Anyone going to the Duke Cancer Center?
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Anyone going to the Duke Cancer Center?

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Anyone going to the Duke Cancer Center?

  • Post
    • January 6, 2016 at 1:00 am
    scots
    Participant

    I have an appointment next week at Duke. I wondering if anyone had been treated there and what there experience was. In Sept. a CT showed numerous liver mets. After 3 doses of ippi and opdivo a  2nd CT showed the cancer still growing and spreading so I!m off to Duke for consult. 

    Thanks

    Scot

Viewing 5 reply threads
  • Replies
      • January 6, 2016 at 4:22 am
      BrianP
      Participant

      Scot,

      Duke is a good cancer center and often ranked in the top ten nationally.  Having said that IMHO their melanoma department isn't a top 10 melanoma department.  It's not bad but it's definitely not on level with a Hopkins, Moffitt MSKCC, Dana Farber, MDA, etc…  I was first seen there in 2011 when I progressed to stage III and then again in 2013 when I progressed to stage IV.  In both instances they did not have a lot to offer in regards to clinical trials.  I think they have more options now.  Their melanoma expert on staff is Dr. Salama.  I wasn't real impressed with her when I saw her in 2011 and 2013 but I had a consult with her about a month ago and I now have a more favorable opinion.  She was very helpful and knowledgeable. 

      Where are you coming from and where have you been seen so far?  If you are in NC I would definitely have a consult at Duke.  I've been there many times.  I would just be prepared to travel a little more if they don't have what you are looking for.  Best of luck to you.

      Brian

      • January 6, 2016 at 4:22 am
      BrianP
      Participant

      Scot,

      Duke is a good cancer center and often ranked in the top ten nationally.  Having said that IMHO their melanoma department isn't a top 10 melanoma department.  It's not bad but it's definitely not on level with a Hopkins, Moffitt MSKCC, Dana Farber, MDA, etc…  I was first seen there in 2011 when I progressed to stage III and then again in 2013 when I progressed to stage IV.  In both instances they did not have a lot to offer in regards to clinical trials.  I think they have more options now.  Their melanoma expert on staff is Dr. Salama.  I wasn't real impressed with her when I saw her in 2011 and 2013 but I had a consult with her about a month ago and I now have a more favorable opinion.  She was very helpful and knowledgeable. 

      Where are you coming from and where have you been seen so far?  If you are in NC I would definitely have a consult at Duke.  I've been there many times.  I would just be prepared to travel a little more if they don't have what you are looking for.  Best of luck to you.

      Brian

      • January 6, 2016 at 4:22 am
      BrianP
      Participant

      Scot,

      Duke is a good cancer center and often ranked in the top ten nationally.  Having said that IMHO their melanoma department isn't a top 10 melanoma department.  It's not bad but it's definitely not on level with a Hopkins, Moffitt MSKCC, Dana Farber, MDA, etc…  I was first seen there in 2011 when I progressed to stage III and then again in 2013 when I progressed to stage IV.  In both instances they did not have a lot to offer in regards to clinical trials.  I think they have more options now.  Their melanoma expert on staff is Dr. Salama.  I wasn't real impressed with her when I saw her in 2011 and 2013 but I had a consult with her about a month ago and I now have a more favorable opinion.  She was very helpful and knowledgeable. 

      Where are you coming from and where have you been seen so far?  If you are in NC I would definitely have a consult at Duke.  I've been there many times.  I would just be prepared to travel a little more if they don't have what you are looking for.  Best of luck to you.

      Brian

        • January 6, 2016 at 6:08 pm
        scots
        Participant

        I live in Virginia. About 3 hours from Duke. I have not been to a melanoma specialist yet.  I have been Ned for 5 years. In sept I diagnosed with liver mets. If Duke doesn't work out we are looking at MSK and NIH.

        thanks,

        Scot

        • January 6, 2016 at 6:08 pm
        scots
        Participant

        I live in Virginia. About 3 hours from Duke. I have not been to a melanoma specialist yet.  I have been Ned for 5 years. In sept I diagnosed with liver mets. If Duke doesn't work out we are looking at MSK and NIH.

        thanks,

        Scot

        • January 6, 2016 at 6:08 pm
        scots
        Participant

        I live in Virginia. About 3 hours from Duke. I have not been to a melanoma specialist yet.  I have been Ned for 5 years. In sept I diagnosed with liver mets. If Duke doesn't work out we are looking at MSK and NIH.

        thanks,

        Scot

        • January 6, 2016 at 10:56 pm
        scots
        Participant

        Brian,

        where have you received treatment? Or currently being treated?

        • January 6, 2016 at 10:56 pm
        scots
        Participant

        Brian,

        where have you received treatment? Or currently being treated?

        • January 6, 2016 at 10:56 pm
        scots
        Participant

        Brian,

        where have you received treatment? Or currently being treated?

        • January 7, 2016 at 3:13 am
        BrianP
        Participant

        Scot,

        I was treated at UVA in a Ipi/Niov sequential trial from Aug 13 to Aug 15.  I still haven't achieved the elusive NED status but I've been stable for a couple years now. 

        I did both my CLND and small bowel resection at Duke.  As a mentioned earlier, they didn't have much to offer at either of those times.  After the small bowel resection I went down to Moffitt and was planning to enroll in a Ipi/Nivo trial there.  Thanks to this board I found out UVA was doing the same trial (It wasn't listed on Clinicaltrials.gov). 

        UVA has a three melanoma specialist.  I had Dr. Gaughan.  She's young but very sharp.  Dr. Grosh is more established and I've heard great things about him.  The best know is Dr. Craig Slingluff.  He's pretty well known in the world of Immunotherapy.  You can't go wrong with any of them.  UVA doesn't have as many clinical trials as your MSKCCs or MDAs but the few they do have are usually pretty solid.  It may be worth your wild to have a consult there as well.  I can connect you with the clinical trial coordinator if you'd like to call them and see what trials they are currently enrolling for.

        What part of VA are you from?  That's my old stomping grounds.

        Brian

        • January 7, 2016 at 3:13 am
        BrianP
        Participant

        Scot,

        I was treated at UVA in a Ipi/Niov sequential trial from Aug 13 to Aug 15.  I still haven't achieved the elusive NED status but I've been stable for a couple years now. 

        I did both my CLND and small bowel resection at Duke.  As a mentioned earlier, they didn't have much to offer at either of those times.  After the small bowel resection I went down to Moffitt and was planning to enroll in a Ipi/Nivo trial there.  Thanks to this board I found out UVA was doing the same trial (It wasn't listed on Clinicaltrials.gov). 

        UVA has a three melanoma specialist.  I had Dr. Gaughan.  She's young but very sharp.  Dr. Grosh is more established and I've heard great things about him.  The best know is Dr. Craig Slingluff.  He's pretty well known in the world of Immunotherapy.  You can't go wrong with any of them.  UVA doesn't have as many clinical trials as your MSKCCs or MDAs but the few they do have are usually pretty solid.  It may be worth your wild to have a consult there as well.  I can connect you with the clinical trial coordinator if you'd like to call them and see what trials they are currently enrolling for.

        What part of VA are you from?  That's my old stomping grounds.

        Brian

        • January 7, 2016 at 3:13 am
        BrianP
        Participant

        Scot,

        I was treated at UVA in a Ipi/Niov sequential trial from Aug 13 to Aug 15.  I still haven't achieved the elusive NED status but I've been stable for a couple years now. 

        I did both my CLND and small bowel resection at Duke.  As a mentioned earlier, they didn't have much to offer at either of those times.  After the small bowel resection I went down to Moffitt and was planning to enroll in a Ipi/Nivo trial there.  Thanks to this board I found out UVA was doing the same trial (It wasn't listed on Clinicaltrials.gov). 

        UVA has a three melanoma specialist.  I had Dr. Gaughan.  She's young but very sharp.  Dr. Grosh is more established and I've heard great things about him.  The best know is Dr. Craig Slingluff.  He's pretty well known in the world of Immunotherapy.  You can't go wrong with any of them.  UVA doesn't have as many clinical trials as your MSKCCs or MDAs but the few they do have are usually pretty solid.  It may be worth your wild to have a consult there as well.  I can connect you with the clinical trial coordinator if you'd like to call them and see what trials they are currently enrolling for.

        What part of VA are you from?  That's my old stomping grounds.

        Brian

      • January 6, 2016 at 6:25 pm
      kpcollins31
      Participant

      I am also seen at Duke now. My doctor moved from Wake Forest Baptist Health to Duke a few months ago (Dr. John Stewart) and I wanted to follow him as I am comfortable with him – likely has something to do with the fact that I remain NED 2+ years after bowel resection surgery. I always considered him to be a melanoma specialist as I was referred to him in that context, but I do not think he deals exclusively with melanoma. I think Brian may have met with him at Duke also.

      I have not been seen in many places so I do not have the wide experience many here have to call out differences in treatment at different facilities. My experience was positive at Wake Forest and at Duke.

      Kevin

       

       

      • January 6, 2016 at 6:25 pm
      kpcollins31
      Participant

      I am also seen at Duke now. My doctor moved from Wake Forest Baptist Health to Duke a few months ago (Dr. John Stewart) and I wanted to follow him as I am comfortable with him – likely has something to do with the fact that I remain NED 2+ years after bowel resection surgery. I always considered him to be a melanoma specialist as I was referred to him in that context, but I do not think he deals exclusively with melanoma. I think Brian may have met with him at Duke also.

      I have not been seen in many places so I do not have the wide experience many here have to call out differences in treatment at different facilities. My experience was positive at Wake Forest and at Duke.

      Kevin

       

       

      • January 6, 2016 at 6:25 pm
      kpcollins31
      Participant

      I am also seen at Duke now. My doctor moved from Wake Forest Baptist Health to Duke a few months ago (Dr. John Stewart) and I wanted to follow him as I am comfortable with him – likely has something to do with the fact that I remain NED 2+ years after bowel resection surgery. I always considered him to be a melanoma specialist as I was referred to him in that context, but I do not think he deals exclusively with melanoma. I think Brian may have met with him at Duke also.

      I have not been seen in many places so I do not have the wide experience many here have to call out differences in treatment at different facilities. My experience was positive at Wake Forest and at Duke.

      Kevin

       

       

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