BethPendley

Hi – I wish you all the best of luck! We just had my dad's first surgical oncology visit last Thursday. He had his sentinel lymph node removed when his primary was shave biopsied originally due to the swelling of the lymph node being original cause of that visit/biopsy. In the interim from diagnosis to surgical oncology we had clear PET and CT scan (other than known sites). During surgical consult, they reviewed all procedures, ordered a brain MRI and required him to get cardio clearance due to a prior heart issue. They also ordered some bloodwork we had drawn that day. In and out in less than 2 hours and the scheduler called next day to set up surgery in 4 weeks. Not excited about the long wait, but we are with Moffitt and trusting that the drs there are the best and worth the wait. We have already done the brain MRI Friday and visited cardio today to get clearance. Praying for a scheduling change that allows us to get in surgery earlier. I would say to not expect same day, but I have also spoken to many people who were scheduled for less than the 4 week wait that we currently have. Make sure you have a list with any questions you have because the consult will seem to go very fast and you don't want to wish you had remembered to ask something!

For us, we already knew because of the level of cancer in the sentinel lymph node and depth based on shave biopsy that the modified lymph dissection would be required, but if you don't yet know those things then asking about the procedure overall and what type of info they can get from the pathology report you already have on staging would be good questions.

Best wishes!

I am SO THRILLED for this news!!! My father was just diagnosed early last week and I have been reading posts on this forum (including ALL of yours) as a source of encouragement. This is just such a great blessing – so happy for you! Have an amazing weekend! 

We are still waiting on scheduling of an appointment with MDA, but have one at Moffitt next Thursday so looks like we'll be starting our battle with them. I hope we have as good of an experience with our care there as you did with MDA!

I am SO THRILLED for this news!!! My father was just diagnosed early last week and I have been reading posts on this forum (including ALL of yours) as a source of encouragement. This is just such a great blessing – so happy for you! Have an amazing weekend! 

We are still waiting on scheduling of an appointment with MDA, but have one at Moffitt next Thursday so looks like we'll be starting our battle with them. I hope we have as good of an experience with our care there as you did with MDA!

Hi – Thank you so much for sharing on this forum. I hope that your fathers treatment worked out very well. I know this is old thread, but we are in similar situation. My dad had malignant pathology results on his primary lesion on his scalp and lymph node on his neck when they were both biopsied Apr 2. After the run around on tryiing to schedule an appt at UAB (we live in Alabama), we finally reached out to Moffitt this morning and have a consult next Thursday April 26 at Moffitt, but local gen surgeon is willing to remove primary lesion Monday and local oncologist will refer to ENT specialist for neck lymph procedure. Our concern is waiting for consult next Thursday then having then schedule more tests and not do surgery for another couple of weeks. If we knew the treatment would be fast after consult, we would definitely wait, but if its one week until consult then going to be 2 (or more) weeks until surgery, we'd rather just go ahead and get it out. I'd love to hear how your experience with Moffitt turned out. 

God bless you and your family.
Beth