Thinking of pursuing a second opinion at Mayo Clinic

Posted by t786445 @t786445, Nov 18 11:06am

My wife was diagnosed 6/2024 with a penny sized malignant neoplasm of body of pancreas.

Original Chemo cycle started July 15 and included Folfirinox and after the prescribed cycle a scan was done and the mass essentially was unchanged but no mets detected. This treatment was pretty harsh.

Currently on a chemo treatment of Gemcitabine/abraxane with a 2nd panscan scheduled for 11/25. She is tolerating this treatment better and less side effects.

After the 1st scan results, Cle Clinic Surgeon is reluctant to perform surgical removal at this time due to loc proximity to critical blood vessels.

Radiation is being considered next with possibly a break in the chemo therapy.

Has anyone experienced this path of treatment? Would it be beneficial to pursue the Mayo Clinic for a consultation?Looking for beneficial options and education.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Pancreatic Cancer Support Group.

katiegrace | @katiegrace | Nov 21 1:08pm

My doctors at Mayo are Dr. Carr and Dr. Alberts. Their appointment number is 507-284-8815.
If you call this number, they might be able to give you a phone number to lead you to a 2nd opinion with Dr. Truty, if that is what you want. I had adenocarcinoma of the pancreas with a tumor on the head. My surgeon at Mayo was Dr. Suzanne Warner. I am 9 months out from surgery. I was very happy with Dr. Warner. (Her husband is also a doctor at Mayo). My tumor was touching the portal vein. Dr. Warner had to call in a transplant surgeon to work on my portal vein during the Whipple. After surgery, I had to be on blood thinner because of my portal vein issue, but 3 months after surgery, they said my portal vein looked good and was not narrowed (with scar tissue), and I was able to go off the blood thinner. As far as they can measure, I am cancer free at this point. My next CT scan is Nov 27, 2024. I would highly recommend getting a 2nd opinion at Mayo Clinic if you are not presently at a high volume pancreatic cancer center.

Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Nov 29 3:51pm

@t786445, I thought I'd check in on you and your wife. Were you able to submit a request for a second opinion at Mayo Clinic. If not, you can get started here: http://mayocl.in/1mtmR63

How is she doing? How are you doing?

View More View Less

Please sign in or register to post a reply.