ANA Discussion Forum
Treatment Options => Radiation / Radiosurgery => Topic started by: sandyinwisconsin on November 09, 2013, 08:29:54 pm
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Does anyone know who offers free consultations other than House Clinic?
Sandy
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UPMC will review your CD/MRI free of charge and provide consultation and insight for GK consideration. For more information, you can write Kelly Powell at UPMC.
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Does anyone know who offers free consultations other than House Clinic?
Sandy
A doctor who looks at your MRIs and records for 5 minutes and calls you on the phone isn't going to do you much good.
I got one of those free consults with House and wasn't satisfied.
My first consultation with my neurosurgeon (AN specialist) was face to face for an hour and cost $400.
Small price to pay for a comprehensive evaluation by a specialist.
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My experience with consultations was much different than what Arizona Jack suggests. The House Clinic gave me 90 minutes over the phone and answered my questions in complete detail. I also spoke by phone with neurosurgeons in New York, Virginia, Iowa, Pennsylvania, and Ontario--and each gave me as much time as I needed. It was evident to me that they had reviewed my files in some depth, and I was never charged a dime.
In other words, with a little care in preparation of questions, contacting some key people (many of whom can be found on the ANA referral pages here--or by PMing or speaking to people on the Willing To Talk list), you can find affordable support, information, and answers to some very real and pressing questions and concerns. And I recommend finding people who will answer questions on GK, CK, surgery (and its various approaches), Watch and Wait, and other possible treatments.
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Agree w/mesafinn.
If you are just focused on GK consultation, then I doubt House would devote much time to it.
In my research, I found that Dr. Kondziolka at NYU gave me as much time as I asked, via email and phone. Per my posts, I went with Dr. Lunsford at UPMC for reasons due to lack of readiness in my timeframe at NYU. Also had extensive consultation w/Dr. Chang at Stanford for CK. Had conversation w/Dr. L. as well.
All at no charge. All however would charge for an in person consultation as was my experience w/Dr. Friedman at House. Fortunately, I only had to pay my copay, insurance covered the rest. However, I think if you have a mindset of not going w/surgery when you consult w/House, they will be less inclined to spend time w/you. I even felt that when I met w/Dr. Friedman in his office. But he did call me a week later to follow up and left a msg. I called back but did not hear from him again.
Of all, I probably felt that Dr. K. gave most generously of his time to me while I was going through the decision process and was supportive when I informed him I had chosen to have GK at UPMC.
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Hi Robin,
Thanks. I'm 44 with a 1 cm tumor. May I ask your age? I'm just worried I'm a little young for radiation.
Sandy
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I guess I am a little mystified. You indicated that you have decided to go with FSR and now you are looking at Gamma Knife. It is fine to research all your options-I did. But please do not try to compare my FSR treatment with your case. As I said yesterday I am an Nf2-that is a whole new ball game. My main concern with choosing FSR over another treatment plan was the success rate of the protocol used by Johns Hopkins. That was my main concern-once I found that out I went with my plan no matter what-I could not reverse radiation damage. I still cannot. I have gone 7 years with no growth-but that can change and then I have all this radiation damage. I believe you are seeking an easy way out-believe me every procedure has it/s good and bad-weigh them all and don't rush into something you will regret the rest of your life. Thanks Ron in Kansas