Seeking a Second Opinion

Posted by cindo @cindo, Feb 25, 2020

I am helping to do the leg work for my sister who has Adenocarcinoma, Non-Small Cell, Lung Cancer, Stage IV which was diagnosed mid December. She started treatments a few miles away from home and has been, and is satisfied, with her care, the doctors and the facility. She found out today that the chemotherapy drug she is taking, Mekinist is creating havoc with her liver, thus they have discontinued the drug and are now looking to connect her with potential clinical trials.

We read stories of people beating the odds every day. We are looking for "THE PLACE" that will help a 63 year old, otherwise healthy woman, go for Adenocarcinoma, Non-Small, Cell Lung Cancer. It could be right where she is now. We don't know. How does one get that second opinion to find out if Mayo is "THE PLACE?"

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

Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Feb 25, 2020

Hello @cindo and welcome to Mayo Connect,

How wonderful that you are advocating for your sister. It is so important to have someone with a level head who can advocate when you are faced with a serious diagnosis. I'm sure she appreciates your caring and concern.

Yes, it is always a good thing to seek a second opinion. Here is some information about drugs as well as clinical trials at Mayo. https://www.mayoclinic.org/search/search-results?q=Adenocarcinoma,%20Non-Small%20Cell,%20Lung%20Cancer,%20Stage%20IV

Does your sister live near any of the Mayo facilities? They are in Minnesota, Florida and Arizona.

If you would like to make an appointment for her, here is information on how to make an appointment,
http://mayocl.in/1mtmR63
I would also like to invite @merpreb to this conversation as she has had lung cancer for a number of years.

Will you post again? I would like to hear how your sister is doing.

Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Feb 26, 2020

@cindo - I also welcome you to Mayo Clinic Connect. I am the mentor for the Lung Cancer Group for Connect. You might want to join in our discussions and also see if they help answer a lot of your sister's questions.
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/lung-cancer/
I also have NSCLC stage 4A. I have a lung cancer called Multifocal adenocarcinoma. Although I am stage 4 the A is for non-metastatic cancer.
It depends on where your sister lives or where she is able to travel to where she wants her second opinion to come from. I have been treated at Mass General on the east coast.
https://www.massgeneral.org/cancer-center/
Please let me know if I can be of further help. I'd love to answer any questions that your sister may have. DO you live with her? Other than you does she have a support system that can drive her or stay with her if she needs help? How is your sister feeling? Other than her lungs where is your sister's cancer?