hi Jim,
     
    I am exactly in

    Hi Jim,

     

    I am exactly in your shoes, except I live in Northern California.  The two closest/best prostate centers are UCSF and Stanford, so I will be contacting them about a second opinion.  I will let you know what I find out.  By the way, I'm 65, which is squarely in the middle as far as the radiation/surgery choice is concerned.

     

    John

    John, I turned 70 in January

    Thanks for the input.  I will for sure be getting a second opinion.  I am in good health as far as I know.  I need to do a lot more physical activity however.  I pray that all goes well for you.  Let's stay in touch.

    Jim

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