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Advice on LA/OC Area Oncologists
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Advice on LA/OC Area Oncologists

› Forums › Cutaneous Melanoma Community › Advice on LA/OC Area Oncologists

  • Post
    • September 26, 2017 at 9:07 pm
    CancerSpouse
    Participant

      Hello Everyone,

      I'd appreciate recommendations and other ideas regarding oncologists specializing in melanoma in the Los Angeles or North Orange County area. My husband had a melanoma lesion removed from his torso in 1989. The margins were clear and no further treatment was needed. He's seen a dermatologist regularly with no recurrance of melanoma skin lesions, including now, although he's had a couple of other skin cancers.

      Flash forward nearly 30 years, a growth thought to be a lipoma on the back of his head came back positive for melanoma last week. It was fully encapsulated. Two more growths, a walnut-sized one on his deltoid and, most troubling, a three-centimeter growth engaging his left adrenal gland, were revealed in full body scans. Nothing in his brain or other vital orgins.

      Although he will lose an adrenal gland, the surgeries to remove the remaining masses should be rudimentary. But I would appreciate advice on an oncologist in the aforementioned region because John will need treatment for systemic melanoma. Would also appreciate any other ideas/thoughts/miracles. Thanks in advance! 

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    • Replies
        • September 26, 2017 at 10:40 pm
        Julie in SoCal
        Participant

          Welcome, Cancer Spouse!

          I live in North Orange County and am seen by Dr. Steven O'Day (Melanoma Specialist and Researcher) at the  John Wayne Cancer Clinic connected to St. John's in Santa Monica.  I can't say enough good things about Dr. O'Day and his staff. They've saved my life 3 times.

          Dr Hamid at the Angeles Clinic is also a very, very fine Melanoma Specialist and Researcher. I would go back there if Dr. O'Day wasn't available.

          I'm sure there are others, I just don't know of them.

          Best wishes to you!

          Shalom!

          Julie

            • September 28, 2017 at 2:17 am
            CancerSpouse
            Participant

              Hi Julie,

              Still trying to figure out this bulletin board thing … I tried to thank you earlier for your wonderful response to my query. But I think it didn't post. Really appreciate the scoop on O'Day, whose name keeps coming up. 

              Wishing you the best of luck in your journey.

              Shalom!

              C

            • September 26, 2017 at 10:46 pm
            lindanat
            Participant

              I am currently with Dr. Morganna Freeman (Angeles Clinic) – she is fantastic.  I'm Stage 4 diagnosed in October 2016.  I have a local oncologist and get all my treatments at the local hospital (in Fullerton) but travel to LA to see The Angeles Clinic folks regularly.  Dr. Hamid is amazing and is building a strong group of specialists.  Would highly recommend.  Good luck!

               

               

                • September 28, 2017 at 2:05 am
                CancerSpouse
                Participant

                  Thanks so much for this piece of information. Knowing that we could get the treatments locally, more than likely in Torrance, rather than driving to the Westside each time would be such a relief. LA traffic makes everything more painful. I'm definitely going to look into this option. Wishing you well in your journey. I've heard nothing but good thing about The Angeles Clinic. 

                • September 27, 2017 at 4:01 am
                Marksa2570
                Participant

                  I believe Dr James Jakowatz is the main person at UCI.    I have not seen him but I have read things about him.  

                  Best of luck to you and your husband!   

                    • September 28, 2017 at 2:07 am
                    CancerSpouse
                    Participant

                      Yes, Jakowatz is the guru at UCI. I've heard lots of great things about him. Thanks for your well wishes! 

                    • September 27, 2017 at 5:44 am
                    Casitas1
                    Participant

                      I second Julie's recommendation. Dr. O'day is wonderful.

                      Best, Paul

                      • September 27, 2017 at 1:17 pm
                      cancersnewnormal
                      Participant

                        I drive in to USC from the central coast. 180 miles one way, but is TOOOOTALLY worth it. My entire team is down there. It's nice to have everyone and all records under "the same roof". Dr James Hu is my medical oncologist. He works closely with his PA Kristi Lara, so I get a "two for one" on each visit. : )  Dr. David Peng is my dermatologist… and also INCREDIBLY knowledgable regarding melanoma. Not that you guys are seeking a new derm… but he's really really really good. Aaaand hopefully your hubs will never have a concern for radiation oncology… but in the event that he does, Dr Eric Chang is one of the top guys in the nation. I could go on for days about his positive attributes.

                        Between USC, UCLA, UCI, Angeles Clinic, and Dr O'Day down that way……. you're in a good location to select from some fantastic docs!

                          • September 28, 2017 at 2:23 am
                          CancerSpouse
                          Participant

                            Niki,

                            I tried to respond earlier, but I don't think it posted. I appreciate this info so much. Even though I would LOVE to live on the Central Coast, hearing that you are driving all the way down to LA to see specialists makes me grateful to live so close to all these institutions. This means something, considering how much I complain about LA Traffic! 

                            Thanks for your counsel!

                            C

                            • September 29, 2017 at 2:35 pm
                            cancersnewnormal
                            Participant

                              Oh, I completely understand the hatred for LA traffic. ARGH! My sister is in Riverside, and my folks used to live in Mission Viejo. The 101 to 405 interchange is enough to induce road rage in even the most saintly calm person. HA! Sliding across 134 to 5 isn't always a picnic, but is SO much easier than dropping south along the coast. We avoid traffic as much as humanly possible by arriving at Norris/Keck campus between 6:30 and 7 am. Off to the hospital for breakfast, then it's some relaxing down time until the first appointment of the day… usually around 9 am. The campus has become a sort of home away from home. Staff and docs are so incredibly friendly, and after over 4 years, a body gets to know so many faces, we're never down there without running into "old friends". : ) 

                            • September 27, 2017 at 7:29 pm
                            Patina
                            Participant

                              USC! USC! USC!  – I really can't recommend them enough! 

                              My Mom was diagnosed in 2013 eventually as Stage IV with 3 brain mets no less!  – She was orginally  misdiagnosed without brain mets by a radiologist of a doctor listed here!

                              She had gamma knife surgery in Beverly Hills and we only found out 4 months later that that doctor missed a brain met when the orginal surgery was done!  And the neurosurgeon she was seeing wanted to watch a new brain met rather than treat it. – We got a second opinion the next day and she had 17 brain mets treated 8 days later at USC by Dr. Eric Chang!

                              If it wasn't for USC and the team she had there is no way my Mom would be the person she is today. They have the right people to care for you no matter what's going on and they are at the top of their field.

                              My Mom ended up with 28 brain mets in total and with all that it is like she never had even one. She's 81 and does whatever she wants. 

                              Go see Dr. Hu and Kristi! 

                                • September 28, 2017 at 2:11 am
                                CancerSpouse
                                Participant

                                  Breathtaking and near miraculous! Thank you for sharing your Mom's story. I appreciate this information immensely. 

                                  • September 29, 2017 at 2:51 pm
                                  cancersnewnormal
                                  Participant

                                    Patina, I'm so happy to hear that your mom is "doing whatever she wants"! This is awesome news! Hugs and a high five to her! I saw Dr. Hu and Kristi yesterday, and have been given the "longer leash" of 4 months between follow up visits! I'm still on Dr. Chang's "short track" with brain MRI's every 8-10 weeks…. but given my history (39 lesions… gamma x10 rounds)… I am peeeeerfectly ok with keeping close watch on the cranial matter! Besides, I'm not sure I'm ready to stretch out the periods between seeing all of the sunshiny faces down there! ; ) 

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