Canadian melanoma specialists?
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Canadian melanoma specialists?

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Canadian melanoma specialists?

  • Post
    • November 25, 2017 at 2:43 am
    cjm22
    Participant

    Are there recommended Canadian melanoma specialists?

    What about specifically in BC?

    There seems to be a melanoma centre or two in Toronto but we can't move there. How else could we get second opinions or treatment ideas from melanoma specialist oncologists?

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  • Replies
      • November 25, 2017 at 6:15 pm
      ed williams
      Participant

      What stage are you dealing with?

        • November 26, 2017 at 7:34 am
        cjm22
        Participant

        Possibly stage 4 – getting a biopsy for a growing lung nodule to confirm if it's melanoma come back or not.

        • November 26, 2017 at 9:45 pm
        ed williams
        Participant

        I hope it is nothing but another forum member has given you a good referal name in BC, I hope you won't have to persue a second opinion. Dr. Butler in Toronto is considered to be one of the more experience Oncologist dealing with Melanoma. I am not up to date on BC approvals for stage 4, in Ontario they offer Pembro and several clinical trials which is always a good option to get chance at the latest and greatest combinations, like pembro and IDO inhibitors. Best Wishes!!! Ed

      • November 26, 2017 at 8:31 am
      GeoTony
      Participant

      Hi, when I moved to stage IV in Aug 2016 we were offered treatment in Victoria but opted to temporarily relocate to Vancouver to participate in the Ipi/Nivo clinical trial where I'm currently a patient of Dr Kerry Savage. I believe the other BC centre is Kelowna.

        • November 27, 2017 at 6:32 am
        cjm22
        Participant

        Is Dr Savage a melanoma specialist? We are in Vancouver, too.

        • November 28, 2017 at 3:22 am
        GeoTony
        Participant

        Hi, when I was initially looking in August/September 2016, I couldn't identify a "melanoma expert" within BCCA, they all appeared to cover at least a couple of cancers, however after researching treatment in the US and UK I then started looking for the Ipi/Nivo treatment option, it was just coming online there but not yet standard treatment here in Canada. Dr Savage was running the Vancouver trial and had recently presented a paper at a local oncology conference titled "Metastatic melanoma: How has treatment transformed due to immunotherapy drugs?", I reviewed the presentation, link below, I contacted her and was squeezed onto the trial. So by default she has become my expert.

        https://www.agora-inscription.ca/documents/306/files/Savage_Kerry_CAPGO%20Immunotherapy%20melanoma%20Sept%2030%202016%20final.pdf

        I'm in Vancouver every other week for treatment so if you want to meet up for coffee and compare notes, let me know and we can get together.

        Tony

        • December 5, 2017 at 6:39 am
        cjm22
        Participant

        Hi Tony, I didn't want to leave you hanging. Our followup CT scan and bronchoscopy have been scheduled some time from now unfortunately so it looks like we won't get any answers yet whether or not it's cancer again. Going to call the doc tomorrow to see if there's been some mix-up to explain why it's been scheduled for 2.5 months from now when at the initial appointment they said we should do it in the next 3 weeks. Hope you're doing well.

        • December 7, 2017 at 8:09 pm
        GeoTony
        Participant

        HI, no issue with delayed replies, aside from Mel we all have busy lives. So I saw you're reply yesterday and happened to be seeing my oncologist as well, I asked about melanoma experts and aside from herself the others are Dr Corey Metcalf and Dr Vanessa Bernstein, I know both as Dr Metcalfe was the out of hrs cover last year and my dermatologist was expecting me to be assigned to Dr Bernstein last year, she's actually based in Victoria so not useful for yourself.

        good luck

        Tony

      • November 26, 2017 at 9:50 pm
      Linda5
      Participant

      This organization shows resources and treatment approvals nationally 

      Melanoma Treatment Centres and Practitioners

        • November 27, 2017 at 6:32 am
        cjm22
        Participant
        Thank you – this is a great resource
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