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- April 11, 2014 at 4:15 pm
What are the differences between getting treated at a Melanoma center verses Cancer Treatment Centers of America?
I am weighing the options between Johns Hopkins and CTCA Philadelphia. I have met patient with cancers other than melanoma that loved the CTCA , buts I am concerned that the CTCAs might not be most up to date with melanoma treatments
Thanks for your input.
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- April 11, 2014 at 9:19 pm
As a lot of current melanoma treatments still are in clinical trials, do CTCA do those clinical trials? Johns Hopkins does. I'd go with a melanoma specialist that has proven themselves doing clinical trials and current treatments. If that is at JH, go there. If the same type of specialist is at CTCA, go there. I have nothing against CTCA, but they aren't mentioned "frequently" when it comes to melanoma. Research institutions are more likely to do clinical trials. Have CTCA melanoma specialists published research papers? I just think you need to do a little more digging regarding the specialists and what type of melanoma treatment you are planning. It would be helpful to know your staging.
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- April 11, 2014 at 9:19 pm
As a lot of current melanoma treatments still are in clinical trials, do CTCA do those clinical trials? Johns Hopkins does. I'd go with a melanoma specialist that has proven themselves doing clinical trials and current treatments. If that is at JH, go there. If the same type of specialist is at CTCA, go there. I have nothing against CTCA, but they aren't mentioned "frequently" when it comes to melanoma. Research institutions are more likely to do clinical trials. Have CTCA melanoma specialists published research papers? I just think you need to do a little more digging regarding the specialists and what type of melanoma treatment you are planning. It would be helpful to know your staging.
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- April 12, 2014 at 11:59 am
We went to JH when initially diagnosed with Stage 3 unknown primary 18 months ago. The first tumor was egg sized and BRAF negative so our options for treatment were total lymph node removal, radiation and maybe a vaccine trial. We opted to not do the total lymph node removal and had low dose radiation and a year of Interferon with a medical oncologist since my husband was otherwise healthy at the time of this diagnosis. While we do not regret this treatment choice, we have learned more about melanoma from following this forum
The new lump presented with no discoloration – just a bump on the arm which grew quickly from pea to grape size. It was removed and found to be metastatic melanoma. Maybe this one is the primary since it is the arm that drains into the lymph node basin with the node removal. Could it have regressed and returned? Being melanoma, it probably could… The first 6 month PET was clear and it is time for the second 6 month PET.
As we prepare for Round 2, we know that in addition to looking for coloration changes, we will need to be mindful of bumps and lumps. Our hopes are not dashed and we will continue to live each day fully.
As for CTCAs go, I would like to hear if folks found success being treated there.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
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- April 12, 2014 at 11:59 am
We went to JH when initially diagnosed with Stage 3 unknown primary 18 months ago. The first tumor was egg sized and BRAF negative so our options for treatment were total lymph node removal, radiation and maybe a vaccine trial. We opted to not do the total lymph node removal and had low dose radiation and a year of Interferon with a medical oncologist since my husband was otherwise healthy at the time of this diagnosis. While we do not regret this treatment choice, we have learned more about melanoma from following this forum
The new lump presented with no discoloration – just a bump on the arm which grew quickly from pea to grape size. It was removed and found to be metastatic melanoma. Maybe this one is the primary since it is the arm that drains into the lymph node basin with the node removal. Could it have regressed and returned? Being melanoma, it probably could… The first 6 month PET was clear and it is time for the second 6 month PET.
As we prepare for Round 2, we know that in addition to looking for coloration changes, we will need to be mindful of bumps and lumps. Our hopes are not dashed and we will continue to live each day fully.
As for CTCAs go, I would like to hear if folks found success being treated there.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
-
- May 23, 2015 at 11:13 pm
Hi there,
I know this is a little off topic but I was wondering if you could share with me a little about the first month of interferon at Hopkins? I'm about to begin the process.
As for your question, I have done lots of research and do employment law for health care. In my opinion, the best centers are MD Anderson, Sloan Kettering and Hopkins because of their melanoma specialist credentials.
Thanks for your post… CT
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- May 23, 2015 at 11:13 pm
Hi there,
I know this is a little off topic but I was wondering if you could share with me a little about the first month of interferon at Hopkins? I'm about to begin the process.
As for your question, I have done lots of research and do employment law for health care. In my opinion, the best centers are MD Anderson, Sloan Kettering and Hopkins because of their melanoma specialist credentials.
Thanks for your post… CT
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- May 23, 2015 at 11:13 pm
Hi there,
I know this is a little off topic but I was wondering if you could share with me a little about the first month of interferon at Hopkins? I'm about to begin the process.
As for your question, I have done lots of research and do employment law for health care. In my opinion, the best centers are MD Anderson, Sloan Kettering and Hopkins because of their melanoma specialist credentials.
Thanks for your post… CT
-
- April 12, 2014 at 11:59 am
We went to JH when initially diagnosed with Stage 3 unknown primary 18 months ago. The first tumor was egg sized and BRAF negative so our options for treatment were total lymph node removal, radiation and maybe a vaccine trial. We opted to not do the total lymph node removal and had low dose radiation and a year of Interferon with a medical oncologist since my husband was otherwise healthy at the time of this diagnosis. While we do not regret this treatment choice, we have learned more about melanoma from following this forum
The new lump presented with no discoloration – just a bump on the arm which grew quickly from pea to grape size. It was removed and found to be metastatic melanoma. Maybe this one is the primary since it is the arm that drains into the lymph node basin with the node removal. Could it have regressed and returned? Being melanoma, it probably could… The first 6 month PET was clear and it is time for the second 6 month PET.
As we prepare for Round 2, we know that in addition to looking for coloration changes, we will need to be mindful of bumps and lumps. Our hopes are not dashed and we will continue to live each day fully.
As for CTCAs go, I would like to hear if folks found success being treated there.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
-
- April 11, 2014 at 9:19 pm
As a lot of current melanoma treatments still are in clinical trials, do CTCA do those clinical trials? Johns Hopkins does. I'd go with a melanoma specialist that has proven themselves doing clinical trials and current treatments. If that is at JH, go there. If the same type of specialist is at CTCA, go there. I have nothing against CTCA, but they aren't mentioned "frequently" when it comes to melanoma. Research institutions are more likely to do clinical trials. Have CTCA melanoma specialists published research papers? I just think you need to do a little more digging regarding the specialists and what type of melanoma treatment you are planning. It would be helpful to know your staging.
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- April 12, 2014 at 2:12 am
Dr Sharfman from Johns Hopkins gave me hope, it's been almost 3 years ago when 2 other sets of Drs. Said I had less than a year to live.
IL2 didn't work for me and zelboraf just happened to be approved that month.
i'm still kickin and enjoying life!
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- April 12, 2014 at 12:05 pm
Sounds like you share our philosophy of life with melanoma. We will not let this diagnosis define our lives or steal our inner joy.
I checked out your profile and did not see if your melanoma is BRAF positive. My husband's first tumor was wild type and we are waiting to see if they will test this new growth for the mutation. I recall seeing another person saying they have had both the BRAF positive and negative tumors.
We saw Dr. Lipson following the first diagnosis and have a call in to get scheduled at JH ASAP.
Thanks for sharing,
-
- April 12, 2014 at 12:05 pm
Sounds like you share our philosophy of life with melanoma. We will not let this diagnosis define our lives or steal our inner joy.
I checked out your profile and did not see if your melanoma is BRAF positive. My husband's first tumor was wild type and we are waiting to see if they will test this new growth for the mutation. I recall seeing another person saying they have had both the BRAF positive and negative tumors.
We saw Dr. Lipson following the first diagnosis and have a call in to get scheduled at JH ASAP.
Thanks for sharing,
-
- April 12, 2014 at 12:05 pm
Sounds like you share our philosophy of life with melanoma. We will not let this diagnosis define our lives or steal our inner joy.
I checked out your profile and did not see if your melanoma is BRAF positive. My husband's first tumor was wild type and we are waiting to see if they will test this new growth for the mutation. I recall seeing another person saying they have had both the BRAF positive and negative tumors.
We saw Dr. Lipson following the first diagnosis and have a call in to get scheduled at JH ASAP.
Thanks for sharing,
-
- April 12, 2014 at 2:12 am
Dr Sharfman from Johns Hopkins gave me hope, it's been almost 3 years ago when 2 other sets of Drs. Said I had less than a year to live.
IL2 didn't work for me and zelboraf just happened to be approved that month.
i'm still kickin and enjoying life!
-
- April 12, 2014 at 2:12 am
Dr Sharfman from Johns Hopkins gave me hope, it's been almost 3 years ago when 2 other sets of Drs. Said I had less than a year to live.
IL2 didn't work for me and zelboraf just happened to be approved that month.
i'm still kickin and enjoying life!
-
- April 13, 2014 at 7:56 pm
Melanoma is not like any other cancer because it's not treated with chemotherapy drugs. It's treated with immunotherapy drugs. CTCA may be up to speed on chemo treatments for various cancers but it's not likely they'd be as up to speed on immunotherapy treatments as a melanoma clinic would be. Also, the world of melanoma treatments is growing by leaps and bounds and I doubt that CTCA would be able to keep pace with that. This is why I would not opt to go to there.
The difference between the two treatment modalities is that chemo drugs kill the cancer cells. Immunotherapy drugs induce your immune system to do the killing. Chemo is not effective against melanoma.
JH is one of the country's (if not the world's) top hospitals for melanoma. I don't think that CTCA can make the same claim. Another world class melanoma clinic is in Phillie and that's over at Abramson Cancer Center at the University of PA. You would be in great hands at either JH or Abramson.
I see Dr. Scharfmann at JH and have been very happy with his calm, gentle demeanor. Also, one of his interests in the realm of melanoma are unknown primaries, which is what I have. I learned this after the fact and this convinced me all the more that I found the right onc for me.
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- April 13, 2014 at 7:56 pm
Melanoma is not like any other cancer because it's not treated with chemotherapy drugs. It's treated with immunotherapy drugs. CTCA may be up to speed on chemo treatments for various cancers but it's not likely they'd be as up to speed on immunotherapy treatments as a melanoma clinic would be. Also, the world of melanoma treatments is growing by leaps and bounds and I doubt that CTCA would be able to keep pace with that. This is why I would not opt to go to there.
The difference between the two treatment modalities is that chemo drugs kill the cancer cells. Immunotherapy drugs induce your immune system to do the killing. Chemo is not effective against melanoma.
JH is one of the country's (if not the world's) top hospitals for melanoma. I don't think that CTCA can make the same claim. Another world class melanoma clinic is in Phillie and that's over at Abramson Cancer Center at the University of PA. You would be in great hands at either JH or Abramson.
I see Dr. Scharfmann at JH and have been very happy with his calm, gentle demeanor. Also, one of his interests in the realm of melanoma are unknown primaries, which is what I have. I learned this after the fact and this convinced me all the more that I found the right onc for me.
-
- April 13, 2014 at 7:56 pm
Melanoma is not like any other cancer because it's not treated with chemotherapy drugs. It's treated with immunotherapy drugs. CTCA may be up to speed on chemo treatments for various cancers but it's not likely they'd be as up to speed on immunotherapy treatments as a melanoma clinic would be. Also, the world of melanoma treatments is growing by leaps and bounds and I doubt that CTCA would be able to keep pace with that. This is why I would not opt to go to there.
The difference between the two treatment modalities is that chemo drugs kill the cancer cells. Immunotherapy drugs induce your immune system to do the killing. Chemo is not effective against melanoma.
JH is one of the country's (if not the world's) top hospitals for melanoma. I don't think that CTCA can make the same claim. Another world class melanoma clinic is in Phillie and that's over at Abramson Cancer Center at the University of PA. You would be in great hands at either JH or Abramson.
I see Dr. Scharfmann at JH and have been very happy with his calm, gentle demeanor. Also, one of his interests in the realm of melanoma are unknown primaries, which is what I have. I learned this after the fact and this convinced me all the more that I found the right onc for me.
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- April 13, 2014 at 9:49 pm
Thank you for sharing your story especially that like my husband, you have an unknown primary.. I see in you profile that you have had a good response to immunotherapy.
We are in the process if heading back to JH and are hopeful that they will be able to guide us to the best treatment option for Round 2.
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- April 13, 2014 at 9:49 pm
Thank you for sharing your story especially that like my husband, you have an unknown primary.. I see in you profile that you have had a good response to immunotherapy.
We are in the process if heading back to JH and are hopeful that they will be able to guide us to the best treatment option for Round 2.
-
- April 13, 2014 at 9:49 pm
Thank you for sharing your story especially that like my husband, you have an unknown primary.. I see in you profile that you have had a good response to immunotherapy.
We are in the process if heading back to JH and are hopeful that they will be able to guide us to the best treatment option for Round 2.
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