Marty,
What can I say but that I am downright teary?? Way to go YOU TWO !!
Love,
Sally
-----Original Message-----
From: Martin Auslander <fitecancer@earthlink.net>
To: Medical On Line Forum <mol-cancer@lists.meds.com>
Date: Tuesday, March 03, 1998 10:18 PM
Subject: [MOL] Barb Auslander, results of 2nd opinion, hope and blessings.
>You may all know I am a devotee of seeking 2nd opinions and todays
>
>results was no exception. You may also know I am a devotee in seeking
>
>out those doctors/oncologist who provide HOPE and there are many. Today
>
>was no exception as well.
>
>
>
>Let me refresh your memory, if I may, as why I took Barb to yet another
>
>2nd opinion, last one was 8 months ago.
>
>
>
>Just recently she received a raving report that 98% of her cancer was
>
>gone according to cat-scans. She originally had a metastasis of all her
>
>lymph glands, pelvic, abdomen, chest and neck, diagnosed with a very
>
>rare ovarian-non-ovarian disease. There has been no evidence of disease
>
>other than the neck in the last 6 months of scans and her tumor marker
>
>has been at normal for that period of time as well. Her oncologist told
>
>her to keep doing what she has been, all the steps to wellness that she
>
>has been following and didn't want to see her for 2 months rather than
>
>one and no scans for 6 months rather than 3 months. This was very good
>
>news, but I believe we needed to go a step further and seek means to
>
>rid her of the disease in its entirety that is the reasoning for a 2nd
>
>opinion.
>
>
>
>WE consulted with a doctor whom we have been seeing over the past two
>
>years, but we flip flop or alternate with another fabulous oncologist.
>
>We alternate because they both have varying ideas, bring hope, and we
>
>seem to be more satisfied that way. One is a medical oncologist and the
>
>other is a gynecological oncologist.
>
>
>
>Today we saw the gynecological oncologist. He gave Barb a very thorough
>
>pelvic and rectal exam as well as breast exam and studied the reports
>
>and examed the area where the scans indicated lymph node involvement.
>
>
>
>His opinion was this: He felt, as did our Oncologist that if Barb were
>
>to have a needle biopsy of this neck area that it would NOT SHOW CANCER.
>
>Their opinion is that this lymph node involvement was very slight 5mm,
>
>less than a quarter of an inch and that it is very common to have lymph
>
>node involvement in this area in many human beings, maybe as a result of
>
>a virus, or a cold or that it is just common. His opinion was to
>
>continue on with Tamoxifen, and he said he has patients ( I like to call
>
>those with cancer, survivors) are on this therapy for as long as 10
>
>years with no signs of side effects and still works. I know this was not
>
>the case with Lillian and other great ladies. He suggested we see him
>
>again in 6-8 months after the next scans and medical information.
>
>
>
>I did ask him this, out of curiosity. "Do you ever tell those with
>
>cancer that you feel can not be treated,,how long they have to live".
>
>He said "unequivically no, unless they force me to tell them." I asked
>
>him what do you do in a situation like that when you feel there is no
>
>treatment? He said usually and every case is different, they recommend
>
>clinical trials and usually they have tumor boards where they meet with
>
>other oncologists and come up with some form of treatment or suggest
>
>other facilities to be treated, but he or his colleagues never take away
>
>HOPE. I believe him.
>
>
>
>The reason I bring this up is that I have read several cases here in the
>
>last few days where docs tell their patients how long. That is not the
>
>case in every case. I seek doctors, for my Barb, who are willing to
>
>provide them with the best of protocal treatment available and to bring
>
>them HOPE as he did today when he said "he felt there was no more
>
>cancer". No way of telling, but in his opinion he said "go home and do
>
>what you have been and hugged her".
>
>
>
>Thought you would all like to know and share our joy today. HOPE comes
>
>from many sources....the medical community should be no exception in
>
>fact we need them, their brilliance, research, treatments and their
>
>compassion and bedside manners. Its called HOPE.
>
>
>
>God Bless YOu All
>
>marty auslander
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