Medical Clinics and Specialists

Depends on where you live.  East Coast:  NYU, Columbia, Sloan Kettering,  UPENN for phila, Mass general for Boston,  in the south:  Sarah Cannon in Nashville,  WEst:  UCLA, etc.

Try the list at:  www.melanomainternational.org

REsources

Depends on where you live.  East Coast:  NYU, Columbia, Sloan Kettering,  UPENN for phila, Mass general for Boston,  in the south:  Sarah Cannon in Nashville,  WEst:  UCLA, etc.

Try the list at:  www.melanomainternational.org

REsources

Depends on where you live.  East Coast:  NYU, Columbia, Sloan Kettering,  UPENN for phila, Mass general for Boston,  in the south:  Sarah Cannon in Nashville,  WEst:  UCLA, etc.

Try the list at:  www.melanomainternational.org

REsources

Here's a list of melanoma centers: http://melanomainternational.org/web-resources/cancer-centers/#.VhMO9qJckzw

If you can tell us what state you live in, people here can give you more detailed input on these places and whether they offer you transportation aid if you live a distance away from them.

Here's a list of melanoma centers: http://melanomainternational.org/web-resources/cancer-centers/#.VhMO9qJckzw

If you can tell us what state you live in, people here can give you more detailed input on these places and whether they offer you transportation aid if you live a distance away from them.

Here's a list of melanoma centers: http://melanomainternational.org/web-resources/cancer-centers/#.VhMO9qJckzw

If you can tell us what state you live in, people here can give you more detailed input on these places and whether they offer you transportation aid if you live a distance away from them.

Cindy,

We've found that that best are active in clinical research and they usually practice at educational facilities. Depending on your diagnosis your doctor will discuss options for you based on your status and your insurance company will pay for standard care.  There are also trials that you can go on for more treatment or aggressive treatment which you should look into.

You have a choice and time to make a decision.  So, you should be able to seek out other oncologists for their opinion now and you should not be forced to take Interferon.  

We had my Mom see 4 melanoma specialists in total and we were very lucky that we saw as many as we did. We learned more about the disease from each visit and we were lucky that the 3rd specialist caught what two others did not. Brain mets that the radiologist missed!  – A pretty big miss.

When you see someone about a second or even a third opinion take your reports and CDs of your PET and CT scans and the MRI of your brain. You'll want them to read the reports, but also see which one looks at the images without prompting. – The doctors that want to see these images are typically the best or at least this is what we found. – Buy a voice recorder and tape the conversations. You'll miss some things and be glad you have a record of what the doctor said. I'd also get someone who is not a family member to come along with you.  Someone to be your advocate and who can wade through medical jargon and who is inherently curious is what you will need.

Also, when you do decide on treatment consider the whole team and how they communicate. We were having my Mom treated at 2 different facilities and one was subpar and we were just very very lucky to have everything moved to USC when we did. She's received superior care there and I can't recommend them enough.  – She was diagnosed with stage IV in early November of 2013 and has a very good outlook. Even with 28 brain mets, which is hard to believe.

In the Southern California area I can strongly recommend Dr. Mike Wong at USC in LA and Dr. Peter Bosaberg.  If there is ever a need for gamma knife radiation (brain mets) I strongly recommend Dr. Eric Chang at USC in LA. 

Cindy,

We've found that that best are active in clinical research and they usually practice at educational facilities. Depending on your diagnosis your doctor will discuss options for you based on your status and your insurance company will pay for standard care.  There are also trials that you can go on for more treatment or aggressive treatment which you should look into.

You have a choice and time to make a decision.  So, you should be able to seek out other oncologists for their opinion now and you should not be forced to take Interferon.  

We had my Mom see 4 melanoma specialists in total and we were very lucky that we saw as many as we did. We learned more about the disease from each visit and we were lucky that the 3rd specialist caught what two others did not. Brain mets that the radiologist missed!  – A pretty big miss.

When you see someone about a second or even a third opinion take your reports and CDs of your PET and CT scans and the MRI of your brain. You'll want them to read the reports, but also see which one looks at the images without prompting. – The doctors that want to see these images are typically the best or at least this is what we found. – Buy a voice recorder and tape the conversations. You'll miss some things and be glad you have a record of what the doctor said. I'd also get someone who is not a family member to come along with you.  Someone to be your advocate and who can wade through medical jargon and who is inherently curious is what you will need.

Also, when you do decide on treatment consider the whole team and how they communicate. We were having my Mom treated at 2 different facilities and one was subpar and we were just very very lucky to have everything moved to USC when we did. She's received superior care there and I can't recommend them enough.  – She was diagnosed with stage IV in early November of 2013 and has a very good outlook. Even with 28 brain mets, which is hard to believe.

In the Southern California area I can strongly recommend Dr. Mike Wong at USC in LA and Dr. Peter Bosaberg.  If there is ever a need for gamma knife radiation (brain mets) I strongly recommend Dr. Eric Chang at USC in LA. 

Cindy,

We've found that that best are active in clinical research and they usually practice at educational facilities. Depending on your diagnosis your doctor will discuss options for you based on your status and your insurance company will pay for standard care.  There are also trials that you can go on for more treatment or aggressive treatment which you should look into.

You have a choice and time to make a decision.  So, you should be able to seek out other oncologists for their opinion now and you should not be forced to take Interferon.  

We had my Mom see 4 melanoma specialists in total and we were very lucky that we saw as many as we did. We learned more about the disease from each visit and we were lucky that the 3rd specialist caught what two others did not. Brain mets that the radiologist missed!  – A pretty big miss.

When you see someone about a second or even a third opinion take your reports and CDs of your PET and CT scans and the MRI of your brain. You'll want them to read the reports, but also see which one looks at the images without prompting. – The doctors that want to see these images are typically the best or at least this is what we found. – Buy a voice recorder and tape the conversations. You'll miss some things and be glad you have a record of what the doctor said. I'd also get someone who is not a family member to come along with you.  Someone to be your advocate and who can wade through medical jargon and who is inherently curious is what you will need.

Also, when you do decide on treatment consider the whole team and how they communicate. We were having my Mom treated at 2 different facilities and one was subpar and we were just very very lucky to have everything moved to USC when we did. She's received superior care there and I can't recommend them enough.  – She was diagnosed with stage IV in early November of 2013 and has a very good outlook. Even with 28 brain mets, which is hard to believe.

In the Southern California area I can strongly recommend Dr. Mike Wong at USC in LA and Dr. Peter Bosaberg.  If there is ever a need for gamma knife radiation (brain mets) I strongly recommend Dr. Eric Chang at USC in LA.