Sometimes I skip threads that I feel either I can't help with or that I really don't know anything about--like BCG.
So I must have missed the dissenting opinions about getting a second opinion. Are there really people here who disagree with the wisdom of getting a second opinion?
Just to be totally upfront, I don't endorse seeking endless second opinions in order to finally find a doctor who will tell you what you want to hear. If you don't want surgery and you've been to several (expert and reputable) doctors who tell you that your diagnosis warrants a cystectomy, I don't believe in "doctor shopping" to find the lone dissenting physician. There is a clinic in my own town of Santa Barbara that treats cancer. Their treatment includes:
"detoxification, nutritional support, supplementation of vitamins, minerals and enzymes, Chelation Therapy, acupuncture, massage therapy, counseling, Oxygen/Ozone Therapy, vaccines, light therapy, and a truly integrated approach to treating cancer." Now, knowing what we know about bladder cancer--especially invasive bladder cancer--does this place sound like a legitimate source for a second opinion? Only if I had my mind already made up that I didn't want surgery and was willing to grasp at straws.
If you happened to get enough second opinions, you might even find a clinic like this that will treat your cancer with salves and colonics. That's for those who *really* don't want surgery.
www.cancure.org/donsbach_clinic.htm
That's just my opinion. We're all adults here and no one is our babysitter or guardian.
Getting a second opinion on a life-changing diagnosis and surgery? That just makes sense. My own urologist was gracious enough to suggest the same thing, and even arranged it for me.
And Holly, I don't think anyone has neglected to get a second opinion because you stayed silent. You've been only thoughtful and helpful and informative here, and to blame yourself for someone else's action (or non-action) is... forgive me for saying this... silly. You've contributed far too much good here.