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Specialist recommendations in SoCal

Forums General Melanoma Community Specialist recommendations in SoCal

  • Post
    michaelinsocal
    Participant

      Diagnosed at the end of '13. Spindle Cell Melanoma on left ankle, staged (and current) 3A. 

      Im getting my second set of scans (CT/MRI) next week and want a specialist to review them and the course of treatment that I've undertaken. 

      I live out in the lower Southern California desert (Palm Springs area). Can anyone recommend a melanoma specialist with excellent reviews, preferably within a 1-2 hour drive from here? 

      Many thanks in advance.

      Michael

    Viewing 11 reply threads
    • Replies
        killmel
        Participant

          Hi Michael

          I am a stage 4 melanoma patient presently NED. I personnal have been to these 4 Melanoma Specialists and highly recommend each of these doctors. All these doctors are acclaimed melanoma specialist with extensive experience with melanoma research and clinical trials.

          Dr. O'Day
          2121 Santa Monica blvd, Sana Monica  at Providence Saint Johns in John Wayne clinic in hospital.
          Rob is contact for scheduling. 310-315-6125

          Dr.Tony Ribas- UCLA Medical in Los Angeles 310 206-3928
          [email protected]

          Dr Boasberg- The Angeles Clinic on Wilshire in Sana Monica 310 231 2192

          Dr. Greg Daniels-UC Sand Diego Medical Center [email protected] 858-822- 6267

          Good Luck

          killmel
          Participant

            Hi Michael

            I am a stage 4 melanoma patient presently NED. I personnal have been to these 4 Melanoma Specialists and highly recommend each of these doctors. All these doctors are acclaimed melanoma specialist with extensive experience with melanoma research and clinical trials.

            Dr. O'Day
            2121 Santa Monica blvd, Sana Monica  at Providence Saint Johns in John Wayne clinic in hospital.
            Rob is contact for scheduling. 310-315-6125

            Dr.Tony Ribas- UCLA Medical in Los Angeles 310 206-3928
            [email protected]

            Dr Boasberg- The Angeles Clinic on Wilshire in Sana Monica 310 231 2192

            Dr. Greg Daniels-UC Sand Diego Medical Center [email protected] 858-822- 6267

            Good Luck

              Julie in SoCal
              Participant

                Hi Michael,

                I've seen both Dr. O'day and Dr Boasberg, and highly recommend both.  Both are knowledgeable about Mel and have fantastic teams around them.

                Shalom,

                Julie

                Julie in SoCal
                Participant

                  Hi Michael,

                  I've seen both Dr. O'day and Dr Boasberg, and highly recommend both.  Both are knowledgeable about Mel and have fantastic teams around them.

                  Shalom,

                  Julie

                  Julie in SoCal
                  Participant

                    Hi Michael,

                    I've seen both Dr. O'day and Dr Boasberg, and highly recommend both.  Both are knowledgeable about Mel and have fantastic teams around them.

                    Shalom,

                    Julie

                    DZnDef
                    Participant

                      Hi Michael!  Of the doctors anonymous posted, I have only been to see Dr. O'Day and he is wonderful.  Very caring and very experienced in the administration of the current drugs.

                      Cheers!

                      Maggie

                      DZnDef
                      Participant

                        Hi Michael!  Of the doctors anonymous posted, I have only been to see Dr. O'Day and he is wonderful.  Very caring and very experienced in the administration of the current drugs.

                        Cheers!

                        Maggie

                        DZnDef
                        Participant

                          Hi Michael!  Of the doctors anonymous posted, I have only been to see Dr. O'Day and he is wonderful.  Very caring and very experienced in the administration of the current drugs.

                          Cheers!

                          Maggie

                        killmel
                        Participant

                          Hi Michael

                          I am a stage 4 melanoma patient presently NED. I personnal have been to these 4 Melanoma Specialists and highly recommend each of these doctors. All these doctors are acclaimed melanoma specialist with extensive experience with melanoma research and clinical trials.

                          Dr. O'Day
                          2121 Santa Monica blvd, Sana Monica  at Providence Saint Johns in John Wayne clinic in hospital.
                          Rob is contact for scheduling. 310-315-6125

                          Dr.Tony Ribas- UCLA Medical in Los Angeles 310 206-3928
                          [email protected]

                          Dr Boasberg- The Angeles Clinic on Wilshire in Sana Monica 310 231 2192

                          Dr. Greg Daniels-UC Sand Diego Medical Center [email protected] 858-822- 6267

                          Good Luck

                          khubes
                          Participant

                            Hi Michael, 

                            My husband's melanoma specialist is Dr. Omid Hamid of The Angeles Clinic. I highly recommend him. He's been spot on with everything regarding my husband's treatment. Super amazing doctor who really knows his stuff and really cares about his patients. 

                            Best of luck! 

                            Katie 

                            khubes
                            Participant

                              Hi Michael, 

                              My husband's melanoma specialist is Dr. Omid Hamid of The Angeles Clinic. I highly recommend him. He's been spot on with everything regarding my husband's treatment. Super amazing doctor who really knows his stuff and really cares about his patients. 

                              Best of luck! 

                              Katie 

                              khubes
                              Participant

                                Hi Michael, 

                                My husband's melanoma specialist is Dr. Omid Hamid of The Angeles Clinic. I highly recommend him. He's been spot on with everything regarding my husband's treatment. Super amazing doctor who really knows his stuff and really cares about his patients. 

                                Best of luck! 

                                Katie 

                                Patina
                                Participant

                                  Hi Michael,

                                  I can recommend one doctor on the list you already have and one doctor not yet recommended. I would also warn you away from some of the others doctors or facilities because my Mom had a misdiagnosis at one facility and the other we went to for a second opinion assumed that the results from the first melanoma specialist were 100% accurate. They were NOT.  A radiologist who read the first results blew it and said my Mom did NOT have brain mets. She infact had 3 and neither of the first two melanoma specialists bothered to look at the MRI and just read the report. When you find a doctor who looks at the reports and then views the MRIs without prompting you know that you've found a doctor that dots his eye and crosses his t's.  You learn a lot from these doctors and more importantly, you'll feel better about your choice. 

                                  For me, Dr. Peter Bosaberg and Dr. Michael Wong are those types of doctors and they, in my estimation are excellent.

                                  Dr. Peter Bosaberg "discovered" the brain mets my Mom's MRI scan had.  The radiologist, at a different facility, told Dr. Bosaberg and myself that he "must have overlooked the brain mets. This isn't a final report." The report had been issued weeks earlier…  Dr. Bosaberg was spot on.

                                  —  You can reach Dr. Bosaberg at (310) 582-7900. 2001 Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90404

                                  Dr. Michael Wong is the doctor my Mom chose as her Oncologist and we could NOT, I repeat NOT, have made a better choice. He and the doctors he works with at USC Norris are simply fantastic. 
                                  —  You can reach Dr. Wong's at (310) 856-3371. 1441 Eastlake Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90033

                                  One thing I would recommend thinking about is that Melanoma patients have a very high chance of getting brain mets (>40%) and you need to identify a facility that has both the oncologist and the radiation oncologist on the off chance that you end up with brain mets.  Brain mets can be treated, but you need a expert that you can work with.  My Mom's 1st radiation oncologist was in a Beverly Hills based facility. He missed a brain met my Mom had in the first treatment. He said the day of the gamma knife radiation procedure and in a one month followup appointment that what looked like a brain met, and what a radiologist wrote the report for the 1st followup MRI, was not a brain met. It WAS a brain met and my Mom had a second procedure months later for 17 brain mets by Dr. Eric Chang. – Great results. 

                                  Not only was the radiation oncologist wrong be the neuroncologist we were told to follow up with gave us terrible advice. I got concerned when he said she had a brain met in her prefrontal lobe and he didn't think it was time for another gamma knife procedure, but we should wait and see what happens. – Not something you necessarily do….

                                  Dr. Wong was so concerned that there was a problem, after I emailed him about a the followup with the neuroncologist, he got my Mom a consult with Dr. Eric Chang at USC for us the next day. – Dr. Chang found 5 brain mets in the prefrontal lobe alone that needed treatment, when we had been old there was one the previous day.  In addition, when the procedure was done 8 days later they treated 17 brain mets. Many other brain mets were found that the ones Dr. Chang ID'd in the prefrontal lobe and we are very grateful for Dr. Wong for recommending him.

                                  My Mom has had 26 Gamma Knife Radiation procedures and a craniotomy for a reoccurrence.  There have been no cognitive issues and even though she's had 1 new brain met since April of 2014 and a reoccurrence around one of the first brain mets treated she is doing very well.  I believe that if we had stayed with the other radiologist oncologist  and neuroncologist I would not be able to say this.  

                                  If you want an opinion on your treatment, options you have and what to consider if things progress contact both Dr. Michael Wong at USC Norris or Dr. Peter Bosaberg at the Angeles Clinic to see what they have to say. You'll like them both.

                                  Good Luck!

                                  Patina
                                  Participant

                                    Hi Michael,

                                    I can recommend one doctor on the list you already have and one doctor not yet recommended. I would also warn you away from some of the others doctors or facilities because my Mom had a misdiagnosis at one facility and the other we went to for a second opinion assumed that the results from the first melanoma specialist were 100% accurate. They were NOT.  A radiologist who read the first results blew it and said my Mom did NOT have brain mets. She infact had 3 and neither of the first two melanoma specialists bothered to look at the MRI and just read the report. When you find a doctor who looks at the reports and then views the MRIs without prompting you know that you've found a doctor that dots his eye and crosses his t's.  You learn a lot from these doctors and more importantly, you'll feel better about your choice. 

                                    For me, Dr. Peter Bosaberg and Dr. Michael Wong are those types of doctors and they, in my estimation are excellent.

                                    Dr. Peter Bosaberg "discovered" the brain mets my Mom's MRI scan had.  The radiologist, at a different facility, told Dr. Bosaberg and myself that he "must have overlooked the brain mets. This isn't a final report." The report had been issued weeks earlier…  Dr. Bosaberg was spot on.

                                    —  You can reach Dr. Bosaberg at (310) 582-7900. 2001 Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90404

                                    Dr. Michael Wong is the doctor my Mom chose as her Oncologist and we could NOT, I repeat NOT, have made a better choice. He and the doctors he works with at USC Norris are simply fantastic. 
                                    —  You can reach Dr. Wong's at (310) 856-3371. 1441 Eastlake Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90033

                                    One thing I would recommend thinking about is that Melanoma patients have a very high chance of getting brain mets (>40%) and you need to identify a facility that has both the oncologist and the radiation oncologist on the off chance that you end up with brain mets.  Brain mets can be treated, but you need a expert that you can work with.  My Mom's 1st radiation oncologist was in a Beverly Hills based facility. He missed a brain met my Mom had in the first treatment. He said the day of the gamma knife radiation procedure and in a one month followup appointment that what looked like a brain met, and what a radiologist wrote the report for the 1st followup MRI, was not a brain met. It WAS a brain met and my Mom had a second procedure months later for 17 brain mets by Dr. Eric Chang. – Great results. 

                                    Not only was the radiation oncologist wrong be the neuroncologist we were told to follow up with gave us terrible advice. I got concerned when he said she had a brain met in her prefrontal lobe and he didn't think it was time for another gamma knife procedure, but we should wait and see what happens. – Not something you necessarily do….

                                    Dr. Wong was so concerned that there was a problem, after I emailed him about a the followup with the neuroncologist, he got my Mom a consult with Dr. Eric Chang at USC for us the next day. – Dr. Chang found 5 brain mets in the prefrontal lobe alone that needed treatment, when we had been old there was one the previous day.  In addition, when the procedure was done 8 days later they treated 17 brain mets. Many other brain mets were found that the ones Dr. Chang ID'd in the prefrontal lobe and we are very grateful for Dr. Wong for recommending him.

                                    My Mom has had 26 Gamma Knife Radiation procedures and a craniotomy for a reoccurrence.  There have been no cognitive issues and even though she's had 1 new brain met since April of 2014 and a reoccurrence around one of the first brain mets treated she is doing very well.  I believe that if we had stayed with the other radiologist oncologist  and neuroncologist I would not be able to say this.  

                                    If you want an opinion on your treatment, options you have and what to consider if things progress contact both Dr. Michael Wong at USC Norris or Dr. Peter Bosaberg at the Angeles Clinic to see what they have to say. You'll like them both.

                                    Good Luck!

                                    Patina
                                    Participant

                                      Hi Michael,

                                      I can recommend one doctor on the list you already have and one doctor not yet recommended. I would also warn you away from some of the others doctors or facilities because my Mom had a misdiagnosis at one facility and the other we went to for a second opinion assumed that the results from the first melanoma specialist were 100% accurate. They were NOT.  A radiologist who read the first results blew it and said my Mom did NOT have brain mets. She infact had 3 and neither of the first two melanoma specialists bothered to look at the MRI and just read the report. When you find a doctor who looks at the reports and then views the MRIs without prompting you know that you've found a doctor that dots his eye and crosses his t's.  You learn a lot from these doctors and more importantly, you'll feel better about your choice. 

                                      For me, Dr. Peter Bosaberg and Dr. Michael Wong are those types of doctors and they, in my estimation are excellent.

                                      Dr. Peter Bosaberg "discovered" the brain mets my Mom's MRI scan had.  The radiologist, at a different facility, told Dr. Bosaberg and myself that he "must have overlooked the brain mets. This isn't a final report." The report had been issued weeks earlier…  Dr. Bosaberg was spot on.

                                      —  You can reach Dr. Bosaberg at (310) 582-7900. 2001 Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90404

                                      Dr. Michael Wong is the doctor my Mom chose as her Oncologist and we could NOT, I repeat NOT, have made a better choice. He and the doctors he works with at USC Norris are simply fantastic. 
                                      —  You can reach Dr. Wong's at (310) 856-3371. 1441 Eastlake Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90033

                                      One thing I would recommend thinking about is that Melanoma patients have a very high chance of getting brain mets (>40%) and you need to identify a facility that has both the oncologist and the radiation oncologist on the off chance that you end up with brain mets.  Brain mets can be treated, but you need a expert that you can work with.  My Mom's 1st radiation oncologist was in a Beverly Hills based facility. He missed a brain met my Mom had in the first treatment. He said the day of the gamma knife radiation procedure and in a one month followup appointment that what looked like a brain met, and what a radiologist wrote the report for the 1st followup MRI, was not a brain met. It WAS a brain met and my Mom had a second procedure months later for 17 brain mets by Dr. Eric Chang. – Great results. 

                                      Not only was the radiation oncologist wrong be the neuroncologist we were told to follow up with gave us terrible advice. I got concerned when he said she had a brain met in her prefrontal lobe and he didn't think it was time for another gamma knife procedure, but we should wait and see what happens. – Not something you necessarily do….

                                      Dr. Wong was so concerned that there was a problem, after I emailed him about a the followup with the neuroncologist, he got my Mom a consult with Dr. Eric Chang at USC for us the next day. – Dr. Chang found 5 brain mets in the prefrontal lobe alone that needed treatment, when we had been old there was one the previous day.  In addition, when the procedure was done 8 days later they treated 17 brain mets. Many other brain mets were found that the ones Dr. Chang ID'd in the prefrontal lobe and we are very grateful for Dr. Wong for recommending him.

                                      My Mom has had 26 Gamma Knife Radiation procedures and a craniotomy for a reoccurrence.  There have been no cognitive issues and even though she's had 1 new brain met since April of 2014 and a reoccurrence around one of the first brain mets treated she is doing very well.  I believe that if we had stayed with the other radiologist oncologist  and neuroncologist I would not be able to say this.  

                                      If you want an opinion on your treatment, options you have and what to consider if things progress contact both Dr. Michael Wong at USC Norris or Dr. Peter Bosaberg at the Angeles Clinic to see what they have to say. You'll like them both.

                                      Good Luck!

                                      michaelinsocal
                                      Participant

                                        Thank you all for the recommendations. Many many thanks!

                                        Michael

                                        michaelinsocal
                                        Participant

                                          Thank you all for the recommendations. Many many thanks!

                                          Michael

                                          michaelinsocal
                                          Participant

                                            Thank you all for the recommendations. Many many thanks!

                                            Michael

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