The value of second opinions

Tech70
Tech70 Member Posts: 70 Member
in Prostate Cancer #1

When I was diagnosed last fall, all my test results, biopsy, Gleason, MRI and Oncotype testing pointed to Active Surveillance as the best mode of treatment.  The original biopsy had one positive core with a Gleason of 3+3.

The the pathology report on my second confirmatory biopsy came back with two cores, 3 & 7% showing a Gleason of 3+4.  These results could have potentially led to a decison not to persue AS but seek a more aggrresive form of treatment.  My urologist suggested that we have the slides re-evaluated at Johns-Hopkins.  I received the results yesterday at my urologist's and JH evaluated my slides as 3+3, so for the time being, I will be persuing AS.  Medicare declined coverage of the JH review, but it might be the best spent $250 of my life.

Comments

  • Old Salt
    Old Salt Member Posts: 1,505 Member
    #2
    Great outcome!

    I suggest you send your urologist a bouquet or a six-pack of his favorite brew! Not all of them are fond of second opinions. But if you look at the pictures on the Johns Hopkins urology/pathology site, one can see that the interpretation isn't always straightforward. Moreover,  the  Johns Hopkins pathologist (Dr Epstein ) is the ultimate source of wisdom with respect to the Gleason scoring system.

    http://pathology.jhu.edu/department/services/secondOpinion.cfm

  • hopeful and optimistic
    hopeful and optimistic Member Posts: 2,346 Member
    #3
    wonderful news

    You are far from the first man, myself included who has had a second opinion by a world class expert pathologiist that is different from the initial pathology results. This is all too common. There is a difference between the skills and facilities available to pathologists. Just like any other medical specialty, you want the very best, an "artist". Some of us at this board supported this decision. Hopefully others at this board who did not support having a second opinion will learn from this.

    https://csn.cancer.org/node/315960

    https://csn.cancer.org/no. Hopede/315620

  • Tech70
    Tech70 Member Posts: 70 Member
    #4
    Old Salt said:

    Great outcome!

    I suggest you send your urologist a bouquet or a six-pack of his favorite brew! Not all of them are fond of second opinions. But if you look at the pictures on the Johns Hopkins urology/pathology site, one can see that the interpretation isn't always straightforward. Moreover,  the  Johns Hopkins pathologist (Dr Epstein ) is the ultimate source of wisdom with respect to the Gleason scoring system.

    http://pathology.jhu.edu/department/services/secondOpinion.cfm

    My urologist is a she, not a

    My urologist is a she, not a he, and a rather attractive one at that.  :)

  • Grinder
    Grinder Member Posts: 487 Member
    #5
    ???!!!

    A hot lady urologist?! No way.

    I do not support getting a 2nd opinion.

    I got a 2nd , a 3rd, and a 4th opinion.

    And they were all ugly dudes.

    Maybe I need a 5th opinion after the fact. 

    ;)

  • VascodaGama
    VascodaGama Member Posts: 3,701 Member
    #6
    Wonderful

    Tech,

    Great news. Hope you manage staying on AS forever.

    Please allow me to add in your thread the comments from another mate on the Value of Second Opinions, in here;

    http://csn.cancer.org/comment/1290680#comment-1290680

     

Discussion Boards