Catia Bitching Cancer

That would be me! And here’s why.
The first oncologist ended up suggesting chemo, like I had expected. Not only so, he recommended the most standard chemo treatment in the US, which is not so good for the type of tumor I had, according to the research. So I went in for a second opinion. Upon Francesca’s advice I was determined to ask for an Oncotype dx test on my tumor. DETERMINED! Well, I wasn’t happy with the second opinion either. The new oncologist was equally determined to give me chemo, this time though a much more aggressive treatment called TAC, which has been proven to be more effective on node positive tumors. However, since I am node negative and since TAC is highly toxic, it seemed to me overkill (they are going to poison me to avoid me dying of cancer???). Francesca was especially shocked at this when I told her! I told the oncologist I had to think about it, that if she was ok with me having a less toxic treatment I would take my time to decide. But I also asked her to put in an order for Oncotype dx. Next I emailed to the head of the European Oncology Institute in Milan, who replied almost instantaneously from his Blackberry! Though he wouldn’t give me a medical opinion via internet, he wrote “I share your perplexities”. Then he referred me to an oncologist at the Dana Farber Cancer Center in Boston. So I wrote to him too. He also was cautious about giving a consult via email, but he offered me “limited assistance”. The first thing he wanted to know was the result of the Oncotype.

So when last Wednesday I went to see a nurse for a “chemo teaching” session, I asked her about the test. She talked with the pathologist, who categorically refused to send in my tumor slides for the test. At that point, I lost it and started bawling. I told her how unhappy I was with doctors Kaiser in this situation, how much of a number I felt, that both the oncologists I had seen had not looked at the characteristics of my tumor individually, that the radiation oncologist had even scared my husband (he told him that relapse rates for my tumor were 40%, when at most it’s 25%), that I had done research and contacted specialists all over the world and they were perplexed at the therapy my doctors recommended…etc. etc.

To make a long story short: she brought my case to their oncology team, who came up with the same therapy as the second oncologist (bummer!), but she also scheduled an appointment for me to see the “breast cancer multidisciplinary board” composed of specialists and surgeons from three different research institutions (Kaiser, USC, and City of Hope), who cooperate together on certain cases. They’ll see me on Dec 27th. I have chemo scheduled for Jan 3rd, for the moment and a consult with a 3rd (or would it be the 5th?) oncologist Jan 9th . The nurse said to postpone the chemo until I talk to the oncologist, but if I have to do chemo I’d rather start on Jan 3rd and change oncologist later. Either oncologist will follow the multidisciplinary board’s advice as far as treatment, anyways (I hope so!).

Anybody wants a fight with me?? 🙂

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