CEA 523

debugy2k
debugy2k Member Posts: 85 Member
in Colorectal Cancer #1

Been though many different chemo combinations...now on Infinitor (made for breast cancer but trying for colon cancer).  Insurance doesn't cover it so been using physician samples.

Mom's last CEA is at 523...stressing me out.  We were as low as 20s before.  Surgeon still doesn't want to remove the mets tumors in her liver.  Should we chance it to go to a hospital that would do surgery?  Any suggestions will be helpful.

Comments

  • Butt
    Butt Member Posts: 352 Member
    edited July 2019 #2

    [Content removed by CSN Support Team] Mine was Mark Bloomston in Florida.

  • Annabelle41415
    Annabelle41415 Member Posts: 6,742 Member
    #3
    Opinion

    If you are hesitant about your mother's care, there is always a possibility of getting a second opinion.  Sometimes another doctor may have a different approach.  I'm sorry that your mom's insurance isn't paying for this treatment.  Sometimes they will only pay for those that they know are associated with the type of cancer they are treating.  Hope there is some improvement for your mom.

    Kim

  • debugy2k
    debugy2k Member Posts: 85 Member
    edited July 2019 #4
    Annabelle41415 said:

    Opinion

    If you are hesitant about your mother's care, there is always a possibility of getting a second opinion.  Sometimes another doctor may have a different approach.  I'm sorry that your mom's insurance isn't paying for this treatment.  Sometimes they will only pay for those that they know are associated with the type of cancer they are treating.  Hope there is some improvement for your mom.

    Kim

    The problem with 2nd opinion

    The problem with 2nd opinion is that the other oncologist would want you to stop the current chemo meds and run the same tests (CT scan, etc).  Usually this wastes 3 months of her being off chemo because of waiting for results and scheduling visits.  So not sure if the tradeoff is good for being off chemo for that long...

  • Annabelle41415
    Annabelle41415 Member Posts: 6,742 Member
    edited July 2019 #5
    debugy2k said:

    The problem with 2nd opinion

    The problem with 2nd opinion is that the other oncologist would want you to stop the current chemo meds and run the same tests (CT scan, etc).  Usually this wastes 3 months of her being off chemo because of waiting for results and scheduling visits.  So not sure if the tradeoff is good for being off chemo for that long...

    Opinion

    Yes that can be a problem but if you can even find another doctor in your network so the tests wouldn't have to be ran again, you could try that.  Even in my network, when my doctor was on leave another took over and liked the other doctor much better than my own.  Agree, if you have to stop treatment just to see someone else then that is a waste. 

    Kim

  • Butt
    Butt Member Posts: 352 Member
    #6

    I am not aware that you need to stop chemo to have the second opinion. They can do scans when you are on chemo.

  • debugy2k
    debugy2k Member Posts: 85 Member
    #7
    Butt said:

    I am not aware that you need to stop chemo to have the second opinion. They can do scans when you are on chemo.

    Yea, that's what happened

    Yea, that's what happened when we went for 2nd opinion at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.  Wasted a few months being off chemo so they can run their own tests.  I guess they just don't "trust" other hospitals.  But seriously that's bad for the patient not having chemo for a few months.  It can make a huge difference!  

  • Butt
    Butt Member Posts: 352 Member
    edited July 2019 #8

    I was considering getting another opinion in SK. I was told they can schedule me in a copoules of weeks and they do not need to redo my scans. I didn t got but called them on a phone.

  • debugy2k
    debugy2k Member Posts: 85 Member
    #9
    Butt said:

    I was considering getting another opinion in SK. I was told they can schedule me in a copoules of weeks and they do not need to redo my scans. I didn t got but called them on a phone.

    Had a very bad experience at

    Had a very bad experience at MSKCC.  Not going to go there anymore for any opinion.

  • abita
    abita Member Posts: 1,152 Member
    #10
    debugy2k said:

    Had a very bad experience at

    Had a very bad experience at MSKCC.  Not going to go there anymore for any opinion.

    I am at MSK now. It took me

    I am at MSK now. It took me about 5 weeks to get the initial appt, then another 6 weeks to get started on treatment. My tumors were very small, but I was still starting to freak out at how long it was taking. My mental state was actually worse not on chemo than on it. 

  • Butt
    Butt Member Posts: 352 Member
    #11

    I am visting MD Anderson. I think they have the same treatments as many other facilities. They also told me chemo for life.

  • debugy2k
    debugy2k Member Posts: 85 Member
    edited July 2019 #12
    abita said:

    I am at MSK now. It took me

    I am at MSK now. It took me about 5 weeks to get the initial appt, then another 6 weeks to get started on treatment. My tumors were very small, but I was still starting to freak out at how long it was taking. My mental state was actually worse not on chemo than on it. 

    They have satellite offices

    They have satellite offices in the tristate area if you're living outside of nyc.  I think it would be easier to get appointments away from the city if you're closer to one of the satellite offices.  

    As for us, we had a bad experience at MSKCC.  I mean we love the employees and nurses there but those doctors got some serious high about themselves type of attitude.  Wasted a few months there and actual doctor time spent talking to the doctore was a total of 5 minutes combined!!  Each one passing the job off to another doctor.  They even had the nerve to say "what are you doing here today?" when they scheduled us to see them.  Takes us like 3 hours to get there too.

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