#21897 01-08-2007 10:20 PM | Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 5 Member |  Member
Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 5 | I want to thank everyone, who has replied to my post. My husband and I went to our family doctor, yesterday. He told us, in his opinion, based on the report, it is cancer, and set us up with an appointment, with an Oncologist, at our local Cancer Center. Our doctor, told us, this is a really serious situation, and not to wait. He was really concerned. The appointment is on 1/23/07. We rally appreciate all of the advice, everyone has given us. Thank you.
Susan
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#21898 01-09-2007 06:14 AM | Joined: May 2002 Posts: 2,152 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: May 2002 Posts: 2,152 | Well, 1/23 is two weeks away and if he is really concerned, I would think he would be able to get you an appointment sooner than that.
Is this 'local Cancer Center' a CCC Center? If not, you should try to get an appointment at one that is near you. There is a list of them on the resource page of this forum.
Take care,
Eileen
----------------------
Aug 1997 unknown primary, Stage III
mets to 1 lymph node in neck; rt ND, 36 XRT rad
Aug 2001 tiny tumor on larynx, Stage I total laryngectomy; left ND
June 5, 2010 dx early stage breast cancer
June 9, 2011 SCC 1.5 cm hypo pharynx, 70% P-16 positive, no mets, Stage I
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#21899 01-09-2007 01:24 PM | Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 4,916 Likes: 63 OCF Founder Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | OCF Founder Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 4,916 Likes: 63 | There seems to be a disconnect... it is really serious, but they give you an appointment so far out? Take things into your own hands, find the best cancer centers near you, starting by using the best hospitals link on the OCF resources page, and then the link to NCI ccc's. Make some calls on your own and see if you can get into someplace else. The first thing you have to understand in this process is that you have to be your own advocate. You do not need a referral to get into a major cancer center, you can self refer. Every day this goes undealt with is a day that it can grow to the next stage of the disease and be harder to irradicate. This is a time to be assertive, and do not take no for an answer. It is not their lives on the line....
Brian, stage 4 oral cancer survivor. OCF Founder and Director. The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between, the leader is a servant.
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#21900 01-09-2007 02:44 PM | Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,606 Likes: 2 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,606 Likes: 2 | Susan,
I was treated by an excellent otolaryngologist at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas which is most likely the next National Comprehensive Cancer Center member. My doctor has since gone to Vanderbilt. I would be glad to give you his name via PM if you like.
Ed
SCC Stage IV, BOT, T2N2bM0
Cisplatin/5FU x 3, 40 days radiation
Diagnosis 07/21/03 tx completed 10/08/03
Post Radiation Lower Motor Neuron Syndrome 3/08.
Cervical Spinal Stenosis 01/11
Cervical Myelitis 09/12
Thoracic Paraplegia 10/12
Dysautonomia 11/12
Hospice care 09/12-01/13.
COPD 01/14
Intermittent CHF 6/15
Feeding tube NPO 03/16
VFI 12/2016
ORN 12/2017
Cardiac Event 06/2018
Bilateral VFI 01/2021
Thoracotomy Bilobectomy 01/2022
Bilateral VFI 05/2022
Total Laryngectomy 01/2023
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#21901 01-10-2007 10:51 AM | Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 5 Member | | Member
Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 5 | Thank you for all of the great advice. My husband, and I, really appreciate all of the help you have given us. If we can help anyone else, we would love to try, too. Because of the great advice, from the people here on this website, and the Pharmacists, I work with, we did go to get a second opinion, with our Internist, who inturn referred me to an Oncologist. Our health insurance, is a HMO (POS). Because of our insurance, I did need a referral. The 23rd is the soonest I can get in, unless there is a cancellation. If my oncologist's office can get me in earlier, they will. (The office is separate from the Medical Center). By coincidence, I work at the Medical Center, here in Johnson City, where our Regional Cancer Center is located. I am also the Pharmacy Tecnhician (CPhT) Level III, who makes all of the chemo, for our cancer center. I have been there for 5 1/2 years, since, my husband and I moved here from Maryland. Thank you all for all of the help, you have given us.
Susan
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