dukenukem

Sarah,
I am currently a patient of Dr. Davendra Sohal at the Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Center. Prior to that I was a patient at the Mentor UH/Lake Hospital Seidman Cancer Center.

Dr. Sohal is good, but not as aggressive as my desires are. If I all things were equal (but they seldom are) I would go to MDA. From what I read here, they are far more knowledgeable and aggressive. Up until the Fat Lady (valkyrie Brünnhilde) steps up for her aria, I’m going to try everything I can.

You need to determine what you expect from an oncologist and find one who delivers. And remember, this is all about the life (quality and quantity) of a loved one – accept nothing but the best.

Forget the statistics. Some of us pass only weeks after initial diagnosis. Others live for 10+ years. Since you and your husband are the “nerds”, don’t get hung up with “analysis paralysis”. Do the best you can and don’t look back. Right now I’d say that getting started now is more important than finding the best treatment. Have your FIL keep a journal with dates and people and what was discussed, symptoms, what he ate, how much he moved arougn, Depending on the diagnosis, he may be able to slide out with a “simple” surgical procedure. Or he may have to undergo chemo (cisplatin/gemcitibine is the “standard” for initial chemo). Once you get a firm diagnosis, search in here for more details/recommendations.

You can reach any of us privately by e-mail if you don’t want to go public.

You are in good hands here and better hands at MDA. Get moving. You are at step 1. There’s more for you to learn.

Peace,
Duke

Diane –
Attitude is so important – that can’t be over-emphasized. Yours is a winner.

Two things to stick in the back of your mind. I and several others, experienced discomfort on the right side of the body, either front or back, just at the bottom of the rib cage. We also felt this in our right shoulders. Kind of like you over-extended while playing tennis or golf, or yard work. Let you onc know if you experience either of these.

Hang in there. Let your husband and kids know how important they are to you and getting better. You might think “They already know that”. True, but say it often anyway. Followed by a great big hug and kiss.

Duke

My early experience with steroids was that they wired me. Frequently I was up all night, only geting to sleep after 7:00 am.

Duke

Kris
Whiskey IS the answer; to another question.

Duke

Jason
I am surviving 23 months after initial diagnosis of non-operable IHC and still going, just like the Energizer bunny (Cuz – not a word about how I might look good in pink). I have posted elsewhere about my first oncologist and her treatments and why I am on oncologist #2.

I had many of your mother’s initial symptoms – heard the same story about six months if I did not start chemo. About the survival time – you can find stories here about patients who have survived years beyond what was initially diagnosed. Absolutely no reason why your mother can’t be one of those success stories. As a few others have said in other topics “We don’t come with an expiration date stamped on our heels.”

Same issue with inexperience of the oncologist. The entire center had only seen four patients in three years. The time for the biopsy results to come back may simply be because it was done off site – shipping, handling, and waiting in the queue probably took most of that time. One suggestion – make sure any excess biopsy material is sent to which ever hospital you choose. It might save time. Also get any slides returned – all of this is your mother’s body – her property, not your oncologist or the lab doing the biopsy. Might save the new onc some time.

Just to add one more on the band wagon – you need to put as many miles between you/your mother and that onc/gastro as soon as possible.

I started chemo about two weeks after being diagnosed, so you have time – don’t panic. As said by others, there are many reasons to be hopeful. But this roller coaster has its downs as well as its ups for both of you. Your lives are changed. That will take time (and probably some tears) to adjust to. Normal.

Something to start immediately – live your lives. We all know there’s an elephant in the room (can smell the peanuts on his breath) but that’s no reason to drive you to desperation. Take time to look at the “signatures” at the bottom of some of the members of these boards – they are our philosophies. You won’t find a surrender in any of them. Then sit down with your mother and write YOUR philosophies. You don’t have to add them here but you will have them to help you through the dark times. Not sure if you ever saw the “Red Green Show” on PBS. One of the recurring segments has him ending with “Remember, I’m pulling for you. We’re all in this together.”

Peace, and good night.

Duke

I am currently seeing Dr. Sohal. He is very straight forward. He has answered the questions I wanted answers to. He seems to have several strategies in his bag, not just the conventional gem/cis, gem, FOLFOX6, and then “I’m done”. He is heading up a clinical trial – LEE011 for Patients With CDK4/6 Pathway Activated Tumors (SIGNATURE) – NCT02187783 – which I wanted to get into but my platelets were too low, <100,000. He's still a little conservative - I thought Mayo was a little more open to "out of he box" thinking. He sees quite a few but not the number of patients that Mayo does so he is not familiar with some of the more "exotic" treatments. But he is still much better than the onc I was seeing at the local branch of University Hospital's Seidman Cancer Center in Mentor.

He is familiar with Lisa Craine’s history. Interesting that he knew her by name, not just “Patient 1234”.

I’m satisfied with his care.

Duke