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Frustrated and looking for a 2nd opinion
After a consultation with my urologist, I told him that I would like to potentially do cyberknife. He said he would refer me and that it would take about 2 weeks for them to call and schedule a consultation. The next day I received a call to schedule a 6month lupron shot. (I told them that I was not doing a lupron shot until I met with the radiation oncologist and maybe not at all). It has now been just past 2 weeks, so I call the radiation oncologist facility to check, only to find out that I have not been referred. (I should have called earlier but still frustrating) I am venting a little bit. I am looking for a place to get a consultation/ second opinion. Do cancer centers require a referral for a second opinion? Or a consultation?
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You are your own best advocate. Take charge and start being a pain in their ass. If you are not comfortable go elsewhere! Take it from me, I learned the hard way!
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2 ReactionsIt often boils down to "money"..."insurance coverage"...independent of whether you have insurance or you are on Medicare. If you want another opinion, try to find another well-regarded urologist, preferably in a university-based teaching hospital where the best medicine happens. If they are in your health plan, schedule an appointment. If they are not in your health plan, ask yourself if you can afford one or two consultations to get that second opinion. "One" challenge might be how long you might have to wait as a "new patient." Because...
After my primary care physician died in a car accident, I went to the physician who bought his practice. After about two years, the office wasn't answering the phone. I physically went there - doors locked. I went next door to the next physician office in the building and was told that the doctor had closed down the practice many months before...."WHAT!?!?!?!?" I couldn't believe it...my doctor closed down his practice without sending a letter or e-mail to any of his patients. "UNREAL." Then I went about my business, and a year later I remembered: "you need a PSA test...it has been four years now!" I found a new Internist, but "new patients" had to wait NINE MONTHS to be seen. So I went without a PSA for over 4.5 years...FOOLISH. And of course, "here I am now", as a diagnosed Gleason 3+4 = 7 (only 10% cells were "4"), but had the radical prostatectomy. Glad I did, because I had far more pathology than a biopsy can ever reveal. I am now 14 months post-RP surgery with great "zero" PSA and Ultrasensitive PSA values. But...waiting...time is ticking, and I don't know if I will be one of the ~33% who "do" see their cancer return, or if I'll be a luck one of the 66% who don't. We all just wait for our every-3-month or 6-month PSA to see if we have BCR. So...take the time to find a new physician in a quality institution, and who can see you "now" as a new patient. Good luck to you!
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2 ReactionsHi,
I would stay away from Lupron as it can have some nasty side effects. Some of the new ADT drugs like Orgovyx usually have less side effects and are taken in daily pill form so if side effects do flair, you can stop taking them.
Dave 3+4