Follow-Up First visit with a specialist

This topic has 22 replies, 7 voices, and was last updated 13 years, 5 months ago by Carol Taylor.

Post

- April 13, 2011 at 11:25 am
- Quote
archer
Participant
I want to thank all of you that said, "run, don't walk to a specialist". We did just that yesterday and what a world of difference compared to our first visit with an oncologist. We even had someone on here provide her email address because she goes to the same doctor and her statements about this doctor were correct. We left feeling good about our decision.

I want to thank all of you that said, "run, don't walk to a specialist". We did just that yesterday and what a world of difference compared to our first visit with an oncologist. We even had someone on here provide her email address because she goes to the same doctor and her statements about this doctor were correct. We left feeling good about our decision.

Tomorrow morning, my wife is scheduled for her PET scan, meeting with a surgeon and then the specialist. Talk about making things happen! We are grateful to all of you for this advice as well as all the other advice you have graciously shared. It has helped us get get a direction with all this mess. Tomorrow will be 14 days from the diagnosis. I can say that I actually slept 7 hours last night. That is the first time in the two week period. I know you guys will understand what I mean by that but hopefully that is the sign of good things to come.

Now, our prayers, thoughts etc are directed toward a clear negative scan tomorrow. That would be a gift.

Again, I can't thank all of you enough for your help. Last week was disaster, a blur and I was a notch above a zombie (at least when alone) but this week is a tad better thanks to a lot of people such as yourself praying and sharing.

I will keep in touch.

Viewing 7 reply threads

Replies

- - April 13, 2011 at 2:30 pm
  - Quote
  dian in spokane
  Participant
  Hi Archer,
  
  I was so glad to open the board and see your post today. It's great to see you sounding a little hopeful, and wonderful that you got a little sleep.
  
  Good luck with the scans. Please keep us posted.
  
  dian in spokane
  - April 13, 2011 at 2:45 pm
    
    Quote
    archer
    Participant
    
    Thanks Dian,
    
    Even though I went quiet for a few days, I was reading daily. This board has helped so much. I just needed a few days to "process all of this" and I'm not sure I've done that but doing better. I certainly will let you know…
  - April 13, 2011 at 2:45 pm
    
    Quote
    archer
    Participant
    
    Thanks Dian,
    
    Even though I went quiet for a few days, I was reading daily. This board has helped so much. I just needed a few days to "process all of this" and I'm not sure I've done that but doing better. I certainly will let you know…
- - April 13, 2011 at 2:30 pm
  - Quote
  dian in spokane
  Participant
  Hi Archer,
  
  I was so glad to open the board and see your post today. It's great to see you sounding a little hopeful, and wonderful that you got a little sleep.
  
  Good luck with the scans. Please keep us posted.
  
  dian in spokane
- - April 13, 2011 at 9:29 pm
  - Quote
  Fen
  Participant
  Are you going to Iowa City? I know I should check your posts, but there are many of them and I'm lazy.
  
  I was treated there in 05-06 before they had a melanoma specialist. I especially appreciated their timely respose with tests. I had my PET/CT in the morning and got the results that afternoon. I hope things are the same.
  
  good luck and keep us posted.
  
  Fen
- - April 13, 2011 at 9:29 pm
  - Quote
  Fen
  Participant
  Are you going to Iowa City? I know I should check your posts, but there are many of them and I'm lazy.
  
  I was treated there in 05-06 before they had a melanoma specialist. I especially appreciated their timely respose with tests. I had my PET/CT in the morning and got the results that afternoon. I hope things are the same.
  
  good luck and keep us posted.
  
  Fen
  - April 14, 2011 at 7:04 am
    
    Quote
    archer
    Participant
    
    Yes, Iowa City. I will keep all of you posted. Thanks for your reply
  - April 14, 2011 at 7:04 am
    
    Quote
    archer
    Participant
    
    Yes, Iowa City. I will keep all of you posted. Thanks for your reply
- - April 13, 2011 at 10:25 pm
  - Quote
  DebbieH
  Participant
  Good luck with that pet scan – let us know what it shows (hopefully nothing!).
  
  Glad you're feeling a bit better now. This is such life altering news that it feels like you can't even breath at first. As you can see from this board, there is plenty of hope out there. I don't know what I would have done without this board and I'm happy you found your way here and to a good specialist.
  
  DebbieH, stage IIIC, NED over 9 1/2 years
- - April 13, 2011 at 10:25 pm
  - Quote
  DebbieH
  Participant
  Good luck with that pet scan – let us know what it shows (hopefully nothing!).
  
  Glad you're feeling a bit better now. This is such life altering news that it feels like you can't even breath at first. As you can see from this board, there is plenty of hope out there. I don't know what I would have done without this board and I'm happy you found your way here and to a good specialist.
  
  DebbieH, stage IIIC, NED over 9 1/2 years
  - April 14, 2011 at 7:05 am
    
    Quote
    archer
    Participant
    
    Thanks Debbie,
    
    I will keep everyone posted. Thanks for the encouraging words. Everyone has been so helpful.
  - April 14, 2011 at 7:05 am
    
    Quote
    archer
    Participant
    
    Thanks Debbie,
    
    I will keep everyone posted. Thanks for the encouraging words. Everyone has been so helpful.
- - April 15, 2011 at 2:06 pm
  - Quote
  archer
  Participant
  Ok, my wife had her first PET scan yesterday. Long day at hospital but well worth it because the scan was clear….. YEA,
  
  Thank God and to all the tons of people that were praying. That is what we were hoping for and what a relief. Now, they will review all the scans and pathology reports to see if this team agrees with those results.. After that, it appears that a surgery to "clean out" the area in the underarm where the lump was removed is going to be performed soon. Depending upon if they find traces of cells, then there could be follow up treatment as a preventative or nothing but wait and see. Anyway, this is a new direction for sure.
  
  I want to say again, with complete sincerity to all who have replied and offered wisdom, prayers and hope, a huge Thank you! You will never know how important that was/is and will continue to be to us. This forum was a God send for both of us. Also, if someone reading this is or knows someone just diagnosed, please listen to these people and seek a specialist immediately. It made a world of difference to us immediately.
  
  So, again thank you. We will be reading and helping if we can offer something to others.
  - April 15, 2011 at 2:15 pm
    
    Quote
    dian in spokane
    Participant
    
    Wonderful news! It's great that her scans are clear. I know you both must be feeling a certain sense of relief, even though things are still ongoing and you are still in the thick of it.
    
    Grand news.!
    
    dian
  - April 15, 2011 at 2:15 pm
    
    Quote
    dian in spokane
    Participant
    
    Wonderful news! It's great that her scans are clear. I know you both must be feeling a certain sense of relief, even though things are still ongoing and you are still in the thick of it.
    
    Grand news.!
    
    dian
  - April 15, 2011 at 3:20 pm
    
    Quote
    lhaley
    Participant
    
    Great news that the PET was clear!!! It's so worth it to go to a hospital where you get the results quickly. The stress is unbelievable.
    
    Let us know when the surgery is.
    
    Take care,
    
    Linda
  - April 15, 2011 at 3:58 pm
    
    Quote
    Vermont_Donna
    Participant
    
    Hi,
    
    So glad for the clear PET. Melanoma specialists make ALL the difference. I see a melanoma oncologist, and his associate, a nurse practitioner (female) who specializes in melanoma and who is a breast cancer survivor, a melanoma specialty oncology surgeon and a dermatologist who specializes in melanoma, all at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, in Lebanon, NH…a fantastic major medical center!! I have also had an ILP at Mass General, and staff there were great too.
    
    Good luck with your wifes upcoming surgery and with all her future tests and checkups, and wishing an easy surgical recovery!
    
    Vermont_Donna, stage 3a
  - April 15, 2011 at 3:58 pm
    
    Quote
    Vermont_Donna
    Participant
    
    Hi,
    
    So glad for the clear PET. Melanoma specialists make ALL the difference. I see a melanoma oncologist, and his associate, a nurse practitioner (female) who specializes in melanoma and who is a breast cancer survivor, a melanoma specialty oncology surgeon and a dermatologist who specializes in melanoma, all at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, in Lebanon, NH…a fantastic major medical center!! I have also had an ILP at Mass General, and staff there were great too.
    
    Good luck with your wifes upcoming surgery and with all her future tests and checkups, and wishing an easy surgical recovery!
    
    Vermont_Donna, stage 3a
  - April 15, 2011 at 3:20 pm
    
    Quote
    lhaley
    Participant
    
    Great news that the PET was clear!!! It's so worth it to go to a hospital where you get the results quickly. The stress is unbelievable.
    
    Let us know when the surgery is.
    
    Take care,
    
    Linda
  - April 15, 2011 at 4:18 pm
    
    Quote
    Carol Taylor
    Participant
    
    A Hallelujah moment tob e sure! Bet you slept like a baby last night for the first time in a while! Great news and all the best to your beloved. You can handle anything now. May the good news continue.
    
    Grace and peace,
    
    Carol
  - April 15, 2011 at 4:18 pm
    
    Quote
    Carol Taylor
    Participant
    
    A Hallelujah moment tob e sure! Bet you slept like a baby last night for the first time in a while! Great news and all the best to your beloved. You can handle anything now. May the good news continue.
    
    Grace and peace,
    
    Carol
- - April 15, 2011 at 2:06 pm
  - Quote
  archer
  Participant
  Ok, my wife had her first PET scan yesterday. Long day at hospital but well worth it because the scan was clear….. YEA,
  
  Thank God and to all the tons of people that were praying. That is what we were hoping for and what a relief. Now, they will review all the scans and pathology reports to see if this team agrees with those results.. After that, it appears that a surgery to "clean out" the area in the underarm where the lump was removed is going to be performed soon. Depending upon if they find traces of cells, then there could be follow up treatment as a preventative or nothing but wait and see. Anyway, this is a new direction for sure.
  
  I want to say again, with complete sincerity to all who have replied and offered wisdom, prayers and hope, a huge Thank you! You will never know how important that was/is and will continue to be to us. This forum was a God send for both of us. Also, if someone reading this is or knows someone just diagnosed, please listen to these people and seek a specialist immediately. It made a world of difference to us immediately.
  
  So, again thank you. We will be reading and helping if we can offer something to others.