Help with Second opinion

I would go for the first four.  I was told that Topolian at Hopkins didn't see patients, she just does research. You cant go wrong with a team approach such as at Sloan Kettering or Mass General..  Look at their research and then decide.

I would go for the first four.  I was told that Topolian at Hopkins didn't see patients, she just does research. You cant go wrong with a team approach such as at Sloan Kettering or Mass General..  Look at their research and then decide.

I would go for the first four.  I was told that Topolian at Hopkins didn't see patients, she just does research. You cant go wrong with a team approach such as at Sloan Kettering or Mass General..  Look at their research and then decide.

David – I am a patient at Sloan Kettering with a physician who reports to Dr. Wolchok. What I have learned is that treatment decisions at these major cancer centers are made by committee. Also the oncology community at these major cancer centers meet and confer with each other. I asked my doctor at Sloan what I should do if the cancer came back and the second opinion was different. He said he would then speak to that physician and between the two of them would come up with something I could be comfortable with.

The main advantages to going to a major cancer center are the ancilary services. Instead of getting a radiation report, you have their radiologists looking at the scans. Instead of getting a biopsy report, the biopsy is done there – and if they have to go back and look at it again, they have the actual material to look at. When you have something complicated, you want every advantage you can get. You want the best doctor but you also want the best people baking him up.

When I was diagnosed, I was seeing a well reputed women's cancer specialist who admitted that he had only seen this twice in his career and did not feel qualified to treat it. He sent me to Sloan because he said I needed to be at a facility thay was cutting edge. 

I agree that the first four options are the best for your situation. All of the doctors mentioned have strong reputations. They also have experts and researchers baking them up.

Wishing you all the best.

Mary

David – I am a patient at Sloan Kettering with a physician who reports to Dr. Wolchok. What I have learned is that treatment decisions at these major cancer centers are made by committee. Also the oncology community at these major cancer centers meet and confer with each other. I asked my doctor at Sloan what I should do if the cancer came back and the second opinion was different. He said he would then speak to that physician and between the two of them would come up with something I could be comfortable with.

The main advantages to going to a major cancer center are the ancilary services. Instead of getting a radiation report, you have their radiologists looking at the scans. Instead of getting a biopsy report, the biopsy is done there – and if they have to go back and look at it again, they have the actual material to look at. When you have something complicated, you want every advantage you can get. You want the best doctor but you also want the best people baking him up.

When I was diagnosed, I was seeing a well reputed women's cancer specialist who admitted that he had only seen this twice in his career and did not feel qualified to treat it. He sent me to Sloan because he said I needed to be at a facility thay was cutting edge. 

I agree that the first four options are the best for your situation. All of the doctors mentioned have strong reputations. They also have experts and researchers baking them up.

Wishing you all the best.

Mary

David – I am a patient at Sloan Kettering with a physician who reports to Dr. Wolchok. What I have learned is that treatment decisions at these major cancer centers are made by committee. Also the oncology community at these major cancer centers meet and confer with each other. I asked my doctor at Sloan what I should do if the cancer came back and the second opinion was different. He said he would then speak to that physician and between the two of them would come up with something I could be comfortable with.

The main advantages to going to a major cancer center are the ancilary services. Instead of getting a radiation report, you have their radiologists looking at the scans. Instead of getting a biopsy report, the biopsy is done there – and if they have to go back and look at it again, they have the actual material to look at. When you have something complicated, you want every advantage you can get. You want the best doctor but you also want the best people baking him up.

When I was diagnosed, I was seeing a well reputed women's cancer specialist who admitted that he had only seen this twice in his career and did not feel qualified to treat it. He sent me to Sloan because he said I needed to be at a facility thay was cutting edge. 

I agree that the first four options are the best for your situation. All of the doctors mentioned have strong reputations. They also have experts and researchers baking them up.

Wishing you all the best.

Mary

As was mentioned, Dr. Topalian no longer sees patients and is more involved in research. They've done a lot of research at Hopkins on PD1 and PDL-1 drugs for treating melanoma and she is the one heading up that research. At Hopkins you would see either William Sharfmann or Evan Lipson. Both are excellent. As a matter of fact, you won't go wrong with any of the names and places on the list.

As was mentioned, Dr. Topalian no longer sees patients and is more involved in research. They've done a lot of research at Hopkins on PD1 and PDL-1 drugs for treating melanoma and she is the one heading up that research. At Hopkins you would see either William Sharfmann or Evan Lipson. Both are excellent. As a matter of fact, you won't go wrong with any of the names and places on the list.

As was mentioned, Dr. Topalian no longer sees patients and is more involved in research. They've done a lot of research at Hopkins on PD1 and PDL-1 drugs for treating melanoma and she is the one heading up that research. At Hopkins you would see either William Sharfmann or Evan Lipson. Both are excellent. As a matter of fact, you won't go wrong with any of the names and places on the list.

The first 4 I recognize as top melanoma docs in the USA. I would see any of them or you could go to md Anderson in Houston. Not a specific doc I know of but another place to choose from.

If it was me I would start with a trial rather than standard treatment. Granted the response rate for pd1 monotherapy is decent with yervoy not as good. Granted the braf standard treatment response rates are good but results are usually short. So I would go for an immunotherapy trial combing pd1 with something else in my opinion. Of course those top docs probably have something better than that.

Also by doing standard stuff it can exclude you from certain trials. So if it was me to do over I would go with one of the top docs and see what they say.

Artie

The first 4 I recognize as top melanoma docs in the USA. I would see any of them or you could go to md Anderson in Houston. Not a specific doc I know of but another place to choose from.

If it was me I would start with a trial rather than standard treatment. Granted the response rate for pd1 monotherapy is decent with yervoy not as good. Granted the braf standard treatment response rates are good but results are usually short. So I would go for an immunotherapy trial combing pd1 with something else in my opinion. Of course those top docs probably have something better than that.

Also by doing standard stuff it can exclude you from certain trials. So if it was me to do over I would go with one of the top docs and see what they say.

Artie

The first 4 I recognize as top melanoma docs in the USA. I would see any of them or you could go to md Anderson in Houston. Not a specific doc I know of but another place to choose from.

If it was me I would start with a trial rather than standard treatment. Granted the response rate for pd1 monotherapy is decent with yervoy not as good. Granted the braf standard treatment response rates are good but results are usually short. So I would go for an immunotherapy trial combing pd1 with something else in my opinion. Of course those top docs probably have something better than that.

Also by doing standard stuff it can exclude you from certain trials. So if it was me to do over I would go with one of the top docs and see what they say.

Artie

I've been seeing Dr. Sharfman at Hopkins for consults. I'm not familiar with the other doctors who have been mentioned from there, but I like him.

I've been seeing Dr. Sharfman at Hopkins for consults. I'm not familiar with the other doctors who have been mentioned from there, but I like him.

I've been seeing Dr. Sharfman at Hopkins for consults. I'm not familiar with the other doctors who have been mentioned from there, but I like him.