The time frame to get the second opinion is between the initial diagnosis and before the BCG treatments. Re-Turbs are recommended from 2 to 6 weeks after the first. Memorial Sloan has said that understaging happens approximately 70% of the time at their institution...and mind you these are people coming for their second opinions and Re-TURBS.
This is the Johns Hopkins site which is #1 in Urology..it will tell you how to send the slides for a second opinion.
pathology2.jhu.edu/bladder_cancer/consults.cfm
You may call pathology at the hospital and request them and pick them up (they will package them) and you can send them or you can ask them to send. In my experience you will be much faster than the lab will..just make sure you get a receipt of who signed for them so you can track them.
Let us know where you are and we'll try to get you with a top uro/oncologist as close as possible.
pat'
Just saw you were in Florida.........Oh Lord...i hope your insurance will let you get out of there. Only one super doc at the U. of Miami Dr. Mark Soloway who specializes in bladder cancer
urology.med.miami.edu/x14.xml?id=P1173
But i think he's getting bombarded with bladder cancer clusters from Florida.
I had no problem getting into Memorial Sloan which is tops in bladder cancer...i was in the following week after calling..but they have many top specialists. Mind you i traveled from Ohio to NYC....well worth my trip. Dr. Herr saved my life as i was most definately understaged and margins were left. He got them all. I'm still here 8 yrs later. All you can do is call and see how quickly they can get you in.