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Question re: City of Hope Cancer Center Duarte California

Forums General Melanoma Community Question re: City of Hope Cancer Center Duarte California

  • Post
    doragsda
    Participant

      Hello all,   I have a question regarding possibly changing facilities where my wife is seen.

      She was diagnosed Stage IV in July 2017 with two brain mets.   Primary had been on left calf in November 2016 and had WLE and SLNB at that time with clear nodes and clear scans, so monitoring only.   In July she had balance problems and we found a 26mm tumor in cerebellum and 10 mm tumor in left occipital area.   Had craniotomy to remove larger tumor, gamma knife on both locations, did 4 doses Ipi/Nivo  starting late September and has been on Nivo alone since then.   Had some radiation necrosis but 4 doses of Avastin seems to have stopped that in its tracks.  Cerebellum remains clear and occipital tumor is down to less than 3mm and PET/CT in December showed no metabolic activity at either location, so she is doing very well.   No tumors elsewhere in her body.

      She's been seeing Dr. Freeman at Angeles Clinic who coordinates with a local oncologist for her infusions and scans near home.   She has seen Dr. Hamid at Angeles a couple of times also.    Dr. Freeman is moving to City of Hope in Duarte, which is just about the same distance from our house as Angeles.   We need to decide whether to move over to City of Hope with her or stay at Angeles.   I would expect that Angeles will be hiring a new melanoma specialist oncologist to work with Dr. Hamid, and she would likely wind up seeing the new person (that's an assumption on my part, but I'm sure Dr. Hamid has a full patient load already).   City of Hope appears to be a very comprehensive facility with everything you might need under one roof.   Angeles is a fairly small clinic with an imaging center associated with them.

      Does anyone have any experience with City of Hope?   Just looking for feedback as we try to decide what to do.    Thank you.

      Dave

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    • Replies
        cancersnewnormal
        Participant

          Hi Dave, I haven't been to City of Hope, but have heard great things about it. I have everything done at USC. Just another option to toss into your pile of potential locations. Dr James Hu is my oncologist, along with his PA Kristi Lara. It's like a 2 for 1 when you go for check ups. As for keeping watch over the brain, Dr Eric Chang (Chair Radiation Oncology) is one of the top in the nation, and works closely with Dr Hu. We find it's easier to get to USC from up here on  the central coast than dropping down 405. Ugh. 

            corgimom
            Participant

              Hi, Dave

              Not to add confusion, but Dr. Ribas at UCLA is one of the great researchers in the field. And, it's always a good idea to get second and even third opinions. I even got a fourth opionion at the beginning. If you can meet the new doctor at Angeles Clinic, plus have appts with the others you will be able to determine who is the very best fit.

               

            CancerSpouse
            Participant

              Dave,

              We Angelenos are blessed with an abundance of great melanoma specialists! My husband, John, also is being treated by Dr. Ribas at UCLA, and finds him excellent. I know that Dr. Hamid is widely respected, and I'm wondering if that would be the main reason you'd stay at Angeles rather than follow the treating oncologist to CoH? If so, you might just want to ask if your wife could be seen by Dr. Hamid at this point because you are weighing whether to stay or go to CoH. Also, I would visit CoH to see if it feels right. I've spent some time there with another cancer patient. It's fantastic in many ways, but not always easy to be there. At least it wasn't in the 90's. ~ Carol

              AZSoCal
              Participant

                I would stick with Dr Freeman if I were you. Facilities bring certain ammenities, but your health is most dependent on the doctor, IMO. I'm also a big fan of Dr Freeman having been under her care at The Angeles Clinic for the past year.

                That said, I've also heard great things about City of Hope. It was recommended to me by many others in my research, and I'm confident Dr Freeman wouldn't have accepted a role there if she felt like the facility wasn't top notch.

                What I would recommend, having transfered to a different facility myself after a recent move, is to check the average wait times for appointments. I went from being about to get an appointment with Dr Freeman in a few days to waiting 3-4 weeks to see my new doctor at UCSD, and 3 weeks to get CT / PET scans scheduled. 

                The average wait times for infusions are also longer since they don't fill the perscription until after you arrive and are sitting in the chair. This can add another 30-90 mins to the appointment, depending on how busy they are during your appointment. Their infusion rooms have a much nicer view though, and they allow guests to join you (unlike Angeles Clinic), so there are some advantages. 🙂

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