I get a second opinion

Life is full of unexpected situations. Getting cancer at 31 is certainly one of them. But the most unexpected part of this journey has been the sheer amount of homework you need to do as a cancer patient. Since my diagnosis I have spent countless hours reading about my disease in an effort to more intelligently guide my treatment. Of course, the docs have the medical expertise, but not all docs are created equal...or so I am told. It's always best to vet your sources and get confirmation, so after speaking with Dr. Whang and at Dr. Schneider's urging, I looked to the Stanford Cancer Center to get a second opinion. This, incidently, could easily qualify as Chinese torture.

I zeroed in on one guy--Frederick Dirbas--rumored to be the cream of the crop as far as removing breasts go. Unfortunately, Dr. Dirbas' staff didn't take after their leader. Here's how the first call to his office went:

"Hi, I'm a breast cancer patient at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation (PAMF) and would like to set up an appointment with Dr. Dirbas for a second opinion."
"Dr. Dirbas works at the Stanford Cancer Center."
"Correct. Would it be possible for me to get an appointment?"
"If you are being seen at PAMF, why do you want to see Dr. Dirbas?"
"For a second opinion"
"But you are being seen at PAMF, that's where your doctors are"
"Yes. But I'd like Dr. Dirbas to review my case"
"Are you a patient at Stanford?"
"No. I just want a second opinion"
"I am still unclear as to why you need to see Dr. Dirbas"
OF course.

After several calls that sounded pretty much like this, and Dr. Schneider's intervention I was finally able to get an appointment 3 weeks later.

"THREE WEEKS?" I was flabbergasted.
"Yes, that's all I have available"
"Is there any way to move this up?"
"Everyone we see has cancer"

Well, that certainly put things into perspective. Not that I was trying to play the cancer card, but my special status was the norm here. Too many cases, too few specialists, and certainly too little time.

Fortunately, the universe has a way of making things work. After the first MRI they noticed there was a sizable tissue extension attached to the tumor. Dr. Whang wanted to test the tissue to learn whether the cancer had spread and to what extend. It turns out the only doctor in ALL OF STANFORD medical center who could perform this biopsy was out on vacation for another week. A week to receive the results would put me right against my visit with Dr. Dirbas. Without this last piece, Dr. Dirbas couldn't really review the case fully. The delay wasn't unnecessary after all.

After the second biopsy (which came back negative for cancer, by the way) and an entire afternoon spent PERSONALLY tracking down and delivering lab results, tissue samples, x-rays films and pathology reports to Stanford, I finally met with Dr. Dirbas. We talked at length about my particular kind of tumor, its location and the possible surgical outcomes given his plan for extraction. He also mentioned that given the size and location, he expects that the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes--crap! He has also apparently been to every single conference there is on the topic, so he talked liberally about the absolute latest findings on the standard of care. After this conversation and a quick check for a ring on his left hand (there was none) I realized this guy LIVES to work--perfect! I then asked if he'd like to remove my breast. He agreed...we had a moment.