I need help finding a melanoma specialist in MN
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I need help finding a melanoma specialist in MN

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › I need help finding a melanoma specialist in MN

  • Post
    • December 31, 2016 at 1:56 am
    Nemesis
    Participant

    How can I find one? I am currently at T1b – still waiting on my SNB results to come back and see where I am really at. I would like to be proactive, and I think I might have located two melanoma specialists, one at Mayo and another one at the U of M, but I want to make sure I have the right people.

     

    Please, help! Thank you.

Viewing 11 reply threads
  • Replies
      • December 31, 2016 at 4:58 am
      Toby0987
      Participant

      I've been going to mayo in Rochester since 2013. I got my lymph nodes hacked out by dr Jacobsen and my melanoma onc is dr Mcwilliams -I'm 3b. I've been cancer free since then (they found thyroid cancer on a Pet). Dr Mcwilliams shot me straight on interferon and I respect him for that. He said he wouldn't do it and that I would be sick for a year and it may add a year to my life tops statistically speaking. I looked at going to Sioux Falls sd so I wouldn't have to drive 5 hrs for a PeT but dr Mcwilliams explained they don't accept their pets and the secret was to get a good radiologist in order to cut through the static of false positives on PETs. Not sure on the U of M but had a friend with brain cancer that did her treatment plan at mayo and u of m carried it out. Dr Mcwilliams didn't hold my hand looking at clinical trials -just gave me a stack of papers about the trials and dropped the mic and walked off stage. My local cancer center said he is the number 2 guy at mayo

      • December 31, 2016 at 4:58 am
      Toby0987
      Participant

      I've been going to mayo in Rochester since 2013. I got my lymph nodes hacked out by dr Jacobsen and my melanoma onc is dr Mcwilliams -I'm 3b. I've been cancer free since then (they found thyroid cancer on a Pet). Dr Mcwilliams shot me straight on interferon and I respect him for that. He said he wouldn't do it and that I would be sick for a year and it may add a year to my life tops statistically speaking. I looked at going to Sioux Falls sd so I wouldn't have to drive 5 hrs for a PeT but dr Mcwilliams explained they don't accept their pets and the secret was to get a good radiologist in order to cut through the static of false positives on PETs. Not sure on the U of M but had a friend with brain cancer that did her treatment plan at mayo and u of m carried it out. Dr Mcwilliams didn't hold my hand looking at clinical trials -just gave me a stack of papers about the trials and dropped the mic and walked off stage. My local cancer center said he is the number 2 guy at mayo

        • December 31, 2016 at 1:44 pm
        jpg
        Participant

        Mayo Clinic, Dr. Markovic is tops..

        • December 31, 2016 at 1:44 pm
        jpg
        Participant

        Mayo Clinic, Dr. Markovic is tops..

        • December 31, 2016 at 1:44 pm
        jpg
        Participant

        Mayo Clinic, Dr. Markovic is tops..

        • December 31, 2016 at 9:12 pm
        Nemesis
        Participant

        Thank you. I am in Minneapolis, so relatively close.

         

        How would I go about contacting him? Just make an appointment with his office?

        • December 31, 2016 at 11:54 pm
        Janner
        Participant

        You might wait until you get the results of your SNB.  In general, the top melanoma oncologists don't usually see stage 1B patients – they have nothing to offer them.  If your sentinel node comes back positive, I would definitely put in that call!

        • January 1, 2017 at 2:35 am
        Nemesis
        Participant

        Hopefully that call won't be necessary. Thank you, and Happy New Year to everyone!

        • January 1, 2017 at 2:35 am
        Nemesis
        Participant

        Hopefully that call won't be necessary. Thank you, and Happy New Year to everyone!

        • January 1, 2017 at 2:35 am
        Nemesis
        Participant

        Hopefully that call won't be necessary. Thank you, and Happy New Year to everyone!

        • December 31, 2016 at 11:54 pm
        Janner
        Participant

        You might wait until you get the results of your SNB.  In general, the top melanoma oncologists don't usually see stage 1B patients – they have nothing to offer them.  If your sentinel node comes back positive, I would definitely put in that call!

        • December 31, 2016 at 11:54 pm
        Janner
        Participant

        You might wait until you get the results of your SNB.  In general, the top melanoma oncologists don't usually see stage 1B patients – they have nothing to offer them.  If your sentinel node comes back positive, I would definitely put in that call!

        • December 31, 2016 at 9:12 pm
        Nemesis
        Participant

        Thank you. I am in Minneapolis, so relatively close.

         

        How would I go about contacting him? Just make an appointment with his office?

        • December 31, 2016 at 9:12 pm
        Nemesis
        Participant

        Thank you. I am in Minneapolis, so relatively close.

         

        How would I go about contacting him? Just make an appointment with his office?

      • December 31, 2016 at 4:58 am
      Toby0987
      Participant

      I've been going to mayo in Rochester since 2013. I got my lymph nodes hacked out by dr Jacobsen and my melanoma onc is dr Mcwilliams -I'm 3b. I've been cancer free since then (they found thyroid cancer on a Pet). Dr Mcwilliams shot me straight on interferon and I respect him for that. He said he wouldn't do it and that I would be sick for a year and it may add a year to my life tops statistically speaking. I looked at going to Sioux Falls sd so I wouldn't have to drive 5 hrs for a PeT but dr Mcwilliams explained they don't accept their pets and the secret was to get a good radiologist in order to cut through the static of false positives on PETs. Not sure on the U of M but had a friend with brain cancer that did her treatment plan at mayo and u of m carried it out. Dr Mcwilliams didn't hold my hand looking at clinical trials -just gave me a stack of papers about the trials and dropped the mic and walked off stage. My local cancer center said he is the number 2 guy at mayo

      • January 2, 2017 at 3:32 am
      Jennab0525
      Participant

      Hello!

      I'm in MN as well and I see Dr. King at MN Oncology. His office is at Unity Hospital in Fridley. He is amazing! I'm stage 3b and currently on watch and wait. Scans and skin checks every 4 months. I am currently 1 year NED (pending my next CT on Jan 13th which I'm praying will be clear as well).

      Dr King has 20 plus years in Melanoma. He is by far the most compassionate and knowledgeable doctor I've ever met. Even gives all his patients his personal cell number in case you ever need him!

      I agree with Janner to wait until you are staged after your SNB and WLE to schedule with an oncologist.

      Jenna

      • January 2, 2017 at 3:32 am
      Jennab0525
      Participant

      Hello!

      I'm in MN as well and I see Dr. King at MN Oncology. His office is at Unity Hospital in Fridley. He is amazing! I'm stage 3b and currently on watch and wait. Scans and skin checks every 4 months. I am currently 1 year NED (pending my next CT on Jan 13th which I'm praying will be clear as well).

      Dr King has 20 plus years in Melanoma. He is by far the most compassionate and knowledgeable doctor I've ever met. Even gives all his patients his personal cell number in case you ever need him!

      I agree with Janner to wait until you are staged after your SNB and WLE to schedule with an oncologist.

      Jenna

        • January 6, 2017 at 3:08 am
        Nemesis
        Participant

        Thank you. I am in Coon Rapids, so really close. My SNB came back negative, no need for dr. King, just a therapist to deal with my anxiety. Good luck with your scan, fingers crossed for good news.

        • January 6, 2017 at 3:08 am
        Nemesis
        Participant

        Thank you. I am in Coon Rapids, so really close. My SNB came back negative, no need for dr. King, just a therapist to deal with my anxiety. Good luck with your scan, fingers crossed for good news.

        • January 6, 2017 at 3:08 am
        Nemesis
        Participant

        Thank you. I am in Coon Rapids, so really close. My SNB came back negative, no need for dr. King, just a therapist to deal with my anxiety. Good luck with your scan, fingers crossed for good news.

      • January 2, 2017 at 3:32 am
      Jennab0525
      Participant

      Hello!

      I'm in MN as well and I see Dr. King at MN Oncology. His office is at Unity Hospital in Fridley. He is amazing! I'm stage 3b and currently on watch and wait. Scans and skin checks every 4 months. I am currently 1 year NED (pending my next CT on Jan 13th which I'm praying will be clear as well).

      Dr King has 20 plus years in Melanoma. He is by far the most compassionate and knowledgeable doctor I've ever met. Even gives all his patients his personal cell number in case you ever need him!

      I agree with Janner to wait until you are staged after your SNB and WLE to schedule with an oncologist.

      Jenna

      • January 3, 2017 at 2:20 pm
      marta010
      Participant

      Hi – we are also in MN.  My husband is Stage IV and treata at U of M with Dr. Shernan Holtan and also consults regularly with Dr. McWilliams/Dr. Markovic at Mayo.  Dr. Holtan did her fellowship at Mayo with the Melanoma team and is very well connected with them.  Good luck.

      • January 3, 2017 at 2:20 pm
      marta010
      Participant

      Hi – we are also in MN.  My husband is Stage IV and treata at U of M with Dr. Shernan Holtan and also consults regularly with Dr. McWilliams/Dr. Markovic at Mayo.  Dr. Holtan did her fellowship at Mayo with the Melanoma team and is very well connected with them.  Good luck.

      • January 3, 2017 at 2:20 pm
      marta010
      Participant

      Hi – we are also in MN.  My husband is Stage IV and treata at U of M with Dr. Shernan Holtan and also consults regularly with Dr. McWilliams/Dr. Markovic at Mayo.  Dr. Holtan did her fellowship at Mayo with the Melanoma team and is very well connected with them.  Good luck.

      • January 3, 2017 at 4:18 pm
      Bradley75
      Participant

      I have been going to Mayo since my first recurrence back in May of 2015.  The cancer has come back a couple of times since then and I am now inoperable stage 4.  Mayo is quick to act and has a whole team of melanoma doctors that review your case.  I have seen McWilliams a few times as well as others on the care team.  I like Mayo because I have my PET scan at 8am and we are going over the results at 2pm the same day.  You can speed through appointments, MRI's, radiation, etc because they are all done at the same place. 

      However, there are many great cancer treatment places all over this country.  I am not saying Mayo is the absolute best.  What I am saying is I go there because I am confident that I am getting the best care possible.  I think that is the most important part for all patients battling this beast. 

      Sorry that you have to deal with this in the first place.

      Brad

        • January 6, 2017 at 3:06 am
        Nemesis
        Participant

        Thank you. My SNB came back negative, so in theory I should be clear, or as clear as possible with melanoma. I am lucky to be within driving distance of Mayo, but I guess even luckier that I don't need to make that drive (yet, I have a feeling it will be back). Good luck with your treatment.

        • January 6, 2017 at 3:06 am
        Nemesis
        Participant

        Thank you. My SNB came back negative, so in theory I should be clear, or as clear as possible with melanoma. I am lucky to be within driving distance of Mayo, but I guess even luckier that I don't need to make that drive (yet, I have a feeling it will be back). Good luck with your treatment.

        • January 6, 2017 at 3:06 am
        Nemesis
        Participant

        Thank you. My SNB came back negative, so in theory I should be clear, or as clear as possible with melanoma. I am lucky to be within driving distance of Mayo, but I guess even luckier that I don't need to make that drive (yet, I have a feeling it will be back). Good luck with your treatment.

      • January 3, 2017 at 4:18 pm
      Bradley75
      Participant

      I have been going to Mayo since my first recurrence back in May of 2015.  The cancer has come back a couple of times since then and I am now inoperable stage 4.  Mayo is quick to act and has a whole team of melanoma doctors that review your case.  I have seen McWilliams a few times as well as others on the care team.  I like Mayo because I have my PET scan at 8am and we are going over the results at 2pm the same day.  You can speed through appointments, MRI's, radiation, etc because they are all done at the same place. 

      However, there are many great cancer treatment places all over this country.  I am not saying Mayo is the absolute best.  What I am saying is I go there because I am confident that I am getting the best care possible.  I think that is the most important part for all patients battling this beast. 

      Sorry that you have to deal with this in the first place.

      Brad

      • January 3, 2017 at 4:18 pm
      Bradley75
      Participant

      I have been going to Mayo since my first recurrence back in May of 2015.  The cancer has come back a couple of times since then and I am now inoperable stage 4.  Mayo is quick to act and has a whole team of melanoma doctors that review your case.  I have seen McWilliams a few times as well as others on the care team.  I like Mayo because I have my PET scan at 8am and we are going over the results at 2pm the same day.  You can speed through appointments, MRI's, radiation, etc because they are all done at the same place. 

      However, there are many great cancer treatment places all over this country.  I am not saying Mayo is the absolute best.  What I am saying is I go there because I am confident that I am getting the best care possible.  I think that is the most important part for all patients battling this beast. 

      Sorry that you have to deal with this in the first place.

      Brad

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