More bad news need some help

Hi MaryMary,  I am a canadian stage 1b (1.81mm with a mitotic rate of 3 )  and also have little personal experience with melanoma.  In the past I have recommended an oncologist at a melanoma hospital of excellence (Dr Smylie at  the Cross Cancer Institute in Edmonton). I have done this because I've been to see Dr Smylie (for a second opinion on lung nodules; stable at last scans) and have been in contact with patients he has treated.

It's obvious you have a high opinion of PHM, and perhaps they really do deserve that.  But once you have been here for a while you will learn that Canadians can get free cancer treatments in the States. If we fit the criteria (usually a specific blood type)  we can even go to the NIH. We can enter clinical trials that may not be available in Canada. And many of these trials scan us – I have read here of Ontario residents having difficulty accessing  PET scans in the past.  (We certainly do in BC. And while I'm on the subject of BC, I'm aware of patients who have been advised to get their affairs in order at stage three. No treatment offered in some cases.  I also know of  earlier staged patients who do not get a  SNB when they clearly should.)

Did you know we don't  even have a canadian trial data base? Patients have to take what their hospital offers, or network online. Or we can search the US clinical trial site to find trials at home. Melanoma is a complex and unpredictable disease, and because it is still relatively rare, specific procedures are scattered throughout our vast county.  So it can be important to know we can go to other canadian provinces and still receive free medical care. As a matter of fact, I didn't  pay a dime to see Dr Smylie  (other than a plane ride and hotel  -and if we are fortunate, airmiles can be used for that).  My provincial medical insurance would have continued to pay had I needed to pursue treatment;  they already do so for many residents who seek treatment elsewhere. I'm fairly sure Ontario Health has similar policies.

I guess what I'm trying to say is, while it's great to be proud of your local cancer center  (and very kind of you to reach out to scared patients) blanket reassurances based on limited personal experience are not necessarily the most helpful thing to do on a cancer board. 

I like your quote BTW, very wise, take care, linda:)

Hi MaryMary,  I am a canadian stage 1b (1.81mm with a mitotic rate of 3 )  and also have little personal experience with melanoma.  In the past I have recommended an oncologist at a melanoma hospital of excellence (Dr Smylie at  the Cross Cancer Institute in Edmonton). I have done this because I've been to see Dr Smylie (for a second opinion on lung nodules; stable at last scans) and have been in contact with patients he has treated.

It's obvious you have a high opinion of PHM, and perhaps they really do deserve that.  But once you have been here for a while you will learn that Canadians can get free cancer treatments in the States. If we fit the criteria (usually a specific blood type)  we can even go to the NIH. We can enter clinical trials that may not be available in Canada. And many of these trials scan us – I have read here of Ontario residents having difficulty accessing  PET scans in the past.  (We certainly do in BC. And while I'm on the subject of BC, I'm aware of patients who have been advised to get their affairs in order at stage three. No treatment offered in some cases.  I also know of  earlier staged patients who do not get a  SNB when they clearly should.)

Did you know we don't  even have a canadian trial data base? Patients have to take what their hospital offers, or network online. Or we can search the US clinical trial site to find trials at home. Melanoma is a complex and unpredictable disease, and because it is still relatively rare, specific procedures are scattered throughout our vast county.  So it can be important to know we can go to other canadian provinces and still receive free medical care. As a matter of fact, I didn't  pay a dime to see Dr Smylie  (other than a plane ride and hotel  -and if we are fortunate, airmiles can be used for that).  My provincial medical insurance would have continued to pay had I needed to pursue treatment;  they already do so for many residents who seek treatment elsewhere. I'm fairly sure Ontario Health has similar policies.

I guess what I'm trying to say is, while it's great to be proud of your local cancer center  (and very kind of you to reach out to scared patients) blanket reassurances based on limited personal experience are not necessarily the most helpful thing to do on a cancer board. 

I like your quote BTW, very wise, take care, linda:)

MaryMary, please research more carefully, ON lags far behind in many aspects of Cancer care. Your best bet is to at least call Dr.Smylie at Cross cancer centre in Edmonton. Just the fact that PET scans are not readily available in Ontario should be your first hint. There are very few melanoma specialists in Canada…a dermatologist is not (often)an oncologist, nor is anyone that is an oncologist a specialist in any cancer, there are many many general oncs in the system…which are really just GPs dealing in the cancer system.  Don't confuse information from Cancer Foundations who are collecting money with the actual workings of the cancer agencies.  For instance, PMH say they are one of the top 5 research centres in NAmerica…however if you carefully check on of their criterea, one factor is square footage…what the hell does that have to do with quality of cancer research..just be careful of stats..they change as to whether you are buying or selling…LOL

Advise from someone like Sharyn should be heeded. …Joan

MaryMary, please research more carefully, ON lags far behind in many aspects of Cancer care. Your best bet is to at least call Dr.Smylie at Cross cancer centre in Edmonton. Just the fact that PET scans are not readily available in Ontario should be your first hint. There are very few melanoma specialists in Canada…a dermatologist is not (often)an oncologist, nor is anyone that is an oncologist a specialist in any cancer, there are many many general oncs in the system…which are really just GPs dealing in the cancer system.  Don't confuse information from Cancer Foundations who are collecting money with the actual workings of the cancer agencies.  For instance, PMH say they are one of the top 5 research centres in NAmerica…however if you carefully check on of their criterea, one factor is square footage…what the hell does that have to do with quality of cancer research..just be careful of stats..they change as to whether you are buying or selling…LOL

Advise from someone like Sharyn should be heeded. …Joan

Hello

I'm from Canada. Specifically from Mississauga, close to Toronto. I was wondering if you could answer few of my questions regarding the Canadian Healthcare. I got a phone call from my dermatologist's office yesterday (7/18/11) saying that I need to contact them immediately and if I can come over that day. Unfortunately I'm in Florida and couldn't make it. They scheduled my appointment for next Monday, but said that we can wait more if I need to stay in Florida longer. I’m cutting the trip short and will definitely be there on Monday. They didn’t want to tell me anything over the phone, but since I insisted the girl told me it’s a stage II melanoma. Now here are my questions:

1.      Do you know if I’m going to have more skin removed when I see the dermatologist on Monday?

2.      At stage II should I be talking to an oncologist already?

3.      The doctor I see is a dermatologist not a surgeon, should the second procedure be done by a surgeon or can it still be done by a dermatologist.

Any information is greatly appreciated. I’ve been really healthy so far and don’t have any experience with doctors in Canada.

Thank you!

Alexandra

Hello

I'm from Canada. Specifically from Mississauga, close to Toronto. I was wondering if you could answer few of my questions regarding the Canadian Healthcare. I got a phone call from my dermatologist's office yesterday (7/18/11) saying that I need to contact them immediately and if I can come over that day. Unfortunately I'm in Florida and couldn't make it. They scheduled my appointment for next Monday, but said that we can wait more if I need to stay in Florida longer. I’m cutting the trip short and will definitely be there on Monday. They didn’t want to tell me anything over the phone, but since I insisted the girl told me it’s a stage II melanoma. Now here are my questions:

1.      Do you know if I’m going to have more skin removed when I see the dermatologist on Monday?

2.      At stage II should I be talking to an oncologist already?

3.      The doctor I see is a dermatologist not a surgeon, should the second procedure be done by a surgeon or can it still be done by a dermatologist.

Any information is greatly appreciated. I’ve been really healthy so far and don’t have any experience with doctors in Canada.

Thank you!

Alexandra

I’m from Canada as well. Specifically from Mississauga, close to Toronto. I was wondering if you could answer few of my questions regarding the Canadian Healthcare. I got a phone call from my dermatologist’s office yesterday (7/18/11) saying that I need to contact them immediately and if I can come over that day. Unfortunately I’m in Florida and couldn’t make it. They scheduled my appointment for next Monday, but said that we can wait more if I need to stay in Florida longer. I’m cutting the trip short and will definitely be there on Monday. They didn’t want to tell me anything over the phone, but since I insisted the girl told me it’s a stage II melanoma. Now here are my questions:

1. Do you know if I’m going to have more skin removed when I see the dermatologist on Monday?
2. At stage II should I be talking to an oncologist already?
3. The doctor I see is a dermatologist not a surgeon, should the second procedure be done by a surgeon or can it still be done by a dermatologist.
4. If I may ask what stage were you since you didn’t require an oncology visit?

Any information is greatly appreciated. I’ve been really healthy so far and don’t have any experience with doctors in Canada.

Thank you!

Alexandra

I’m from Canada as well. Specifically from Mississauga, close to Toronto. I was wondering if you could answer few of my questions regarding the Canadian Healthcare. I got a phone call from my dermatologist’s office yesterday (7/18/11) saying that I need to contact them immediately and if I can come over that day. Unfortunately I’m in Florida and couldn’t make it. They scheduled my appointment for next Monday, but said that we can wait more if I need to stay in Florida longer. I’m cutting the trip short and will definitely be there on Monday. They didn’t want to tell me anything over the phone, but since I insisted the girl told me it’s a stage II melanoma. Now here are my questions:

1. Do you know if I’m going to have more skin removed when I see the dermatologist on Monday?
2. At stage II should I be talking to an oncologist already?
3. The doctor I see is a dermatologist not a surgeon, should the second procedure be done by a surgeon or can it still be done by a dermatologist.
4. If I may ask what stage were you since you didn’t require an oncology visit?

Any information is greatly appreciated. I’ve been really healthy so far and don’t have any experience with doctors in Canada.

Thank you!

Alexandra