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Referral Washington, DC- DMV area- metastatic melanoma specialist- cancer in foot, leg & lymphnodes
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Referral Washington, DC- DMV area- metastatic melanoma specialist- cancer in foot, leg & lymphnodes

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Referral Washington, DC- DMV area- metastatic melanoma specialist- cancer in foot, leg & lymphnodes

  • This topic has 15 replies, 8 voices, and was last updated 7 years ago by AB.
  • Post
    • February 27, 2017 at 2:19 am
    AB
    Participant

      Anyone feel their doctor is interested in them versus just what they can write about the success and or failure they have had with Patient X? I need a doctor that will give me an idea of my real options, side effects and estimated timeline for the mets to spread to my brain, chest, abdomen & pelvis. Thanks again

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        • February 27, 2017 at 2:57 am
        tschmith
        Participant

          I was treated by Dr. Evan Lipson from Johns Hopkins.  He sees patients at Sibley Hospital in NW DC on Thursdays… his Washington, DC and Northern VA patients don't have to travel all the way to Baltimore.  He's terrific.  He referred me to Dr. Michael Atkins/ Lombardi Cancer Center at Medstar Georgetown because at the time Georgetown was participating in Merck's Extended Access Program for Pembrolizumab.  Hopkins didn't have the program yet and he felt I needed to try Keytruda as soon as possible.  I had just finished a clinical trial at NIH and it was not successful.  Dr. Atkins is fantastic too.  Both doctors truly care about their patients. They are friends and collaborate with each other.  So, Evan Lipson/Johns Hopkins or Michael Atkins/Georgetown Lombardi Cancer Center…can't go wrong with either of them.  Oh…I'm Stage 4 and currently in remission.

            • February 28, 2017 at 3:21 am
            AB
            Participant

              Thank you so much! I put in a call this AM to Dr. Lipson.

              • March 1, 2017 at 1:00 am
              Mark_DC
              Participant

                OK but dont forget Atkins / Gibney at Georgetown — terrie is with Atkins now and I am with Gibney. GIbney is not aloof imho. If u see Lipson ask about the georgtown team, they help each other.

                good luck Mark

                • March 1, 2017 at 1:00 am
                Mark_DC
                Participant

                  OK but dont forget Atkins / Gibney at Georgetown — terrie is with Atkins now and I am with Gibney. GIbney is not aloof imho. If u see Lipson ask about the georgtown team, they help each other.

                  good luck Mark

                • February 27, 2017 at 4:06 am
                Mark_DC
                Participant

                  I agree with tschmith. I see Dr. Geoffrey Gibney at Georgetown who works with Dr. Atkins (i think also they back each other up and share jnfo). I have found him and the nurse practitioners he works with considerate and caring, and treating me as an individual. He replies by email sometimes with a little lag but in a friday night mini crisis a month ago he replied within a few minutes. And the nurse practitioner almost always responds quickly. I think they are a good team. I saw Dr. Lipson for a second opinion, met him at Sibley, and found him informative and liked his assistants too. They are all melanoma specialists. I know that Dr. Gibney specializes in immunotherapy and came to Georgtown from Moffatt Tampa which is good. I dont know whther or not i will be cured but from what i have seen i know my team is knowledgeable and caring. Good luck mark

                  • February 27, 2017 at 4:06 am
                  Mark_DC
                  Participant

                    I agree with tschmith. I see Dr. Geoffrey Gibney at Georgetown who works with Dr. Atkins (i think also they back each other up and share jnfo). I have found him and the nurse practitioners he works with considerate and caring, and treating me as an individual. He replies by email sometimes with a little lag but in a friday night mini crisis a month ago he replied within a few minutes. And the nurse practitioner almost always responds quickly. I think they are a good team. I saw Dr. Lipson for a second opinion, met him at Sibley, and found him informative and liked his assistants too. They are all melanoma specialists. I know that Dr. Gibney specializes in immunotherapy and came to Georgtown from Moffatt Tampa which is good. I dont know whther or not i will be cured but from what i have seen i know my team is knowledgeable and caring. Good luck mark

                      • March 2, 2017 at 6:13 am
                      jogo
                      Participant

                        I also agree with tschmith and Mark_DC.  I started with Dr. Atkins on a clinical trial. When Dr. Gibney came on board at Lombardi I was no longer receiving treatment. I was transferred to him because of his expertise in type the immunotherapy (ipilimumab) I had been receiving.  He is very personable and caring.  The nurse practitioner and clinical trial nurse are also very knowledgeable and caring. I think Dr. Atkins is still monitoring my progress.  It's a great team all around!   Good luck.

                      • February 27, 2017 at 12:08 pm
                      SABKLYN
                      Participant

                        I've been very pleased with Dr.Jedd Wolchock at Memorial Sloan Kettering. He has heldped in the development of many treatments for the disease and is a very comassionate doctor.  I live in Atlanta, but elected to be treated in NY. Here is his contact informatio.   https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/doctors/jedd-wolchok. HGood luck!

                        Stan

                          • February 28, 2017 at 3:22 am
                          AB
                          Participant

                            Thank you

                          • February 27, 2017 at 2:14 pm
                          J.bun
                          Participant

                            You may want to meet with Dr. Jang from Inova in Fairfax, VA.  I live in the city, but it has never taken me more than 20-25 mins to get there.  

                            https://www.inova.org/healthcare-services/cancer/specialty-cancer-programs/our-team

                              • February 28, 2017 at 3:25 am
                              AB
                              Participant

                                I am having a terrible experience with him….no response, no advice or direction, Aloof, etc. Really loved Merrick Ross & Michael Wong at MD Anderson, and the teams at NIH and Sloan ( found Dr.Atkins extremely knowledgeable, but the sales pitch was too strong). 

                              • February 27, 2017 at 11:27 pm
                              tschmith
                              Participant

                                Oh..I forgot to sign my name.  It's Terrie.  Sorry!  I've met Dr. Jang but can't remember if it was at Georgetown, NIH, or a SiTC Conference.  You have many great doctors to choosed from in the DC area.

                                  • February 28, 2017 at 2:52 pm
                                  JohnA
                                  Participant

                                    We had a great experience with Dr. Bill Sharfman at Hopkins.  Very knowledgable, kind and responsive.

                                    Also, if you're willing to travel to Sloan, Paul Chapman is fantastic. The initial clinical trials for combo therapy were generated there. Or, a little further for you, Dr. Hodi at Dana Farber who has also fostered clinical trials. 

                                    We have really benefitted from being at a place working with a doc who has run lots of patients through immunotherapy protocols as part of the Keynote and other trials, since we belive it's the clinical judgement that has truly made a difference in my wife's care.  We asked how many patients the doc has treated with the therapy recommended for my wife and found people whose judgement we really respected.

                                     

                                    • February 28, 2017 at 4:00 pm
                                    mrsaxde
                                    Participant

                                      I'll second the recommendation for Dr. Sharfman. He listens, answers questions, and generally gives you the time you need to talk to him. I've seen him for consults 3 times over the past 3 years and I've been very happy.

                                      • April 30, 2017 at 2:54 am
                                      AB
                                      Participant

                                        Thank you all for your help and direction! NED now what?????

                                        I had a complete response after 3 Keytruda infusions- NED!

                                        Will have 8 total infusions, and then a 2nd scan to solidify NED….unless someone on the site has a better plan.

                                        Merck and my Dr., don't have enough Keytruda his tot to provide any real direction.

                                        My side effects are very minimal…a little tired, hungry, and limited itch skin/scalp (not visibly different). Any other thoughts on staying on/ going off Keytruda.

                                        Thanks,

                                        Andrea  

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