Still hoping...

LegacyUser

Ok so long story short, I've been battling cancer for a while now... my oncologist has referred me to another oncologist because he is all out of treatment options. He is hoping new oncologist in diff hosp will have more specialist knowledge.

I feel a bit like he has given up hope and is just passing the book because he doesn't want me dying on his watch.

Has anyone been in a similar position? Is this common practice?

I'm tired of fighting :-(

SATSUMA

Hi OP,

Im sorry for what you are going through.

From my reading of your post; you are being referred to a new oncologist because she or he is more specialised in your type of disease. Maybe thats a great thing? You want someone who is the best in their field!

I'm sure you are exhausted and can't fight any more but you have too. You have to fight with everything you have and you have to believe you will get better.

I wish you all the very best xx

Condo131

Hi alittlelost,

I can associate and understand your feelings.

Wrt your oncologist referring you on to another, while i don't know your details, this is not unusual and can be for many different reasons.

I suggest that you ring the Irish Cancer Society Freefone helpline at 1800 200 700. You will be connected to a Cancer nurse and she can arrange to have Cancer survivor, with a similar Cancer to yours, contact you on the phone.

I strongly recommend that you do this - it's good to talk to someone who has experienced something similar to you.

condo(r)131 - Prostate Cancer survivor and ICS PCa mentor

LegacyUser

I've been through similar. When I was 14 I was diagnosed with secondary cancer and given less than a year to live. A few weeks later I was told I'd be dead in weeks. But my mum made sure to get second opinions from oncologists that had no links with the oncologists in Ireland. They were realistic about my chances but gave new treatment ideas. I survived three major operations that I was not expected to live through (oncologists here had been reluctant to operate but were persuaded by external opinions) and went for a radiation treatment in London, that was not available here. But even after this my cancer was still there and began to cause me immense pain. By that time I was 17. Not being able to get proactive help from the pediatric oncologist consultants we decided to move over into the adult hospitals. At my first meeting with my new oncologist he said the best that could be done for me was to relieve the pain and that I would live for another 12 months. I was put on chemo and radiotherapy.

That was five years ago now. I'm 22 now and I've just finished my final exams at Trinity. I still have the disease but have been stable for the past 3-4 years. My advice to you OP is to be proactive.
I was referred from the pediatric oncology to a different hospital than the one I'm currently at. We decided not to go with that referral and went our own way to a different hospital. It can't hurt meeting with this new oncologist, if you don't like him or her then go to a different one. You have to be happy with your oncologist, and how they are handling your treatment and disease.
From what you've said it seems as though your oncologist is doing the right thing. I would have loved if my original pediatric oncologists had been honest and made such referrals.

Research if you can about the different oncologists and your disease. Try and get opinions from oncologists in different countries. Most of the time its just a simple case of trying to get in contact with an oncologist at a hospital in say the UK, USA, Sweden wherever. They'll need a copy of your chart and notes but in my experience the hospitals have been more than willing to copy them and forward them to the second opinion. The opinions my mum and I have gotten from abroad (I have an extremely rare form of cancer so it was a necessity) have benefitted me. Also some of the insurance companies now operate second opinion service where they refer your case at you request to a foreign specialist. (VHI do this and Quinn I think, Aviva might as well I'm not sure)

I know exactly what it feels like to be tired of fighting but you can and will get through such times. You must hold on to hope. I know I may never get a full cure as people with more straightforward cancers do but I still hold onto the hope that some day I will be rid of this. I've been fighting for 8 years and been through hell. Positivity and hope help. OP you'll be in my thoughts and prayers.

Good luck and I hope you get the fight back in you and your referral to this new oncologist will lead to something wonderful for you.