Second Opinion - Number ONE priority

You owe it to yourself to have a second opinion and from the right institution.  It does not matter how much you love your doctor, how pretty she is this is about you and not the doctor.

When I first got breast cancer, I had a second opinion but for the breast cancer.  I never had anyone advice me on what to do about the spots on the lung.  So we did chemo for breast cancer.  We know now that the spots were a separate primary Lung Cancer.  If we had known then what we know now, would I have had chemo for breast?  Or would I have had the mastectomy and chemo for lung?  Would the outcome be different?

No one can answer this questions, if the milk had not spilled would you have drank all of it?

Once MD Anderson biopsied the lung and determined that it was Lung Cancer, they conferred with my oncologist and determined the chemo treatment needed.  The report indicating that my cancer had mutated already and it was a KRAS mutation did not come out until later but NO ONE mentioned it, at least not to me.  If I had gone elsewhere for a ‘third’ opinion or if they had known then what they know now would I have received the same treatment?  How about the surgery or even worst the radiation?  I read an article in the internet that it clearly says that mutated Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) should not undergo radiation.  URRGGGG.  Even worst, if I had gone to a ‘fourth’ opinion once we realized that after radiation my cancer had spread, would I have started on a clinical trial earlier?

None of these questions will ever be answered, what I can tell you is: at the time, I did my homework (as limited as my knowledge was) and the decisions made were right.  I got a second opinion every time, but we were a step behind… no matter. I hope that you are reading this and keep it on the back of your mind in case that you know someone in a similar situation so that you can advice/guide them so that they do not have to second guess their decisions.

I am now a week into the trial and what I have not explained to you (all of you) yet is that on my scan last week, my brain still shows clear of cancer but my body lights up like a Christmas Tree.  At least I am in tune with the holiday.  But seriously, the cancer has spread to my good lung and my good adrenal gland.  At the request of the doctor, I have stopped all the alternative medicine until we see the effects of the new treatment.  It will not cure me but the success will be measured after 8 weeks to see if it has stopped the cancer from spreading and growing.

So we pray for that, yes 'you and me' pray because it is the one thing that no one can tell me to stop. 

The other night I went to a service at Michelle’s (my daughter) church where the speaker was a very interesting man.  He told us how he came about knowing Jesus… anyway, during the service the pastor’s wife wrapped her arms around me and prayed, then at the end of the service we went up to the speaker who is also known for healing and told him that I had cancer and was terminal and would like for him and his wife to pray for me.  The wife looked me in the eye and said ‘you are not terminal, your cancer is’ and they prayed.  It was amazing.  It reminded me of Randy when he tells me ‘don’t let your body participate with the cancer’. 

So the lesson for the day, ALWAYS have a second opinion, if it does not sound right is because it isn’t so find the right answer.  And believe, believe in God, Jesus and yourself because is the one thing that no one can take away and it sure feel good.

Love yah,

ME