2nd opinion

[worldtravel75]

I just got an appointment with Dr Lin for 2nd opinion at Dana Farber Has anyone else seen her for care? I have listened to webinars with her and she seems extremely up in trials etc. I am running out of options according to my oncologist so we shall see!

[SMPG]

Yes, Dr. Lin is my doctor. She is great. I have seen her for the last 12 years.

[worldtravel75 in reply to SMPG]

Thanks. Hopefully she will have fresh ideas for me. I am flying in from Michigan

[friesianfan]

Greetings! Dr. Lin has been our oncologist for nearly seven years, since my wife’s de novo MBC DX early in 2017 and she is just the best! What you see in many of her conference keynotes is what she’s like in the clinic (with even more empathy and appropriate humor thrown in!) She is so knowledgeable and more importantly, can really explain things clearly. She is very reassuring but doesn’t candy coat the situation. My wife is currently on her seventh chemo regimen and she was able to participate in two clinical trials along the way so far. Here’s my favorite Dr. Lin example, with apologies to others who have heard it. Less than a year after my wife’s DX, we were discussing whether she should go forward with the double knee replacements she had needed for over a decade… At this point, we were still pretty shell shocked (and life expectancies were in the range of two years at that time…) Dr. Lin calmly said, “I can’t tell you how long you’re going to live, but I CAN tell you you’re going to live long enough to be glad you had the knee surgeries!” So my wife had one done before our daughter’s wedding and one right after, less than a year into this journey. Not only was she so right, seven years later…but Dr. Lin’s confidence and optimism have carried my wife through these seven regimens more than anything else she could have said or done!

I hope you have a great conversation with her and good luck with the next phases of your journey…

Dave

[worldtravel75 in reply to friesianfan]

Thanks so much,Dave. It’s replies like yours who calm down my anxiety and help me navigate this rocky and uncertain path we are all on. Peace and love to you and your wife from frigid Ann Arbor

[Red1246]

I have not but wish you all the best and hope she can help you. 🙏🏻❤️

[friesianfan]

Stay warm out there! We are loyal Badgers by background, though we have now lived in the Boston area for nearly four decades (where it’s 16F at the moment—pretty chilly for us!) We still follow all the UW sports teams… Congrats on the recent FB National Championship— big win for the Blue and the Big 10!

Hope you have a great experience with Dr. Lin and DFCI. I’m confident it will be worth the trip!

Dave

[Hopeful4Cure in reply to friesianfan]

Glad to hear she is doing better. Hopefully with the neuropathy issue too. I knew I liked you guys. ;-0 Oconomowoc myself. Living abroad for nearly 20. Don't miss the cold at all. Stay warm. Blessings

[friesianfan in reply to Hopeful4Cure]

Wow! Small world… I’m from Watertown! Played four sports against you guys, our arch rivals from Oconomowoc, growing up! Be well and thanks for the good wishes. Jill’s neuropathy is doing a little better, and so far, so good with chemo # 7.

[Hopeful4Cure in reply to friesianfan]

Me too. Little by little is better than nothing and I'll take it. It sure is a long recovery though to build up strength. Sending prayers that she'll be able to get good results with less side effects. I hope that eribulin for me, will last long too. So far, so good.

[worldtravel75 in reply to friesianfan]

Go Blue!! And what about those Lions? We are cleaning up this year!

[mkrienke55]

I did not see Dr Lin but i went to Dana Farber for a second opinion two weeks ago. I flew there from Wisconsin (near Oconomowoc) and saw Dr Giordono. He was wonderful as well. I did not qualify for any clinical trials at this time but I now have a contact to call if anything changes in future. I was told she would get me in and take care of getting whatever they need to expedite the next appointment. It was so worth going there. I was assured I was doing everything right and assured it was working. Best of luck!

[worldtravel75 in reply to mkrienke55]

That’s. Hope all goes well with you. Sometimes you just need someone to tell you that you are going it right!

[TammyCross in reply to mkrienke55]

How did you get Dr. Giordono? Was the second opinion covered by insurance? How did you start the process of getting a second opinion? Did you call? Whom did you call?

[mkrienke55 in reply to TammyCross]

I believe there was a form to fill out online requesting a second opinion. I did follow up with a call as I didn’t hear back in the time frame that was mentioned on the website. The person on phone took information and scheduled it with me. I did not request a certain doctor. I went with who could see me when I could go. Fairly easy process. I think the virtual second opinion was covered during Covid times but not now. In person was covered by Medicare and my supplement.

[worldtravel75 in reply to mkrienke55]

Dr Lin has me talking virtually to Dr Giordono about a trial -I texted her because I don’t think the trial she got me in is working. I will speak to him on the 31st. How do you like him?

[mkrienke55 in reply to worldtravel75]

Liked him very much. Kind and reassuring. If I lived in Boston I would be happy to have him as my oncologist. I plan to return if something changes and will definitely stay with him.

[PJBinMI]

I'm a longtimer with MBC, also in MI, and have seen Dr. Lin at conferences! I don't think you could see a better onc than Dr. Lin! Just FYI, the best Cancer Center in MI is at U of M. I hope you will get hopeful info from Dr. Lin.

[worldtravel75 in reply to PJBinMI]

Hi. Excited to meet with Dr Lin. I do go to U of M for all my cancer treatment. I see Dr Schott but right at the moment they are running out of ideas

[Totheriver]

Hope your visit goes really well💕 and that you get some answers!!

[13plus]

I'm curious for people like yourself going interstate to DF for 2nd opinion, do you have to pay for that out-of-pocket? I'm not sure my NJ marketplace insurance would cover it, but then many seem to travel from all over, so I am curious!

[worldtravel75 in reply to 13plus]

I didn’t pay the last time I hit a 2nd opinion but I have Medicare -don’t know if that makes a difference

[mkrienke55 in reply to 13plus]

They will tell you when you call if they take your insurance. I am on Medicare so it wasn’t a problem.

[luckysmom13]

Dr. Lin is very well known in the breast cancer community and considered one of the best!

[TammyCross]

So what happened with Dr. Lin? Did she have anything for you? How did you get to her? I want to go to DF for a 2nd opinion, but was thinking of virtual. I am only in NY, so not such a huge trip for me, as it is for you. They say no medicare for a virtual second opinion. I am not sure how to start. -- I think I have to wait a week to see my oncologist and see what she says. She refuses to talk to me until my appointment.

[worldtravel75]

I really liked her. She found a phase 1 trial 2 hours from my house that I am on but unfortunately it doesn’t seem to be working. I wrote to her and she has hooked me into another Dr there who may have a trial for me and I speak to him on the 31st. From what I understand - it’s several thousand dollars for a virtual 2nd opinion when on Medicare. I would go see her

[SMPG]

Dr Lin has been my oncologist for 12 years. She is very good. World talent!