HiMy wife's just completing second line treatment shortly to have scan and face to face with her oncologist
And although she has a good & trusting relationship with her oncologist, we feel now may be the time to seek a second opinion.
I'm asking if anyone has particular experiences good or otherwise of the specialist hospitals Christies or the Royal Marsden.
Many thanks
Hi
I am totally with you here. I too am thinking that I will seek a second opinion soon. I had my surgery at the Marsden last year and will be looking to go back there to a medical oncologist for a second opinion. Like you I am happy with my local team. I’m pretty sure I’m on the right treatment but my CA 125 has drifted up by a small amount and my local Onc is not currently concerned. I will be interested to see what others have to say. Best Wishes. Sue.
It would be good to know the results of the upcoming scan & what your local team has to say. Where the relationship with the local team is good, a second opinion can be a really good option if their plan doesn't feel right or is different to what people are having elsewhere. Perhaps think about what you want from a second opinion? If the scan results are great (and I hope they are) and your team recommend maintenance treatment that corresponds with the experiences on this forum, what are the questions you would ask another team? Would you want to keep the second opinion option open for the future for if there was ever the need for another course of treatment? Answers are always easier to get when you know what the question is - and apologies for just posing more questions rather than giving answers!
All the best for your upcoming scan and decisiondecisions
Hi. I am absolutely in favour of 2nd opinions. The fact you have a good relationship with your current Onc is a positive & they will (should) support & understand why you would want one. The Marsden have a well deserved good rating. Good luck.
I had two second opinions over a year ago for 3 cancerous lymph nodes Infront of the lumber. My surgeon in Birmingham would not take them out as he said they were in a dangerous place. They were deep Infront of lumber and were in a chain. One was the aorta. My surgeon said to much scar tissue there as he had invaded that since before just too risky. I had a second opinion from the Royal Marsden and they would not take them out too. I then had another opinion from the wonderful Professor Christina Fotopolou at the Queen Charlotte Hospital Hammersmith and she said to me it's "doable". Not easy but she thinks she can do it. December 21 her and her team successfully removed them. To be nothing short of a miracle. In my opinion she is world class. The anaesethist said she is amazing and the best surgeon he has ever worked with. I would not hesitate to get a second opinion from her in the future, she operated when the Royal Marsden said no. No disrespect to the R M I know they are an excellent cancer centre too, but they wouldn't / couldn't do it. Her skills are exceptional.
I went to Christina Fotopolou for my operation too. She operated on me the week before her baby was due. She was brilliant and I would recommend her without any reservations.
How do you go about getting an appointment with her please? Do you have to go Private and what are the costs involved. Can you see her on NHS ? Any info would be very appreciated as I'm thinking what do I do next. My CA 125 is rising and my consultants words were. Watch and wait till you feel ill. In retrospect I wish I'd said can I have another CT scan. My app was last week and do it on my own. Now my thoughts are what can I do to help myself. Diagnosis late Dec 2019 followed by chemo then Dr-bulking . Then it returned Christmas day 2020 followed by 2nd line Chemo Jan 2022. It now appears to be on the return. Any advice appreciated
HiMy understanding is we're entitled to request a second opinion as an NHS patient but have no legal right.
But if you ask for a second opinion your doctor should listen to you and discuss it with you. They should think about your reasons for wanting another opinion and take them seriously. If they don't agree that you need one you can ask them to explain their reasons.
Euphori, oncologist are usually obliging. They are probably used to patients asking for 2nd opinions. Ask your Oncologist that you want a 2nd opinion from her/him and they should arrange all your notes and scans, latest blood tests etc to be sent to her electronically. I had this done through my oncologist on the NHS. Within a week I had a telephone call from a member of Prof Fotopolou's team and she said can I come to see her the following week. Of course I said yes. I booked into a local hotel the night before as didn't want to travel from the Midlands to London on the day re traffic. The hotel was about a mile away from the hospital. I would have paid to go private but my Oncologist said no I will do the referral now and it will be quick and it was. Good luck.
Thank you so much for your reply. I keep getting this thought about a 2nd opinion. Also all that it would entail traveling and staying in London. I live in a rural quiet area and it seems like a big step to take on my own. My daughter might be able to come with me and I'm not sure she will think it a good idea. So thankful for this website for advice. Thank you again
Hi there Cardiff05
Thank you for your post. I can see you’ve has some supportive replies from the forum community sharing their experiences, which I hope have been helpful.
I just wanted to share an Ovacome information resource about getting a second opinion, which can be found here on our website: ovacome.org.uk/getting-a-se... .
In addition, I wanted to let you know that the Ovacome support team are here for you and your wife, if you would ever like to talk things through. You can send us a message directly through this forum, email us via support@ovacome.org.uk or call our support line on 0800 008 7054. We’re here Monday – Friday, 10am – 5pm, to help with questions, provide information or just have a friendly chat about anything that may be on your mind.
I hope that the process of getting a second opinion goes smoothly and is helpful.
Best wishes
Annie – Ovacome support
Many thanks for info
Like Win_56 & Poncettia, I had a second opinion for a recurrence of tumours close to aorta and renal arteries from Prof Christina Fotopoulou after being told by Addenbrookes surgery was too dangerous - all this in early 2013 and no recurrence since. I agree she is world class, along with her team and the operating theatre is also world class. The whole combination of lead surgeon skill, whole team skill and the 'kit to do the job' makes the difference in my view. Good luck. x
Thank you all for sharing your experiences and advice.I'm unable to express fully how important Ovacome & all those who contribute has been over the past couple of years.
Alan Farthing & his team, Harley Street, gave me my 2nd chance, after Southampton NHS team deemed my recurrence inoperable.
Hospital was king Edward vii -up to half the cost of many others. They were totally fabulous
Thank you for info
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