Why go to a specialist?

I have a melanoma oncologist and a dermatologist who specializes in melanoma. They are at UCSF Melanoma Center. The only non-melanoma doctor I have right now is my obgyn. I am grateful to have a specialized center only 40 minutes from home. The reason I go to melanoma specific doctors to treat my melanoma is because it is a cancer that does not act like other cancers. It can be tricky and it can act very differently for different people. It doesn't follow general cancer rules in a sense. Plus, melanoma specialists will be very on top of the newest research, treatments, and clinical trials. They know the ins and outs of this crappy cancer, unlike a general oncologist who probably doesn't see very many melanoma patients and might miss things or not know about things the way a melanoma oncologist would. If you want the best possible care with a doctor that can really give you the best options for your melanoma it is always recommended to have a melanoma specialist as a part of your health team. 

I am sure if you don't live close enough to a melanoma specialist, you can find one somewhere near you and sort of "add them" to your team. Have them consult with your regular oncologist so that they are getting the best information they can get to help treat you. When I was first diagnosed I had Kaiser insurance, had a regular oncologist, immediately found out about UCSF Melanoma Center and for the month and a half before I could change health insurance I had authorization from Kaiser to see the melanoma specialists and they consulted with the Kaiser oncologist until the first of this year when I was able to go to UCSF full-time. 

All the best,

I have a melanoma oncologist and a dermatologist who specializes in melanoma. They are at UCSF Melanoma Center. The only non-melanoma doctor I have right now is my obgyn. I am grateful to have a specialized center only 40 minutes from home. The reason I go to melanoma specific doctors to treat my melanoma is because it is a cancer that does not act like other cancers. It can be tricky and it can act very differently for different people. It doesn't follow general cancer rules in a sense. Plus, melanoma specialists will be very on top of the newest research, treatments, and clinical trials. They know the ins and outs of this crappy cancer, unlike a general oncologist who probably doesn't see very many melanoma patients and might miss things or not know about things the way a melanoma oncologist would. If you want the best possible care with a doctor that can really give you the best options for your melanoma it is always recommended to have a melanoma specialist as a part of your health team. 

I am sure if you don't live close enough to a melanoma specialist, you can find one somewhere near you and sort of "add them" to your team. Have them consult with your regular oncologist so that they are getting the best information they can get to help treat you. When I was first diagnosed I had Kaiser insurance, had a regular oncologist, immediately found out about UCSF Melanoma Center and for the month and a half before I could change health insurance I had authorization from Kaiser to see the melanoma specialists and they consulted with the Kaiser oncologist until the first of this year when I was able to go to UCSF full-time. 

All the best,

I have a melanoma oncologist and a dermatologist who specializes in melanoma. They are at UCSF Melanoma Center. The only non-melanoma doctor I have right now is my obgyn. I am grateful to have a specialized center only 40 minutes from home. The reason I go to melanoma specific doctors to treat my melanoma is because it is a cancer that does not act like other cancers. It can be tricky and it can act very differently for different people. It doesn't follow general cancer rules in a sense. Plus, melanoma specialists will be very on top of the newest research, treatments, and clinical trials. They know the ins and outs of this crappy cancer, unlike a general oncologist who probably doesn't see very many melanoma patients and might miss things or not know about things the way a melanoma oncologist would. If you want the best possible care with a doctor that can really give you the best options for your melanoma it is always recommended to have a melanoma specialist as a part of your health team. 

I am sure if you don't live close enough to a melanoma specialist, you can find one somewhere near you and sort of "add them" to your team. Have them consult with your regular oncologist so that they are getting the best information they can get to help treat you. When I was first diagnosed I had Kaiser insurance, had a regular oncologist, immediately found out about UCSF Melanoma Center and for the month and a half before I could change health insurance I had authorization from Kaiser to see the melanoma specialists and they consulted with the Kaiser oncologist until the first of this year when I was able to go to UCSF full-time. 

All the best,

Ditto on what Jenn said above.  Ironically I too travel to UCSF although for me it requires a 2500 mile plane ride, hotel stay, and obviously thousands of dollars a year in expenses.  Why would I do that you ask?  It really does matter, that's why.  I do continue to be treated at home by my regular onc as per your question.  But the local doc, god bless him…just does not understand this disease like my specialist.  After completing so-called "standard of care" and continuing to be a non-responder, he just kind of shrugged, as he had no idea what to do next.  My specialist on the other hand operates with a much larger toolbox.  He always has a "plan B" and almost more than anything else, he told me "I want to save your life".  That attitude has provided the strength to carry on, and continue the fight.  If there was any one piece of advice I thank this board for the most, was to employ the use of a melanoma specialist.  There is zero ambiguity in this assessment.

Gary

Ditto on what Jenn said above.  Ironically I too travel to UCSF although for me it requires a 2500 mile plane ride, hotel stay, and obviously thousands of dollars a year in expenses.  Why would I do that you ask?  It really does matter, that's why.  I do continue to be treated at home by my regular onc as per your question.  But the local doc, god bless him…just does not understand this disease like my specialist.  After completing so-called "standard of care" and continuing to be a non-responder, he just kind of shrugged, as he had no idea what to do next.  My specialist on the other hand operates with a much larger toolbox.  He always has a "plan B" and almost more than anything else, he told me "I want to save your life".  That attitude has provided the strength to carry on, and continue the fight.  If there was any one piece of advice I thank this board for the most, was to employ the use of a melanoma specialist.  There is zero ambiguity in this assessment.

Gary

Ditto on what Jenn said above.  Ironically I too travel to UCSF although for me it requires a 2500 mile plane ride, hotel stay, and obviously thousands of dollars a year in expenses.  Why would I do that you ask?  It really does matter, that's why.  I do continue to be treated at home by my regular onc as per your question.  But the local doc, god bless him…just does not understand this disease like my specialist.  After completing so-called "standard of care" and continuing to be a non-responder, he just kind of shrugged, as he had no idea what to do next.  My specialist on the other hand operates with a much larger toolbox.  He always has a "plan B" and almost more than anything else, he told me "I want to save your life".  That attitude has provided the strength to carry on, and continue the fight.  If there was any one piece of advice I thank this board for the most, was to employ the use of a melanoma specialist.  There is zero ambiguity in this assessment.

Gary