Positive meeting with Dr. G!

Today we met with Dr. G who handles many of the Head and Neck cancer surgeries in Upstate NY. She sees SNUC once or twice a year. She says it is in a good location being in the lower maxillary sinus (as if it's good to have it at all!) and it looks contained so far. Many times patients take many months to get diagnosed then the cancer has spread and they just go right to radiation and chemo (why bother with surgery if it is in lots of places…). Robin and I get the prize for always questioning the early diagnoses (i.e. sinus infection). Robin also says to Dr G. that I always get her quick appointments - I attribute that to my ability to whine incessantly over the phone! ;) Thursday Robin will have a PET scan which will help identify if it has spread. That's the next check point!

Surgery would be performed through the mouth (Robin says "darn I don't get to shave my head yet!"). They would take some upper right teeth and a portion of her palate. If done in our hometown they would create a type of denture to replace the missing area.

We mentioned getting a second opinion and Dr. G said it's always a good idea. We state that we have an appointment 7pm tomorrow night at Beth Israel in New York City. Dr G. says "Oh, you're going to see Dr. Urken?". Apparently she works with him all the time, occasionally sending him referrals and providing follow-up on his patients. She expects we will have a very good experience with him. Even if we see him, she will continue to be our local coordinator for care - great because we like her already!

This coincidence with Dr. Urken and Dr. G makes us feel like we are on the right track. And the outcome of the meeting with Dr. G is positive!