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Recommendation for Melanoma Surgeon in SoCal needed
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Recommendation for Melanoma Surgeon in SoCal needed

› Forums › Cutaneous Melanoma Community › Recommendation for Melanoma Surgeon in SoCal needed

  • Post
    • September 3, 2015 at 12:23 am
    Skywalker
    Participant

      I was diagnosed with MIS on the center of my nose and after my initial shock thought this would be straightforward: excision with some reconstruction. 

      It turns out that an melanoma excision on the nose is challenging: Excision requires experience with the proper technique that not every dermatologist has and many plastic surgeons don't want to do any melanoma related reconstruction. 

      I've figured out by now from multiple consults that I would need someone who's specialized in using Mohs for Melanoma, which is rare. Moh's surgery is used typically for other skin cancers, not melanoma. The type of Moh's is controversial too, with or without histochemical stain, etc. 

      I need recommendations for a Moh's trained surgeon who is highly experienced in applying the technique for Melanoma; plus a plastic surgeon, plus a good oncologist – I actually have by now 3 primary cancers: breast, SCC, and melanoma and am told that that is not a good thing. Any recommendations are much appreciated. 

       

       

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    • Replies
        • September 3, 2015 at 1:32 am
        MattF
        Participant

          Dr Ellie Mogami 

          City Of hope Cancer Center 

          in Duarte outside Los Angeles

           

          she is Chief of Head and Neck Cancer Surgery

           

          Call new patient line and they will do records and set it up etc.

            • September 5, 2015 at 5:37 pm
            michaelinsocal
            Participant

              I would check with Dr David Hyams who works out of Eisenhower, one of the largest and renown hospitals in CA (though it's all the way out in the Coachella Valley. He is a very capable surgical oncologist who did my multiple surgeries. Mine was on the ankle and leg do you would need to check with your special circumstance. 

              On a side note, I sought a second opinion on my original diagnosis at the start of 2014 with the Coty of Hope in Duarte and at that time they flatly told me they don't handle Melanoma patients anymore as they head medical team that treated Melanoma had left for another facility in Santa Monica. I was quite shocked and disappointed.

              Best of luck 

              mike

              • September 5, 2015 at 5:39 pm
              michaelinsocal
              Participant

                Excuse the typos, I'm on a mobile device. 

                Well wishes

                mike

                • September 5, 2015 at 5:39 pm
                michaelinsocal
                Participant

                  Excuse the typos, I'm on a mobile device. 

                  Well wishes

                  mike

                  • September 5, 2015 at 5:39 pm
                  michaelinsocal
                  Participant

                    Excuse the typos, I'm on a mobile device. 

                    Well wishes

                    mike

                    • September 5, 2015 at 5:37 pm
                    michaelinsocal
                    Participant

                      I would check with Dr David Hyams who works out of Eisenhower, one of the largest and renown hospitals in CA (though it's all the way out in the Coachella Valley. He is a very capable surgical oncologist who did my multiple surgeries. Mine was on the ankle and leg do you would need to check with your special circumstance. 

                      On a side note, I sought a second opinion on my original diagnosis at the start of 2014 with the Coty of Hope in Duarte and at that time they flatly told me they don't handle Melanoma patients anymore as they head medical team that treated Melanoma had left for another facility in Santa Monica. I was quite shocked and disappointed.

                      Best of luck 

                      mike

                      • September 5, 2015 at 5:37 pm
                      michaelinsocal
                      Participant

                        I would check with Dr David Hyams who works out of Eisenhower, one of the largest and renown hospitals in CA (though it's all the way out in the Coachella Valley. He is a very capable surgical oncologist who did my multiple surgeries. Mine was on the ankle and leg do you would need to check with your special circumstance. 

                        On a side note, I sought a second opinion on my original diagnosis at the start of 2014 with the Coty of Hope in Duarte and at that time they flatly told me they don't handle Melanoma patients anymore as they head medical team that treated Melanoma had left for another facility in Santa Monica. I was quite shocked and disappointed.

                        Best of luck 

                        mike

                      • September 3, 2015 at 1:32 am
                      MattF
                      Participant

                        Dr Ellie Mogami 

                        City Of hope Cancer Center 

                        in Duarte outside Los Angeles

                         

                        she is Chief of Head and Neck Cancer Surgery

                         

                        Call new patient line and they will do records and set it up etc.

                        • September 3, 2015 at 1:32 am
                        MattF
                        Participant

                          Dr Ellie Mogami 

                          City Of hope Cancer Center 

                          in Duarte outside Los Angeles

                           

                          she is Chief of Head and Neck Cancer Surgery

                           

                          Call new patient line and they will do records and set it up etc.

                          • September 5, 2015 at 4:06 am
                          kylez
                          Participant

                            I don't know if you'd want to head up north (SF) for something like this. I also have no idea how long the recovery would need to be be. In the event you don't find somebody in SoCal … I see my oncologist and dermatlogist at UCSF's Melanoma Center and am very happy there. I'd expect their surgeons to do a great job too. Seven surgeons are part of the melanoma center: http://www.ucsfhealth.org/clinics/melanoma_center/. Four areare also listed as experts in Mohs surgery, on UCSF's Moh's info page here: http://www.ucsfhealth.org/treatments/mohs_micrographic_surgery/index.html

                            It seems like there should be a similar level of expertise closer to you too though, given the several large cancer centers in SoCal.

                            • September 5, 2015 at 4:06 am
                            kylez
                            Participant

                              I don't know if you'd want to head up north (SF) for something like this. I also have no idea how long the recovery would need to be be. In the event you don't find somebody in SoCal … I see my oncologist and dermatlogist at UCSF's Melanoma Center and am very happy there. I'd expect their surgeons to do a great job too. Seven surgeons are part of the melanoma center: http://www.ucsfhealth.org/clinics/melanoma_center/. Four areare also listed as experts in Mohs surgery, on UCSF's Moh's info page here: http://www.ucsfhealth.org/treatments/mohs_micrographic_surgery/index.html

                              It seems like there should be a similar level of expertise closer to you too though, given the several large cancer centers in SoCal.

                              • September 5, 2015 at 4:06 am
                              kylez
                              Participant

                                I don't know if you'd want to head up north (SF) for something like this. I also have no idea how long the recovery would need to be be. In the event you don't find somebody in SoCal … I see my oncologist and dermatlogist at UCSF's Melanoma Center and am very happy there. I'd expect their surgeons to do a great job too. Seven surgeons are part of the melanoma center: http://www.ucsfhealth.org/clinics/melanoma_center/. Four areare also listed as experts in Mohs surgery, on UCSF's Moh's info page here: http://www.ucsfhealth.org/treatments/mohs_micrographic_surgery/index.html

                                It seems like there should be a similar level of expertise closer to you too though, given the several large cancer centers in SoCal.

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