Some Good News For A Change

To All My Friends-

I had some good news this week which I'd like to share with you.

In the beginning of August I was fortunate to have my insurance company pay for me to go to M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. The doc there disagreed with my local (NJ) oncologist about starting chemo immediately, and suggested having CT scans every 6 weeks and doing a "watchful waiting" type thing. I had my next CT scan in September and the consult with my NJ oncologist went something like "the first radiologist saw some new nodules on your lungs, so I looked at the scans with a second radiologist and we didn't see any new nodules". Unacceptable!!!!!

So I had them make up a CD of the scans and I sent it to Houston. I got a four page report back, the gist of which is that there are no new nodules, some of the larger nodules have disappeared and the lesion on my hip has gotten smaller.

I was about to fax the report to my NJ doc, along with a scathing cover sheet, but, my wife asked me to think about it before faxing. And, of course, she's right. I need someone here to order the CT scans on a regular basis, so I didn't send it. But it sure would have felt good if I had.

My reason for this post is to let all of my friends here know of my (at least temporary) good news and to remind everyone that, as Dr. Strum says, "M.D. does not stand for medical deity". And also to remind you that you must take charge of your own trip through this horror and not defer automatically to your physician.

-Les

Hey Les,

Great!!! I'm so glad that you are seeing some good things happen. And you are so right about us having to take charge of our own recovery. I would be a drugged up zombie right now if I had accepted my first doctor's opinion.

My best ot you...

Jim

Gordy:

Thanks for sharing that great news with us - being proactive is the only way to go.  Continue to do well.

Dutch 

Les,

It was so good to see your post! Good news for you is good news for us...and we all can use that!

Persistance is absolutely necessary in this fight and it can determine what treatment you recieve. There are docs out there who will go over slides, tests, pathology reports, etc. They understand the value of the second or third opinion. Many times all it takes is a phone call to a doctors office or hospital to start the process. It's not hard...it just seems like it is. I was quite surprised with the response I got when calling other physicians in regard to Don's case. It made all the difference to know there was agreement in their opinions. I suppose if there wasn't we would've had other decisions to make...as you have had to do.

It's good for others to see the path that has to be taken sometimes...after all, it's your life we're talking about here. And it is precious.

Susan

Les,

It is good to hear from you and especially the news of the improvements!

Keep kicking (Well, as your wife suggested , maybe not the physicians...
    ... they are all too human like the rest of us!)
I loved everything about my experience with M.D. Anderson.
One of my relatives is having (occular mets) liver surgery there next week.

Wild horses and boulders of tourquoise for your victories!

C^Cedar

Les,

This is great news. I just want to tell you that I am thinking of you and hope and pray that this trend will continue. We can only pray that a miracle will happen. I know what a monster this is that we are dealing with and we both are handling it in our own way. I, and the rest of the guys and gals here, will always be here for you. I don't believe it will "hit the fan" later. I don't know who said it, "but sometimes you just gotta have hope". So I send you hope.

Love ya brother and keep fighting...........................War Eagle

Walt

Hello Les,

We are certainly glad to hear the good news. I hope that your recovery continues, and there will be more good news to report.

Glen

I know that you are kind of a pessimist, Les, but this new report is better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick.  You may end up being one of those guys who lives so long that something else gets you.  If that happens, you win.  Now, about that Corvette.  Don't know what to say.

I think I'm gonna' be in N.J. Tuesday night, but don't know that I can get away.  If my trip gets organized tomorrow, I'll give you a ring.  We need to meet again.  Most of my recent trips have been to middle American, or the left coast.

Anyway, congratulations on the report.  It's a step in the right direction.

Keep Your Mach Up,

Bill