The information on this site is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Content within the patient forum is user-generated and has not been reviewed by medical professionals. Other sections of the Melanoma Research Foundation website include information that has been reviewed by medical professionals as appropriate. All medical decisions should be made in consultation with your doctor or other qualified medical professional.

Arizona patients

Forums General Melanoma Community Arizona patients

  • Post
    paleskinisin
    Participant

      I'm wondering if there are any AZ patients on here that are later stage.  I'm stage IV and looking at treatment options.  I've been battling for 4 years and feel as though I do have a good team of docs, but I'm looking for second opinions for treatment and just wondering where the AZ folks go for treatment.

      Anyone been through treatment here in AZ?  Anyone have a good team of docs to recommend?  Anyone been to Cancer Centers of America that just opened in AZ?

      Thanks,

      Tina

      I'm wondering if there are any AZ patients on here that are later stage.  I'm stage IV and looking at treatment options.  I've been battling for 4 years and feel as though I do have a good team of docs, but I'm looking for second opinions for treatment and just wondering where the AZ folks go for treatment.

      Anyone been through treatment here in AZ?  Anyone have a good team of docs to recommend?  Anyone been to Cancer Centers of America that just opened in AZ?

      Thanks,

      Tina

    Viewing 9 reply threads
    • Replies
        bcforce
        Participant

          Tina,

          Thanks for your entry.  You'll find a lot of experience in the participants of this bulletin board. 

          I am currently in treatment at the Angeles Clinc in Santa Monica (Los Angeles).  If you need a second opinion, I would highly recommend it.  The clinic has a number of clinical trials available, and the doctors (Dr. O'Day, Dr. Hamid) will take plenty of time meeting with you and doing testing to find what may be best.

          Depending on where you are in Arizona, this would be about 350 miles from you, which is doable.  We commute from 250 miles, and generally a night or two in a hotel will cover our length of stay. 

          Blessings,

           

          Bob (in Visalia) 

            paleskinisin
            Participant

              Thank you so much for your reply Bob!  I will keep Angeles Clinc in mind as you are correct, Los Angeles is definately doable for me.  I'm surprised that I haven't received a reply from an Arizona patient.   We have 4 cancer centers in the state and I was curious to see if any other AZ patients are getting treated here in our state.

              Again, thanks Bob! And good luck to you on your journey.  I wish you the best of health.

              Tina

              paleskinisin
              Participant

                Just thought I'd add, the cancer centers I am speaking of are:

                Arizona Cancer Center

                Cancer Treament Centers of America

                Mayo Clinic

                T-Gen Foundation

                If any of you warriors out there have been treated at any of these in AZ or another facility, I would love to hear from you.

                Thanks and good health to all!

                Tina

                paleskinisin
                Participant

                  Just thought I'd add, the cancer centers I am speaking of are:

                  Arizona Cancer Center

                  Cancer Treament Centers of America

                  Mayo Clinic

                  T-Gen Foundation

                  If any of you warriors out there have been treated at any of these in AZ or another facility, I would love to hear from you.

                  Thanks and good health to all!

                  Tina

                  paleskinisin
                  Participant

                    Thank you so much for your reply Bob!  I will keep Angeles Clinc in mind as you are correct, Los Angeles is definately doable for me.  I'm surprised that I haven't received a reply from an Arizona patient.   We have 4 cancer centers in the state and I was curious to see if any other AZ patients are getting treated here in our state.

                    Again, thanks Bob! And good luck to you on your journey.  I wish you the best of health.

                    Tina

                  bcforce
                  Participant

                    Tina,

                    Thanks for your entry.  You'll find a lot of experience in the participants of this bulletin board. 

                    I am currently in treatment at the Angeles Clinc in Santa Monica (Los Angeles).  If you need a second opinion, I would highly recommend it.  The clinic has a number of clinical trials available, and the doctors (Dr. O'Day, Dr. Hamid) will take plenty of time meeting with you and doing testing to find what may be best.

                    Depending on where you are in Arizona, this would be about 350 miles from you, which is doable.  We commute from 250 miles, and generally a night or two in a hotel will cover our length of stay. 

                    Blessings,

                     

                    Bob (in Visalia) 

                    Pekoe
                    Participant

                      Hi Tina,

                      I haven't been treated at any of the cancer centers, but I have gone down to Tucson (from Mesa/Gilbert) to consult with Dr. Evan Hersch (in 2002) and with Dr. Lee Cranmer (in 2009).  I see a medical oncologist in Scottsdale (Dr. Patrick Donovan) that does not specialize in melanoma, but he doesn't ever recommend treatment without a consultation from a specialist in Tucson.  Unfortunately, the doctors are in my medical network but the facility isn't, so they are great for a consultation but that's about it. (By the way, Dr. Cranmer told me that I'm not a good candidate for most of the trials going on now because I have other autoimmune diseases, but he did tell me that if I advance to Stage IV from Stage IIIb to come back and see him because there are "exciting things going on in advanced melanoma research".) 

                      From looking at their website, I didn't think that the Cancer Treatment Center of America treated melanoma in Arizona.  However, I just contacted them and discovered that they do, in fact. 

                      I worked at Mayo Clinic many years ago, shortly after the clinic opened in Scottsdale, and HATED working there.  I was treated there a few times after I quit for various things, and I wasn't terribly impressed with them.  They could never quite figure out what was wrong with me despite many, many expensive tests.  So, I personally wouldn't consider them for cancer treatment.

                      T-Gen seems to work with Scottsdale Healthcare.  My oncologist isn't all that great at hooking me up with cancer programs (I'm talking about things like nutrition, yoga, etc. that many cancer centers seem to provide along with actual treatment), so I sometimes consider looking for somebody else even though I've been seeing him for 8 years.  I'm kind of holding off until the new MD Anderson facility is built in Gilbert, though.  I'm very excited about MD Anderson coming to AZ, and it's close to my home as well! 

                      I'm curious to see if anybody else responds, and what they have to say!  If you would like to chat, you can email me at [email protected]

                       

                      Vera (Stage IIIb)

                       

                       

                       

                       

                      Pekoe
                      Participant

                        Hi Tina,

                        I haven't been treated at any of the cancer centers, but I have gone down to Tucson (from Mesa/Gilbert) to consult with Dr. Evan Hersch (in 2002) and with Dr. Lee Cranmer (in 2009).  I see a medical oncologist in Scottsdale (Dr. Patrick Donovan) that does not specialize in melanoma, but he doesn't ever recommend treatment without a consultation from a specialist in Tucson.  Unfortunately, the doctors are in my medical network but the facility isn't, so they are great for a consultation but that's about it. (By the way, Dr. Cranmer told me that I'm not a good candidate for most of the trials going on now because I have other autoimmune diseases, but he did tell me that if I advance to Stage IV from Stage IIIb to come back and see him because there are "exciting things going on in advanced melanoma research".) 

                        From looking at their website, I didn't think that the Cancer Treatment Center of America treated melanoma in Arizona.  However, I just contacted them and discovered that they do, in fact. 

                        I worked at Mayo Clinic many years ago, shortly after the clinic opened in Scottsdale, and HATED working there.  I was treated there a few times after I quit for various things, and I wasn't terribly impressed with them.  They could never quite figure out what was wrong with me despite many, many expensive tests.  So, I personally wouldn't consider them for cancer treatment.

                        T-Gen seems to work with Scottsdale Healthcare.  My oncologist isn't all that great at hooking me up with cancer programs (I'm talking about things like nutrition, yoga, etc. that many cancer centers seem to provide along with actual treatment), so I sometimes consider looking for somebody else even though I've been seeing him for 8 years.  I'm kind of holding off until the new MD Anderson facility is built in Gilbert, though.  I'm very excited about MD Anderson coming to AZ, and it's close to my home as well! 

                        I'm curious to see if anybody else responds, and what they have to say!  If you would like to chat, you can email me at [email protected]

                         

                        Vera (Stage IIIb)

                         

                         

                         

                         

                          alleycat
                          Participant

                            I didn't know MD Anderson was coming to Gilbert AZ!   Do you know when?

                            alleycat
                            Participant

                              I didn't know MD Anderson was coming to Gilbert AZ!   Do you know when?

                            Pekoe
                            Participant

                              By the way, I'm currently one year NED.

                                paleskinisin
                                Participant

                                  Wow, Vera, we have a lot in common.  I also have Patrick Donovan as my primary oncologist and see Dr. Hersh down in Tucson.  I'll email you and we can chat.

                                  paleskinisin
                                  Participant

                                    Wow, Vera, we have a lot in common.  I also have Patrick Donovan as my primary oncologist and see Dr. Hersh down in Tucson.  I'll email you and we can chat.

                                  Pekoe
                                  Participant

                                    By the way, I'm currently one year NED.

                                    Pekoe
                                    Participant

                                      Hi alleycat,

                                      The MD Anderson clinic is supposed to open in Fall 2011 (not soon enough for me!).  It is slated to be their largest clinic outside of Houston.  I'm pretty excited about it!

                                       

                                      Vera

                                      Pekoe
                                      Participant

                                        Hi alleycat,

                                        The MD Anderson clinic is supposed to open in Fall 2011 (not soon enough for me!).  It is slated to be their largest clinic outside of Houston.  I'm pretty excited about it!

                                         

                                        Vera

                                        Lauren mom to Jenna
                                        Participant

                                          Hi Tina,  I would recommend researching the trials that you are interested in, and then see where they are doing those trials in AZ.  My daughter was treated at Premiere Oncology in Scottsdale last Oct through May.  It was one of the only locations doing the GSK MEK inhibitor trial, so we traveled from CA to AZ.  I know that they are doing other targeted therapy trials there now.  Also T-Gen does some targeted therapies. 

                                          Best,

                                           

                                          Lauren (mom to Jenna)

                                           

                                          Lauren mom to Jenna
                                          Participant

                                            Hi Tina,  I would recommend researching the trials that you are interested in, and then see where they are doing those trials in AZ.  My daughter was treated at Premiere Oncology in Scottsdale last Oct through May.  It was one of the only locations doing the GSK MEK inhibitor trial, so we traveled from CA to AZ.  I know that they are doing other targeted therapy trials there now.  Also T-Gen does some targeted therapies. 

                                            Best,

                                             

                                            Lauren (mom to Jenna)

                                             

                                        Viewing 9 reply threads
                                        • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
                                        About the MRF Patient Forum

                                        The MRF Patient Forum is the oldest and largest online community of people affected by melanoma. It is designed to provide peer support and information to caregivers, patients, family and friends. There is no better place to discuss different parts of your journey with this cancer and find the friends and support resources to make that journey more bearable.

                                        The information on the forum is open and accessible to everyone. To add a new topic or to post a reply, you must be a registered user. Please note that you will be able to post both topics and replies anonymously even though you are logged in. All posts must abide by MRF posting policies.

                                        Popular Topics