Posts by crimsoncanyon3

graniteseal2 said:Hi everyone, I’m joining this thread, unfortunately. I find myself here because of my mother (she's 83) and a potential cancer diagnosis she’s facing. We’re based in NYC. I’ll write out the full details below, but for now, it really boils down to one main question:

– which private oncologist (or just generally) in NYC is worth seeing if we have radiology results (an MRI) suggesting a malignant tumor? It looks like there might be metastatic changes in her vertebrae, and the primary tumor could potentially be breast cancer. Basically, I need a recommendation for a solid oncologist who can confirm the diagnosis (or order the necessary follow-up tests first), explain the prognosis, and walk us through the options.

I need to take action; I can't just sit around and watch everyone pass the buck. With the holiday season here, the hospitals seem completely empty of staff.

To give you some context: over the last few months, Mom has had trouble walking and has been dealing with back pain. We went to an urgent care clinic, and they insisted on seeing an MRI of her lumbar spine before they would even touch the pain. To avoid any delays, we went ahead and got a private MRI.

The scan was done about a week ago at a local imaging center using a 3T machine with contrast, focusing on the lumbar spine. The results showed (among other things) "fresh compressive fractures of the L1 and L2 vertebral bodies, suggesting intraosseous, secondary propagation of a primary process (possibly breast?)" and recommended seeing an oncologist immediately. As I understand it, this would mean bone cancer—specifically metastatic bone cancer that started somewhere else, perhaps the breast.

So, my first question, as I mentioned—who should we see? Does anyone have recommendations for a great oncologist? Is it better to go private or wait for a hospital appointment? How long is the typical wait for an oncologist when using a referral through Medicare? And specifically, which private oncologist is actually worth the investment?

My second question—since certain family members are reacting this way—does it even "make sense" to pursue treatment? Mom is 83, and she’s already managing age-related issues like diabetes, heart problems, and high blood pressure. Some relatives are already saying we should look into palliative care or hospice right away (even though we don't have a formal diagnosis yet). Mom herself understands what the diagnosis might be and is handling it quite well, though she might not fully realize how much pain this could eventually cause. So, my second question is: what are your experiences or insights regarding treating malignant tumors in the elderly (80+)? I'm not necessarily talking about a "cure," but rather about stopping the spread, improving quality of life during these remaining years, and everything related to that.

http://www.anovaclinic.com/pre...-immunotherapy

redranger2 said:I’m looking for recommendations for a solid cardiologist at a private clinic or practice. Somewhere in Chicago or the Trešnjevka area, though I'm definitely open to looking outside the neighborhood too. Thanks!

Dr. Ali Rajabi over at Anova Polyclinic near Xavier... he explains everything so clearly, truly excellent.

feralgardener362 said:I have a question, though I'm not entirely sure if it fits this specific thread. If I've gone off-topic, I’d appreciate it if a moderator could point me in the right direction.

Basically, I'm an oncology patient, and ever since my diagnosis, I've found myself reacting to pain with a lot of anxiety—even in parts of my body that aren't related to my tumor. Because of that, I was wondering if anyone here has dealt with soft tissue sarcoma in their leg? What kind of pain did it cause you?

Thanks so much for understanding and for any answers you can provide.

Pain from a sarcoma in the leg typically wouldn't spread to other areas, as there isn't really a mechanism for that to happen. It's very possible that what you're feeling is just a physical manifestation of stress and fear. However, if you notice pain consistently appearing in the exact same spot, it wouldn't hurt to get some imaging done just to rule out any other underlying causes, such as the unfortunate possibility of the disease spreading.
If you want to learn more about sarcomas, it might be helpful to check out https://www.oncology.org/soft-tissue-sarcoma

Alex Watson93 said:Hey there!
Could someone give me a recommendation for somewhere in Chicago to get a high-quality venous color Doppler?

Thanks so much!

Go to Anova Polyclinic over on Xavier!

ruggedgardener74 said:Does anyone have experience using Steven (regorafenib)? Thanks!

This is a targeted therapy that’s been approved here in the States for treating colorectal cancer, hepatocellular liver cancer, and GIST during later stages of treatment. Essentially, the goal of the therapy is to keep the disease under control for as long as possible.

-----------
Anova Clinic

David Flores68 said:Has anyone actually had any luck getting through to the central scheduling desk at Mayo Clinic over the phone?

I’ve tried calling both of their numbers a bunch of times now, but it’s just endless ringing with no answer.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/patient-info/scheduling

It’s honestly much easier to just handle the scheduling.mayoclinic.org via email.

----------
Anna Polyclinic

northerncobra33 said:I’m actually looking for a solid cardiologist, and I noticed that over on this forum, @mistyjackal842/">@@mistyjackal842 seems to have her own curated list of who’s great and who isn't. I was wondering if she could shoot me that list via private message.

Thanks!

Dr. Rajaba, Anova Clinic

Linda Kern38 said:Oh, lungs, pelvic bone metastases... sending you a huge hug.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy using Reddit

In this specific situation, receiving palliative radiation doesn't necessarily mean someone is strictly considered a "palliative patient." If the metastases have reached the pelvic bones, doctors might opt for palliative radiation specifically to manage symptoms—like dialing down the pain—rather than aiming to cure the primary disease through that specific procedure. It’s important to note that choosing this route doesn't rule out active, curative treatments later on; those decisions really depend on the specific tumor type and its genetic profile.
For more general information on lung cancer: https://www.oncology.org/lung-cancer

Best of luck.

Casey Wilson6 said:Hi everyone,
I'm looking for a recommendation for a private rheumatologist.

Edit: I see Dr. Budisin was suggested. She seems lovely, but I didn't personally have much luck with her.

I’d recommend Dr. Sunjic Djerek at the Anova Clinic near Xavier. She is incredibly professional and very kind.

Larry Ramirez10 said:My mother (born in 1952) underwent surgery for bile duct/liver cancer about two years ago.
She didn't undergo chemotherapy following the procedure.
Everything has been looking good up until now.

About a month ago, she started feeling pain in her lower abdomen. An ultrasound didn't show anything, and neither did an X-ray.
It turns out she was diagnosed with a severe bladder infection; they found E. coli in her urine, so she’s currently on antibiotics.
The pain is mild or manageable with painkillers while she's lying down, but the moment she stands up, the pain becomes unbearable. She is still taking the antibiotics, which have helped improve things just a little bit.

She also had her tumor markers checked, and the results aren't great:
Carcinoembryonic antigen 1.9 (0-3)
Carbohydrate antigen 19-9 104 (0-35)
CYFRA 21-1 13.29 (up to 2.08)

I would appreciate some insight from anyone who can help explain what these elevated marker levels might mean.

Thanks in advance for any answers.

I’d recommend repeating the tumor marker tests in a month. If there is a further increase—especially with the CA 19-9—further diagnostic imaging, such as a CT scan, will be necessary. Wishing you the best.

-----------------------
oncology.net - Anova Clinic

Nicholas Johnson8 said:I’m looking for some insight regarding my father's recent lab results. He's 78 years old.

Tumor markers pulled:

CEA -> 11.5 ng/ml (normal < 5)

NSE -> 12.7 ng/ml (normal < 16.3)

CYFRA 21-1 -> 1.6 ng/ml (normal 3.3)

We had these markers drawn for a follow-up with his thoracic surgeon because we've been monitoring a shadow on his lung about 25 mm in diameter. We've actually been tracking this specific spot since 2010—so 11 years now—and during that time, it grew from 11 mm to 25 mm.

My dad has never smoked, and he isn't showing any symptoms typically associated with cancer.

On top of that, he's dealt with osteoarthritis for years (he's actually scheduled for a hip replacement soon) and ankylosing spondylitis. He also has a heart condition, having survived a myocardial infarction back in 2010 (which is when they first spotted the shadow).

Since we have to wait for his upcoming appointment with the surgeon, could anyone tell me if this elevated CEA marker might be linked to his osteoarthritis or spondylitis? Or does the fact that this lung lesion has grown mean something is changing after all these years?

Thanks in advance!

There is no connection at all between the CEA marker and osteoarthritis. The fact that the lesion has increased in size indicates that something is happening, though I should note the growth has been quite slow considering how much time has passed. I would definitely recommend scheduling a bronchoscopy to get a clear look at what's going on.

---------
oncology.net

Chris Mitchell4 said:I’m checking back into this thread after more than six months away.
To make a long story short: about a year ago, my dad (59) was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer.
He went through six rounds of chemo at Mayo Clinic, followed by some maintenance therapy. Last November, he also had palliative radiation on his brain.
Once the maintenance treatment wrapped up, the cancer flared back up, so he was sent to Jordan for immunotherapy, where he just finished his second cycle.
His general condition might not seem all that bad if it weren't for the agonizing pain he's dealing with in one hip and knee.
The pain flares up whenever he moves, so he spends almost all his time lying down, trying to avoid any necessary movement or even just turning over in bed.
What can we do?! Where can we find effective painkillers (since Ibuprofen 800 isn't doing anything at all), or should we be looking at different ways to manage the pain?
Please, I need help or advice!
The pain is terrifying; neither he nor my mom can get any sleep at night.
The primary care doctor prescribed some patches, but those aren't helping with the hip pain either. The specialists haven't offered anything concrete yet.
This has been going on for over a month and a half now.
Who should my parents reach out to?

Using ibuprofen is essentially using the weakest tier of the three main levels of pain management, and it’s definitely not enough for a situation like this. Usually, the oncologist handles the prescription, or they might refer the patient to a specialized pain management clinic.
I'll send you a private message.

loneskipper10 said:Is chemotherapy radioactive? Are radioactive substances being put into the body?

No, it isn't. No radioactive substances are being introduced during chemo.
What people often get mixed up with this is things like radioactive iodine therapy. That’s actually categorized as radioisotope therapy, which is a completely different ballpark from standard chemotherapy.

Maria Baker41 said:Thanks, everyone! It looks like his genetic testing was completed, but nobody actually told us what the goal was—specifically, if he’s now considered a candidate for any advanced treatments.
I suppose that's something you'd need to ask his oncologist, right?

If the testing is done, you should definitely check in with the oncologist who ordered it to see if the results are officially in!

Maria Baker41 said:Hello everyone! I haven’t checked in here for about two years, though our battle against this heavy hitter hasn't slowed down one bit. Our story is that my wife was diagnosed with metastatic colon cancer in her 40s. Naturally, she had surgery and now uses a colostomy bag.
Right now, I'm in a really dark place mentally because the weight of everything is just crushing me. We are currently waiting on follow-up CT scan results, and honestly, this waiting game is driving me insane.
Initially, they found two spots—one in the lungs and one in the liver—which responded to Chemo. The last CT scan result was just "so-so," according to the oncologist, so he's been moved to a milder Chemo regimen once a week at the outpatient clinic, supplemented by pills at home. Lately, he's been dealing with frequent stomach pain and vomiting; we think it might be something he ate that didn't sit right, but there's always that underlying fear of the disease progressing. I wanted to ask how those of you who act as support systems for your loved ones deal with all of this. How do you stop yourself from falling apart? There are just days when anxiety floods me, making me wonder if I can actually handle this—if I have the mental stamina to stay strong because I need to be there for him and for our little kid. Please, I need some advice. I thought I was tough, but I feel like the walls I built are finally crumbling.
He's the one going through the hardest part, but he doesn't complain; he's incredibly strong and brave.
I'm also wondering about alternative options. What can I use to help him? I was scared to try anything on my own, so we bought some beta-glucan, but since he's on Chemo, we aren't using it. Now we're thinking about hemp oil... I just feel completely lost in all of this.
Thank you in advance, and good luck to everyone else fighting this fight!

That is such a heartbreaking situation; please hang in there.
You can find more information regarding colon cancer at: https://www.oncology.org/colorectal-cancer
I would definitely recommend having genetic testing done on the tissue already available from his surgery to see if he might be a candidate for targeted therapy!

Sophia Peterson69 said:Please share any info regarding ovarian cancer... both ovaries and fallopian tubes have been removed. The surgery went smoothly, but the marker showed a value somewhere around 1000. Now the doctors want to remove the uterus too—they say it's a preventative measure because everything was caught early. If anyone has experience with what comes next or information on cure rates, I'd really appreciate it. Thanks in advance.

It’s most likely referring to the CA-125 tumor marker, which is a huge piece of the puzzle when monitoring ovarian cancer. If she’s already had children and isn't planning on having more, removing the uterus shouldn't cause any major issues. The big thing now is waiting for that final pathology report to determine the next steps for treatment.
More on this topic: https://www.oncology.com/ovarian-cancer...peritoneum

Rebecca Doyle6 said:Hello
I'm looking for an oncologist recommendation in Chicago for a second opinion!
Lung cancer.

Dr. Kust, Solmed Clinic

quietviper said:Hello everyone

My boyfriend has this issue in his large intestine, right at the exit... about 2-3 months ago, his markers were at 200, but now they've spiked to 900. The toughest part is that he didn't want surgery or chemo; instead, he tried treating it through other methods, and in the end, none of that led anywhere. I'm wondering how bad it is when those markers jump like that? Is it possible that it has metastasized?
He isn't heading in for an MRI until Friday... back when he had the MRI two months ago, the tumor was the same size as it was last year in April when they first found it.

I wish everyone fighting this all the health in the world div>

In any case, a spike in tumor markers like that isn't a good sign. It is possible that metastases are present, but it's not a certainty either. Definitely advise him to commit to a proven treatment plan this time around. You can find more info on this disease here: https://www.oncology.com/colorectal-cancer

"St post" is actually just shorthand for "status post," which comes from Latin and basically means "the condition after" an event has occurred.

restlesscobra13 said:Hey everyone, I’m looking for a recommendation for a private endocrinologist here in New York City—just not at the Lacic Clinic. It’s regarding thyroid issues.

Dr. Kruljac, Solmed Clinic