jim-wilde
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Percy, Kim (the primary host) is the one with cc. She’s become a good friend over the past year, and is one smart lady. She’s had cc return this past summer, and she and I constantly discuss where to head with treatment next. BTW, Kim had a secret advantage over most of us in the info department. She was a last year nursing student when diagnosed (she actually diagnosed herself and went to the ER and requested a scan).
Glad you liked the program!
4:15 PM EST : Today’s program still not on station’s website for download/listening. Station engineer must be backed up!
5:15 PM : Today’s program now up on site.Being diagnosed with cancer is tough the first time around…what about the second or third time? Listen Thurs or download and listen later.
LeeAnn, in my case, the onc I saw for followup after a resection, recommended adjuvant chemo, based on her reading of the final path report. It said that some of the tissue removed during the resection was particularly aggressive. The surgeon had recommended no further treatment, but after consultation with the onc, agreed that chemo was probably the best course for me.
I wish you the best and many clean scans in your future.
Topic this week is recurrent cancers. We all know this is a huge problem with cholangiocarcinoma. Tune in Thursday @ 12.30 PM Feb. 2 or donwload and listen later.
Call in number is 610-664-4100 between 12:30 and 1:00 PM EST.
sallypa, I would suggest calling Dr. Abby Siegel at NY Presbyterian. She’s an onc in the same dept. as Dr. Kato, my surgeon almost three years ago. Dr. Siegel can advise which course of action might be best, and it’s normally not too hard to get an appointment, but I’m sure you will need to get records and scans to her. Her phone number is 212,305.9783. You will get her scheduler, Anitissa Alessandri. Anitisssa happens to be friends with Delia Garcia, Dr Kato’s secretary. Just so you have it, Dr. Kato’s number is 212.305.9783, his secretary is Delia, and his PA is Monica.
My experience with NY Presbyterian was great, and I highly recommend both Drs Siegel and Kato. I continue to see Dr Siegel for regular onc followups.
BTW, even though chemo has begun, there’s no compelling reason to not get a second opinion, unless you are totally satisfied with the plan currently in place.
Thursday January 26: This week’s topic: when you are anxious or stressed, what do you do to feel better? Do you meditate, pray, listen to music, keep active, yoga?
Call in number is 610-664-4100 between 12:30 and 1:00 PM EST.
Kris, you have to go with what you’re comfortable with. I thought I detected more unease than’s apparently there. Good luck.
Kris, this might be a good time to seek one more opinion. You know I’m a Dr Kato proponent, and I can tell you he will give you an honest no BS opinion. I don’t think any surgeon can promise you clean margins, but I can tell you Dr Kato takes on some very challenging cases. And he inspires confidence, without being pompous or arrogant. In fact, he declines to wear the white lab coats most doctors wear, because he feels it intimidates his peers and patients.
I’m so pleased that you’ve gotten to this point, after a lot of struggles with the pump, illness, etc. Even though a resection is a BIG surgery (mine went about 12 hours), the mortality isn’t very high and the recuperation not so bad. I had a complication of incision infections, which took over a year to completely knock down because of adjuvent chemo right after surgery.
The really great thing now is you have some pretty palatable choices ahead. A year ago this time was just a distant hope!
Topic change for today’s show. Kim will discuss results of her recent scan.
I’m glad it was good news. A whole lot of worrying took place over the past two weeks!
Fede, this is a long process, and there will be some good news and some not so good along the way. Try to not get too discouraged by the bad and not too up with the good news. It sounds like your mom is getting excellent care.
Good luck on the journey!
Margaret, I appreciate your insights. I, personally, have never needed to deal with any of the insurance ropa dopa, which is inherent in HMO plans. I had conventional non HMO when I had a major cardiac surgery in 2001. In 2009 I had a resection, covered by Medicare, and last May a lung surgery, again covered by Medicare. I never have had to deal with any approval process at all, although the hospital may have on my behalf, but that was totally transparent to me and there’s never been a case of any procedure delayed. My take on medical insurance is for most people, PPO plans are probably best. HMO’s are OK for healthy people, but are not too great if you get a serious medical issue. Unfortunately, it’s not always possible to predict illness. I know people with cc and HMO’s and they must get approval for almost everything.
Have you tried calling your carrier to find out where your planned treatment is at in their decision process? Most carriers have a doctor on staff who’s is the final authority on approval matters.
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