So, Stephanie and I arrived early at the UCLA Ronald Reagan Medical Center for the second opinion. More forms, more waiting, more forms, more waiting, more forms, and finally, more waiting. Funny how things start to surface from your subconscious when there is a familiarity about. I had related previously that my old patient number at UCLA (from the eye incident in 1964) has not been reassigned and I was reunited with it for this visit. Well, the waiting room looked familiar, the smell definitely had been around for a long time and the waiting is what nailed it for me - I have been here before!
Anyway, the initial examine was conducted by Dr. Sercarzs' resident (just like on Marcus Welby, MD; St. Elsewhere or even M*A*S*H) and man did she do a thorough. We went thru all of the test results, loaded up the DVD for the scan results, asked a ton of questions and then the piece de resistance was the scope down my nose; my nose not hers. A spritz of antihistamine followed by a quicker dollop of anesthesia, a few minutes to get comfortable and then "down periscope"......
After what seemed like 45 minutes of "scoping", the resident left the room and presented to Dr Sercarz. It turns out we were able to overhear the entire debrief (a solid B+/A- from the judges) and then in walks the good doctor. Salutations, regurgitation of the results/scans and then a confirmation of the initial diagnosis. The discussion centered around the merits of surgery followed by radiation/chemo or radiation followed by surgery. Recommended path was surgery to remove the tumor, include "random" biopsies and then follow with radiation. He noted that as an academic medical center with a specialty in cancer, they do this type of surgery most days of the week. He also stated that my tumor was sized and located "ideally" for surgery - oh what a joy!
NEXT: Looking to schedule surgery, an appointment with the radiation oncologist and a hope that the scar is visibly cool.......I have to go blow my nose now, excuse me.
PS: Thanks to my in-law's Suzanne and Derf who went to school with Prosper who knows Dr Sercarz professionally and had already "presented" my case....do you know anybody?