dads-daughter
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pderat,
I am confused — has Dave had three treatments at Cancer Centers of America that cost $30,000 or are you saying the three treatments he had where you are currently going cost $30,000? The one thing I am fearful of about CCA is the cost. My dad is on Medicare, but also has United Health Care supplemental insurance.Hi jur777,
I am also curious. I found them online as well and spoke with Jill. They are 7 hours away from my parents. I did talk with someone I work with who’s uncle was treated there. He had a brain tumor that spread to his lung. That was 10 years ago. I don’t know any of the detail, but it sure sounded amazing to me. I am also hoping an expert can comment.My dad’s surgery was also performed by Dr. Siegel almost a year ago. He seemed very confident that he got everything but wanted my dad to have radiation and chemo as a precaution. I can’t really remember everything. I did go to his follow-up after surgery. They couldn’t really stage his cancer. At the time it was no where else. He went through radiation and a couple of doses of xeloda (he had to stop — he couldn’t tolerate it) and then twelve weeks of gemzar. He was off for three months and just recently a PET scan showed he had it in his liver. After the biopsy they said they couldn’t operate. He is now supposed to start chemo — cisplatin — next week. His oncologist gave him nine months. When my dad asked if chemo might extend his life, the doctor just shrugged and said possilbly. I have been researching the Clinic and UH. I know UH is supposed to be the best, but it seems like they have written my dad off. Candy, who was the top guy your brother is seeing? I really want to my dad to think about a second opinion. I have heard good things about Dr. Robert Pelley at Taussig. Now, I am not so sure about even pursuing that??? I was also told that Richard KIM at CCF Taussig is also supposed to have seen a large number of patients with pancreatic, bile duct and gall bladder cancers. At UH, the names I was given were Smitha Krishnamurthi and Joseph Gibbons. It would certainly be easier to get a second opion at UH vs. having to transfer medical records to CCF. Also, has anyone heard of Cancer Treatment Centers of America? They seem to have really good outcomes.
My dad has bile duct and gall bladder cancer. He had surgery and his scans showed his liver was clear. He went through radiation along with xeloda (he had to stop the xeloda after two weeks — he couldn’t tolerate it). After radiation, he went through 12 weeks of gemzar. He was off chemo for three months and then went in for an MRI. The MRI showed something in his liver. He had a PET scan and a biopsy. The cancer had spread to his liver and is inoperable. I specifically asked about supplements and they told us absolutely not. He is supposed to start next week on cisplatin with potential side effects on the hearing and kidneys. They said some people think taking vitamin C is helpful, but since it is filtered by the kidneys, it can make side effects worse. Same thing with St. John’s Wort. The only place I have found that believes in using supplements is 7 hours away. We have the Cleveland Clinic Taussig Center and UH’s Ireland Cancer Center in our backyard, but neither place seems to take a holistic approach. Can any one help?
