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Moogy

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  1. After numerous rejections, I finally have a pulmonary doctor appointment for my father! I was shocked at the number of doctors who declined to see him, often without even getting the specifics of his situation. This doctor has already reviewed the CT Scan, and he says although the area is too small for a traditional biopsy, a biopsy is possible if it is CT-guided. That is the type of biopsy Papa had in 1998, so we are familiar with the procedure. I asked for a consultation, before being scheduled for a procedure. I want my dad to know what his options are before he decides if he even wants any more tests or interventions. I also want to know the options for myself, so I can help him wade through the information, although of course the actual decisions should be his, not mine. I have ordered his records from the 1998 diagnosis and surgery, for use by the new doctors. We should receive those records in plenty of time for the upcoming appointment (a bit over 2 weeks from now, which is soon compared to the other doctors that I called.) Thanks for all the support as I struggled to find a doctor for Papa.
  2. Another doctor called today and said, sorry, but they are too busy to take Papa as a patient. This was the pulmo doctor that he used in 1998 when he had his lung surgery. Currently, I am waiting on one more possibility before we have to go to a larger city. There is one remaining oncologist that will give us a consult if we get a referral from Papa's primary care doctor. However, the referring doctor is on vacation for another week. His nurse was on vacation last week, too. My hope is that when she returns on Monday, she will be able to handle the referral.
  3. I heard back from a pulmo doctor today, and I don't really understand the advice. I am hoping some of you experienced forum members can enlighten me. I had called to ask for an appointment for a consult on whether it would be a good idea to have a biopsy for my dad. Papa(age 90) has emphysema (50% lung capacity) and had prior lung surgery (1998, had top lobe of right lung removed due to cancer). Papa recently had a troublesome CT scan. The doctor reviewed my dad's CT scan, which showed "at the left apex, there is a 9 mm spiculated nodule noncalcified highly concerning for metastatic disease. Management options would include a percutaneneous biopsy or follow up chest CT in three months." The pulmo doctor had his staff member call to say we should wait for the 3 months to see if the nodule increases in size, and that it is too small for a biopsy right now. How large does the nodule have to get before a biopsy is possible? If it isn't possible at this point, why did the radiologist list biopsy as an option? Doesn't "highly concerning" mean there is a probability that this is actually malignant? Are there other diagnostic tests that could be done now, and what kind of specialist should we visit to see what our options are? I am considering going to a major cancer center, but I would prefer to get a second opinion locally before that. I am uncomfortable taking advice from a doctor who only reviewed the CT scan, who doesn't even know my dad's history, etc. I am also uncomfortable just "waiting" since my father-in-law had a fast moving type of cancer, and when it was discovered, it was too late for any treatment. Papa is not going to want any extreme measures, given his advanced age, but if there are treatments that could give him a bit more time without a lot of side effects, he might want to try them.
  4. Thanks for the replies. Papa hasn't said much about what he wants to do. That is typical for him--he isn't big on talking about critical issues. I need to make all the phone calls and go with him for visits. His mind is still very sharp, but he doesn't hear well, even with his hearing aids. So he counts on me for help communicating. The primary care doctors office sent some of his reports to a pulmo doctor today, after several days of me calling and bugging them. (The doctor and his nurse are on vacation, so they had to find someone else to do it.) Tomorrow I need to go to the radiology lab to pick up his CT test, since the pulmo doctor wants to review that instead of just the CT report. Then we will find out if he is willing to take Papa as a patient. I will wait for that decision (at least if the decision comes soon) before I tell Papa we need to think about traveling to Dallas or Houston. Papa says he thinks cancer treatments are largely ineffective. (This is strange considering the good results he had with his surgery in 1998!) I am reluctant to insist on a conversation about options when neither of us understands what options are currently available. P.S. Can someone tell me how to make the signature info into the tiny text? I couldn't see how to do that on the signature page. Thanks again for your input,
  5. My dad, who will be 91 next summer, recently moved in with me and my husband. (My mom died of a stroke in 2005, and since then, he had been living alone.) We live on a cattle ranch in west Texas, 50 miles from the nearest thing that could be called a city. Background: Papa had surgery for lung cancer (non-small cell) in 1998. The cardio-thorasic surgeon removed the top lobe of Papa's right lung. Papa never saw a cancer doctor, and he did not have radiation or chemo or any other treatment, since the cancer had not spread into any lymph nodes. Papa was also diagnosed with emphysema in 1998, and that has been progressing slowly. He is on oxygen most of every day, and a recent test shows he has about 50% of normal lung capacity. However, he is still reasonably active for his age, working a bit in the garden, etc., although he tires easily. Current situation: He had a suspicious annual xray in January 2007, so we got his xrays from last year (in his old hometown) for comparison. The comparison looked bad, so the primary care doctor ordered a CT scan, which he had a couple of weeks ago. It showed a 9 mm star-shaped mass that looked very suspiciously like a malignancy, plus another 1.5 cm mass that was questionable. Problems: I think we don't have any idea what his options are until we have a firm diagnosis with type of cancer, etc. Papa says he doesn't see any reason to try to extend his life, since he is over 90 already, but neither of us know what treatments might help make him more comfortable as the disease progresses. Now I am having trouble locating a pulmo doctor who will consult with us about whether he can have needle biopsy, given his compromised lungs. Our primary care doctor says the pulmo doctors do the biopsies, and that is who we should see next. (I am confused by this, because a radiologist did his 1998 CT-guided biopsy.) Apparently we live in an underserved area. There are only 3 pulmo doctors in the nearest city, which is 50 miles from us. One of these doctors just got called into active duty military service. Another wants to review Papa's test results before deciding if he wants him as a patient (Is this common?)and I am working to get the results to him. I called Papa's pulmo doctor from 1998, who is still in the old hometown (150 miles or so from us). The receptionist said no, don't sent any test results, we aren't allowed to give out the fax number, the nurse will call you in a day or two after reviewing your case (how can she review it, since they didn't ask for anything except my brief phone description?). After hearing nothing for several days, I called again today and was told both the doc and the nurses are on vacation this week, and we are sorry no one called but we can't do anything until they come back, and besides, we are fully booked for 6 weeks anyway. If I don't hear back soon, maybe I should give up and try for an appointment at a cancer center in a larger city? Dallas is about 4 hours away, and we have relatives in that area... Is it typical to get the runaround for a while when trying to get a specialist? I never had trouble getting doctors when I lived in Austin. Is the problem the rural area, or that my dad is on Medicare, which pays very low rates? Does anyone have experience with treatment and diagnosis for such an elderly patient, with emphysema also? Thanks for any advice or suggestions etc. Moogy
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