Cancer advice

[happybigblock]

Hello gang. Theresa has been tentatively diagnosed with lung cancer. One small mass in her left lung. We go for the final confirmation biopsy next. I am looking for recommendations on the best places in the N.E. to treat. All tentative at this point. I will keep you posted as we go forward.

-Steve

[Presto51]

Sorry to hear this, I will put a word into upstairs management for you and Theresa for all to go well.

Please keep an upbeat tude as much as possible, I really believe that it helps greatly for a happy outcome

[Cobra Cory]

Wow! Not the news you want to hear.
I know that Mass General, where I went for my heart operation, is supposed to be ranked pretty high in the nation for lung cancer treatment. I would think the Dana-Farber Cancer Treatment Center/Institute, is the place to go as well.
But lets all hope it is not going to be a big issue. pray hard and stay upbeat as mentioned. Not just for her, but for you too. I know how taxing my operation was on my wife, so I tried the best I could to stay happy.
Kathy and I have you two in our prayers.

[Tak]

I would say both MGH and Dana Farber are places to look at.

I will keep you and Theresa in my prayers.

[happybigblock]

Thanks everyone. I am putting out requests to Dana Farber now.

-Steve

[bttfmk3]

Steve, Sorry to hear the news. Angela and I will be thinking positive thoughts for Theresa.

Shawn and Angela

[NHFFRDoc]

Dana Farber is very highly respected. Additionally, they often work in coordination with a local oncologist so that your wife may be able to have her case managed by the specialists at Dana Farber, but have the the treatments done locally. The reduced travel can be a huge factor in reducing the stress levels and exhaustion factor for both of you.

Ask lots of questions, process lots of answers, but only you can decide what the best option is for YOU. Often the "experts" do not agree what is "best".

Good luck.
-Eric

[John F]

Sorry to hear about Theresa, Steve, but hope for the best. I second and third the above for Dana Farber. They're way up on my donation list after the wonderful treatment of my youngest daughter's skin cancer 10 years ago.

[cobramd]

Sorry to hear this news but the good thing is that we are curing more and more lung cancers every day. While Dana Farber is a great place you also need to think about going there very frequently for treatment and at times when the trip may be very difficult for your wife. I don't know where you are in CT but give some serious consideration to any of the Uconn sites. Most academic oncology clinics are involved in national research and treatment protocols. This means that the treatment doses/frequency and recs may be exactly the same at a boston based clinic or one in your back yard.

[MrJeffreyB]

Steve, my heart sank just seeing the title of the post. So sorry to hear. Sue and I are thinking about you two and sending prayers. If it helps my mom is a lung cancer survivor and has been clean for several years (10+?) since the surgery and leads a normal life. She was operated on in Bridgeport Hospital in CT. I would be happy to put you guys in touch with her if it would help just let me know. Good luck and please let us know how things go in the next phase.

[modtour4]

Steve & Theresa,

This is news that nobody wants to hear. Knowing both of you and your joyful attitudes, I know you both will beat this. If there is anything I can do, please let me know.

My thoughts and prayers to both of you.

Russ

[Sean L]

Steve, Please keep us posted. We wish Theresa and you the best.


Sean & Roxanne

[Jim Gunther]

I note you're in Connecticut.

We had a scare last year (Thank God, just a scare) and visited the Smilow Center at Yale New Haven Hospital.

I don't think you could have a better "medical experience" than you'll have there. Yale's always been on the "leading-edge" for cancer treatment but, the humanity of the experience at Smilow was wonderful.

[Dually]

Steve, wow. Not sure what to say other than you folks are in our prayers.

[Jon A]

Steve,

You guys are in our thoughts and prayers. No one wants to hear this kind of news. My sister went through a cancer scare and treatment a few years ago a d she has been cancer free ever since.

Jon and Ellie

[Scott Calabro]

+ 1 on the prayers.

[daveclarkson]

Steve, I'll be thinking of both of you. My firm's offices are in Boston and I'm there each day, so very happy to offer a place to rest, take a break, etc. if you and Theresa are up here soon. I hope that everything proceeds well.
Dave

[happybigblock]

Thank you all for the input. I think what I am troubled by the most right now is the fact that I had hoped the process at attacking this would have started by now. As it stands, we would have the biopsy and results in another week and a half. I would think that at a larger institution/ treatment center, the work could be done, including pathology in the same day, there. Not sent to another lab.

-Steve

[Jim Gunther]

Do NOT be afraid to question and, if neccessary, "second-guess" the Doctors (especially if this is not a cancer center).

Sorry but, This is the time you need to be your wife's advocate.



>>>>I think what I am troubled by the most right now is the fact that I had hoped the process at attacking this would have started by now. As it stands, we would have the biopsy and results in another week and a half. I would think that at a larger institution/ treatment center, the work could be done, including pathology in the same day, there. Not sent to another lab<<<<

[steve_mk4]

I'm sorry to hear you and your wife are going through this. You are in our thoughts and prayers.

Having been through a similiar situation with my wife, I completely agree with Jim. you (and your wife) have to be your own advocates, educate yourself by researching online and be informed so you can question anything the doctors tell you (they don't always know everything). Don't be afraid to call and push for answers. Pathology results should not take more than 3-4 days to come back. Keep calling the Dr's office daily and asking if they have the results back. They don't seem to understand the stress and anxiety your going through waiting for results.

I wish you and your wife the best.

-Steve

[RoKaNo]

Hi Steve,
Sorry to hear the bad news. I am a head and neck cancer surgeon at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, NH. We do have an NCI sponsored Cancer Center. Seeing as you are from CT, I suspect my institution is too far from you, however, if you decide to come here, let me know and I can help make the arrangements with our team of lung cancer specialists. The Boston programs - Dana Farber and MGH are excellent as well.

Regardless, I would be happy to be a resource for you and your wife to help answer questions, discuss tests, review treatment options. I realize that undergoing cancer treatment can be extremely stressful and overwhelming - it's nice to have someone "on the inside" to help navigate the whole process. Feel free to PM or email me (jpaydarfar@comcast.net) and we can also chat on the phone.

I would also encourage you to take lots of notes and write down any questions you have whenever you think of them so you don't have to try and remember them when you are meeting with the doctors. Also, get yourself a binder and get copies of all of your records - pathology reports, labs, radiology reports, operative notes, discharge summaries, office notes - and keep these records organized in your binder. Whenever you get a scan done (CAT scan, etc), request a copy of the scan images (not just the reports) on CD for your own records as well. This will come in handy should you want to get a second opinion, get care at a different hospital, etc. You should never count on the doctors/hospitals to have all of your information - they try but the system can be inefficient.

Happy to help out,
Joe

[happybigblock]

Thank you very much everyone. I contacted our GP today to push the biopsy report timing question again. Our local facility actually does the work right there, so results will be 1-3 days most likely. After that, we will be leaning on our support network to look at next options. Thank you all for being a huge part of that support.
Joe, we will be in touch.

-Steve

[vector1]

Healing and recovery by David R. Hawkins, M.D., Ph.D. has some real good information, sometimes you have to look within as the answer is not without.

[captcarl]

steve

i am very sorry to here about the cancer. that's what my father past away from about 9 years ago. the best treatment we got was at mass general in boston. but, that was 9 years ago. they still might be the best place to go.

carl

[NHFFRDoc]

Originally Posted by happybigblock

I contacted our GP today to push the biopsy report timing question again. Our local facility actually does the work right there, so results will be 1-3 days most likely. ...
Joe, we will be in touch.

Steve-
If there is any question about the biopsy results, it is not uncommon to have a second opinion or additional specialized testing done at one of the tertiary care centers (ie. MGH, Dana Farber, Lahey), by sending the original slides to another lab.

The attitude and support on this forum continues to amaze me, as does the diversity of its participants. Though I had no idea that he was "RoKaNo," Joe and I have shared several mutual patients who made the hour long drive up to Hanover for his specialized care. I have heard nothing but positive comments, and he has does a great job keeping me, the Family Doc, in the loop. I hope that you are able to connect with him.

-Eric

[happybigblock]

Adnocarcinoma is the official diagnosis. Lining up our doctors and next steps now.

-Steve

[Dhungerf]

Steve: I just saw this post and my heart sunk. Lorraine and I certainly have Theresa in our prayers and hoping that all turns out well. If there is any support we can give, please ask.

[happybigblock]

Stage 1 and classified as 1A. Surgery next to remove that lobe of the lung so the prognosis is good. Keep the prayers coming gang.

-Steve

[Dually]

praying real hard

[Chris Carrington]

Steve,
I will be praying for a complete healing for Theresa. Stay positive.
Chris