Celebrating pre-Christmas in the Bay Area

Since the recent diagnosis, we have decided to get a second opinion from what I consider the very best in the industry. My best friend Mike Dougherty was able to pull off a feat we didn't think was possible right before the holidays. Below is the note Mike sent Sue Tuesday, just hours after she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

Hi Sue,
I'm sure you already got this information from Harmony, but we got you in to see Dr. Mann (thoracic surgeon) on Friday at 3:00, and Dr. Dubey (lung oncologist) on Monday at 2:00. I got some referrals from Stanford today, and will try and see if I can get you in to see them as well. Harmony is awesome, and she's the one who got it done.
Mike

Mike also sent this note to Sue in preparation for her meeting with the Portland team this afternoon. I am sending this note because Mike is a cancer survivor and approximately 3 yrs ago, we didn't think he had much time left on earth. Today, he is constantly battling this dreaded disease (recent cyberknife procedures when nodules in his lungs expand to a certain size) and has a beautiful baby girl named Charlotte who just turned 1 yr and 4 months.


Hi Sue,
I've come up with a few questions/thoughts for you on Thursday:
Ask them to have your tumor tested for tumor markers, typically they can run a FISH test or a variety of other tests? Very important.
Ask about the use of targeted radiation ie Cyberknife to knock out your pancreatic tumor, and then right away into surgery?
Ask them to consider the use of some of the new "smart" cancer drugs like Avastin, Erbitux, Iressa, and Tarceva, in combinations with other chemo drugs?
Ask them about participating in clinical trials, because you haven't started treatment, you should be a very good candidate. (we will also ask UCSF about these as well)
Really push them on why they wouldn't do everything they could to remove your primary tumor first, you can always do chemo after surgery?
Two weeks after my lung surgery
I started chemo.
If I think of anything else, I will email you. Don't be intimidated by any of these doctors, they are here to help you, but typically they are not big risk takers, ie: will take the easy way, not always the most effective way. Also remember that you are different, you are not a statistic, you are young and strong and want to do everything possible to stay alive, tell them this. See ya Friday.
Mike's blog can be viewed at http://www.mikejendougherty.blogspot.com/

Sue will be flying into the Bay Area tonight returning 12/23 to spend Christmas with Mom, cousins, friends, supporters and everyone else she knows.

Mike & Sue are my inspiration and for many of you as well. May these words inspire you to re-look at certain things in your own life.

Thanks for all your support.
Matt