My mother has been being treated at a local Hospital here in Louisiana. She has already had two surgeries and we are to the point where Chemo would be our only hope. Well tomorrow 10/15 was suppose to be my mothers doctors appt. for what we are told were Chemo classes . Her Chemo was suppose to start on Oct 21st .We get a phone call today and were told the appointment has to be rescheduled . We are not happy . My mother really needs to start the Chemo ASAP. and now due to an error that was made with the scheduling we are told to wait another week.

I am ready to pack a suitcase and go to MD Anderson in Texas. Well I call MD today and I was told it would also take 2 to 3 weeks for an appointment there. My question is Does anyone know a faster way to see a Oncologist in the Head & Neck section over there.

I told my mom maybe we should just drive to the emergency room and start there.
Any Advice Anyone.

I suggest calling again and asking about being put on a list for taking any appointment from a cancellation. If necessary call every single day. Never know, you could get lucky and get her in on a last minute cancellation.

Good luck!!

Thanks Christine that's a good idea . I'm going to call everyday. I gave all my mothers insurance information to a receptionist at MD in the Head & Neck Dept today. Hopefully I can get her in that hospital . I think that is where she needs to be.

Also Christine
I'm really worried because according to the MRI it reads "25mm lobulated recurrence left mandible/floor of mouth" . It seems like that's a large area. What is your opinion ?

I agree that being seen at MDA would be a good choice given the amount of cancer treatment your mother has gone through. With each complication the choice and options become more difficult and less common so the experts really do offer more insight in these cases. Good luck.

25 mm is 2.5 cm which is a little over an inch. It's not small but not huge. Hugs. Push for md.

Thanks Cheryl somehow you just made me feel a little better. Even though its not to small I thought it was larger than that. we are praying the Chemo will help.

Good luck
Heidi

After going to the Chemo classes and meeting with the Oncologist today my mother has decided to stay here in LA to have her Chemo treatments done. MD Anderson said it would be 2 to 3 weeks before we could get in and by the time everything gets started all over again it would be to much time passing.
So on Monday she starts Cisplatin +5-FU (PF). I hope she don't get to sick from this. Lord knows I am so worried for her.

I always get caught up by the LA. Think Los Angeles rather than state. 5FU is typically administered over a number of days, usually 5. Either you get a portable pump and go home or they administer via IV and you stay in the hospital.

5FU seems to be the ingredient in the typical induction chemo mix that makes the most side effects so just be ready if she has more side effects than you might expect.

With you there helping, she will get through it, we all did, some more banged up than others but we find the exit door.

There are many different drugs to alleviate side effects; as soon as you see them showing up, just make sure the staff are aware and find something that should help.

Good luck

Best of luck!!! ;o)

Hello MD Anderson patient here who is also from Louisiana! Dr. Jeff Myers is my doctor at MD Anderson and he is great. However, I actually ended up having my radiation and chemo at Mary Bird Perkins in Baton Rouge LA. I am not sure what part of LA you are from, but Mary Bird was actually really good. Initially we were planning on doing all of the treatment at MD Anderson (where I had my surgery), but my doctors at MD Anderson discussed the treatment plan with doctors at Mary Bird and ultimately they decided the treatment at Mary Bird would be the same as at MD Anderson, as they use the same radiation machines. We were really pleased with the attention we got at Mary Bird and I am very happy we ended up making the decision. Feel free to message me if you want to discuss further!

Thanks EmilyP

I sent you a PM with a few questions.
Thanks so much

EmilyP and Sweetpe, you two have just shown everyone the power of forums like OCF has. Taking someone geographically close and walking hand-in-hand with them through treatment is powerful for both! Most of the long timers do this behind the scenes as soon as we see someone in our local area. I personally believe what we learned on our journey can be used to help others. Thanking you for warming my heart today.

Ditto. Well done you two. Best wishes for the treatment.