best melanoma treatment centers and thoracic surgeons near south Alabama

Sorry for what your family and brother in particular have been dealing with.  As someone raised in Brewton, and spent lots of my teen and young adult years in Pensacola, Mobile, Gulf Shores and New Orleans – I know where you’re coming from – LITERALLY!!!  Full disclosure – I completed my first nursing degree by doing clinicals at Baptist and Sacred Heart in P’cola and got my MSN/NP at UAB.

Okay.  It is hard to say exactly what is in your brother’s lung without a biopsy.  However, if the UAB docs recommend the ipi/nivo (old timer’s slang for the Yervoy/Opdivo combo) that is definitely the next step I’d take.  They may not even recommend surgery at all!!!  We’ve learned, that when the tumor burden is low, often we can treat systemically and leave it at that.  If the tumor responds you’re one and done.  If it doesn’t or there is additional spread, you may then be looking at surgical removal.

Here is a primer I put together on melanoma treatments that you may find helpful:  https://chaoticallypreciselifeloveandmelanoma.blogspot.com/2017/08/melanoma-intel-primer-for-current.html

As to specialists.  Before the immunotherapies like the one your brother has already had and the combo proposed were commonly accepted and utilized by oncologist (Ipilimumab/Yervoy was FDA approved only in 2011.  Nivolumab/Opdivo and Pembrolizumab/Keytruda were approved in 2014.) having an honest to goodness melanoma specialist was essential in order to attain these drugs.  Now that they (along with targeted therapy) are considered standard of care, more general oncologists are more familiar with them, comfortable with administering them and dealing with side effects should they occur.  However, when a melanoma patient fails to respond to these and additional treatments and options need to be attained, the specialist remains crucial.  Here is a list of honest to goodness international melanoma specialists that I  put together – https://chaoticallypreciselifeloveandmelanoma.blogspot.com/2019/10/internationally-renowned-melanoma.html

With all that said, your brother could probably find a reasonable thoracic surgeon (should he need it) and general oncologist in any of the cities you named.  However, if you are willing to travel 2 hours for care, why not just keep going to UAB?  I’m sure there are bound to be some good docs at LSU, etc – but of all the locations you named, I would see the folks at UAB.  In fact – I did.  Back in 2003, when I was first diagnosed.  I even traveled to Tampa from Chattanooga for more than 2 1/2 years when I participated in a phase 1 trial a phase 1 trial of Nivo/Opdivo.  If you do go doctor hunting, I always recommend asking how frequently have they provided the service needed.  In this case, “How often do you administer the ipi/nivo combo?”  The more you do – the more you know.

I hope that has added more clarity than confusion.  Ask more questions as you have the need.  This forum is filled with lots of smart and caring peeps.  Your brother is lucky to have you in his corner.  Wishing you both my best.  Celeste

Glad to be of some small help, Marcia.  I’m sure you can find someone acceptable nearby – Mobile perhaps.  Having hands on support of family and friends is super important and no small thing!!!  I did have one additional thought – Ask the oncologist your brother sees for a recommendation in your area.  If he is not comfortable asking himself – you could always try to get an answer from them – saying something like you know a patient who is extremely satisfied with their care there and you are in need of similar oncology services for a dear one and who might they recommend.  Worth a try.  Wishing you well.  celeste

Although I understand your concern, I think being on combo immunotherapy is relatively short time frame since it involves four infusions each spread four weeks apart. This is then usually followed by single drug immunotherapy every four weeks. The combo is a handful and many cannot complete all four infusions. I only managed two. Changing oncologists now may be far too stressful for your brother and his wife. I would support them the best you can and hopefully, his lung issue will resolve. Once he is only on Opdivo, he should feel better and be more likely agreeable to make the move. Of course, this is just my opinion based on my own experience and that of many others who have gone this road.
Either way, wishing your brother all the best and sending healing vibes his way.
Melanie

If you don’t fine one you like, it is not uncommon to have a doctor in a different local direct the drug regime or treatment.