Finished my second opinion today

[Ironj]

Good afternoon everyone.

I had my Second option regarding MySll diagnosis at Sloan with Dr Mato.

1. Sloan was a great hospital regarding staff.

2. Once I registered, I was immediately taken in for blood work the first 5 min I was there. I was then taken for vital signs

3. I waited maybe 30 min then had the Dreaded bone marrow biopsy... the worst part of the biopsy was the numbing , the injections burned. Now as for the actual biopsy it wasn’t bad at all like others have said on a scale from 1 to 10 it was a 1 or 2.

4. My Dr said yes I have SLL but no treatment is needed. I asked when did he think and understandably he couldn’t give me an exact answer. But he did say it could be a decade decades or you may never need treatment. He did say one thing was to my disadvantage was my age. I asked why , he said if you were 90 we wouldn’t be concerned with close monitoring. But your 46 and it’s in your lymph nodes so we have to monitor by imagining not so much blood because it’s not in your blood. He wants to check on me every 6 months to see how things are going.

5. He did a Fish test and mutation test as well. He also clipped my fingernails to test the cells to compare them with my lymph node and marrow cells to see the cell differences , why I have no idea I guess it a new thing.

In closing he said go out and enjoy your life , he didn’t think this Sll will impact my life . I’m very happy with my meeting today and recommend Sloan to anyone that’s looking for a second or third opinion. Thanks John 😅

[Spacee]

Fabulous Ironj. Thank you for the great reporting!! And it seem you are pretty great for 46 and SLL?

Linda

[Ironj in reply to Spacee]

Thank you Linda

[Emcee1]

Awesome news and best of luck moving forward!

[Ironj in reply to Emcee1]

Thank you Emcee1. John

[Ellieoak]

That is great news!

[MsLockYourPosts Passed Volunteer]

Dr. Mato's former patients where upset when they heard he was moving. I'm sure you will be very happy with him. If you find out more about the clipped fingernails please post about it. I've never heard of that, but it seems like there is something new all of the time with CLL these days - good for us.

[Ironj in reply to MsLockYourPosts]

I will definitely post what relevance the nail clippings have once I all the results come back.

[NooNoo14]

Great news John and it sounds like you are being very well looked after. Congratulations.

Netty

[Ironj in reply to NooNoo14]

Thank you Netty. John

[nvp815]

Thanks for the update John. Very happy to hear that you had a good experience and that Dr. Mato offered you reassurance. Wishing you all the best! By the way, that soreness you are probably feeling at your biopsy site should resolve over the next few days.

Take good care,

Nan

[Ironj in reply to nvp815]

Thank you Nan. I’m surprised I don’t have any pain at all this morning.

[CLLCalifornia-USA]

John,

Thanks for sharing your good news. I have kept you in my prayers and am so happy to hear your results. Now, go follow your doctors orders and enjoy your life.

Kindness always,

Sally

[Ironj in reply to CLLCalifornia-USA]

Thank you for the prayers .. I am very happy with the confirmation from Dr Mato and he basically said the same things my local oncologist said. So I have 2 very good Dr’s watching. Thanks John

[Kokobean]

Wonderful! He’s right; enjoy life!

[Ironj in reply to Kokobean]

I agree 😊

[GMa27]

Friend of mine goes to Sloan in NY for her SLL. When I lived in NJ, used to hear wonderful things about it. I had BMB 11 years ago... I was so nervous and it ended up to be 1 for me. Pleasant surprise. I go for BMB in May. Was thrilled to hear my doc said I will be sedated. I wasn't sure I would have the same easy time of it.

Never heard about the nail thing either! Let us know what that was all about.

Spend time doing fun things! You are in good hands!

[Ironj in reply to GMa27]

Good luck with you BMB in May , I will update on the nail thing once I have the information on it. I agree I’m going to focus my time on positive thoughts and make the best of everyday. Thank you John

[pkpayne]

What good news! I'm so happy for you. I agree with the doctor - go out a live your life. Congrats to you!

Paula

[Ironj in reply to pkpayne]

Thank you plpayne

[DebKat999]

Sounds as though this was a very good visit with very good news too, excellent!

Debbie

[Ironj in reply to DebKat999]

Thank you Debkat999

[BeckyLUSA]

Great news, now go out and live your life!

[Ironj in reply to BeckyLUSA]

😎 going to Nashville Wednesday to have a great time 🎉

[Sushibruno]

I'm so happy that you're feeling better John when do you go back to Sloan-Kettering?

[Ironj in reply to Sushibruno]

Good afternoon Sushibruno

I just got back from NYC , I do feel better now that I have both Dr’s with the same opinion. Sushibruno thank you for the kind words.

[Ironj in reply to Sushibruno]

I forgot to tell you I go Back in 6 months

[PlanetaryKim]

Great news, John!

[Ironj in reply to PlanetaryKim]

Thank you PlanetaryKim

[SouthFloridaLady]

Awesome to hear your news, John. 👍

[Ironj in reply to SouthFloridaLady]

Thank you SouthFloridaLady.

[bkoffman CLL CURE Hero]

Dr. Mato is tops. You are in good hands.

[Ironj in reply to bkoffman]

I’ve heard of him as soon as I was told I had Sll. My brother is in the medical field and when I told him the news .. he immediately told me to call and make the second with Dr Mato. It has been done and I agree he’s very proactive in the sense of ordering a ton of test , names I’ve never heard of and new ones 2 he told me of one it testing your finger nails and the other new one I can’t remember and one the was started at Sloan, All genetic test. He indicated that most of the information he is looking for will come from the BMB. Thanks john

[5565]

Great news! I was also just recently diagnosed in October with CLL. It was discovered through a routine mammogram and there were enlarged lymph nodes in my armpit. I’ve been seen by a terrific Dr. at John’s Hopkins in Baltimore. Dr. Nina Wagner-Johnston. Lymphoma and Non Hodgkin is her specialty. I am also not having to undergo treatment at this time. Just in a wait and see mode. I will be going back every 3 months for tests. I am 65 and in great health otherwise. I got a blood test and CT scan to start. 23,000 white cell count and some small lymph nodes, but that is all. I was told this is for so many just a chronic condition. It was a welcome relief to learn this.

[Laura3mini]

Amazing! Amazing!

[Ironj in reply to Laura3mini]

Who was your second opinion?

[Laura3mini in reply to Ironj]

I was between Dr. Mato or Dr. Richard Furman. Even got an appointment with Dr. Mato for December but my hematologist got me an appointment much sooner with Dr. Furman. Went from “No! You don’t have CLL” to “yes you do, but you are going to be ok!” in a matter of days. Such a roller coaster. I’m really happy you met with Mato!

[Ironj in reply to Laura3mini]

Dr Furman is just as good a Mato I’m told. I must say I would prefer DR Fuman because he’s not big on scams. Dr Mato is big on scams. I’m looking to maybe call Furman because of that reason.

I think you made a great choice.

Don’t get me wrong Mato is world class it’s just the scan thing I don’t care for.

Best John

[Justasheet1 in reply to Ironj]

John,

I think you have a typo. Is he big on scans or scams?

Jeff

[Laura3mini in reply to Ironj]

Ironj .... Why are some doctors “big on Scans”? To try finding other potential Cancers in your body? Already?...