Ucsf / stanford

[Maddielolo]

Anyone have any experience with either of these hospitals (and/or docs there)? Might start treatment in Bay Area while i schedule appt at msckk (hai pump?) for right after first line chemo ends. A surgeon at Sloan said that would be his approach, although I'm doubling checking with dr k next week.

[KWT]

I saw Oncologist Dr. Pamela Kunz at Stanford. I also would recommend Dr. Cindy Kin she's a colorectal surgeon at Stanford and in my opinion is nothing short of awesome.

[gfpiv]

By no means am I shilling for the hepatic pump again, but since you expressed interest - per this link it appears that UCSF may actually do HAI too-

...sorry, I'm unable to paste the link for some reason, but if you Google "UCSF" and "hepatic pump" it's the first link listed.

(( Moderator's note : is this it, Chip ? ))
http://liversource.surgery.ucsf.edu/conditions--procedures/hepatic-arterial-infusion-(hai)-pump.aspx

[Maddielolo]

Thanks chip. And Yes - they do appear to do it but like so many, aren't convinced it extends life. The chair at ucsf has said that it's on research says that, but he also believes sloans success is just too hard to ignore. Goes back to the root of problem, that nobody has replicated sloans success. I'm still interested and focused on pump, but will only pursue at Sloan and plan to. It appears from discussions, that I should/ will probably start chemo, and set up appt at Sloan when I'm done with first stint. I've contacted both ucsf and Sloan and that is their quick first take, but I still need to talk to few more oncologists, liver surgeons and gi surgeons at both places. I just want to make sure I'm in good hands at ucsf as I start process.

[gfpiv]

Excellent. For what it's worth, I think you've done a fantastic job gathering and assimilating a lot of information in such a short time and under such stress. I'm sure it will serve you well, and I've got my fingers crossed for great results for you!

[ziggymonster]

I have had 2 major surgeries at UCSF......my LAR was done by Dr. Mika Varma she is superb.....my lysis of adhesions done by Dr. Hobart Harris....again I can't say enough positive. I feel that the care received was excellent both times. I am also being treated for prostate cancer there as well.

[Maddielolo]

Excellent. For what it's worth, I think you've done a fantastic job gathering and assimilating a lot of information in such a short time and under such stress. I'm sure it will serve you well, and I've got my fingers crossed for great results for you!

Thanks chip - I'm trying to gather as much information as possible, then make good decisions. As they say, this isn't dress rehearsal

[some]

Maddielolo,

Hi. We are in the Bay Area too. We've had some exposure to ucsf for care but preferred our care at Ucsd.

For you, I'd recommend MSK. I just think they specialize in cancer and dr k tries to cure not patch it for more time when she can. Our onc at ucsf is good but think she's of the mindset of more time. The crc surgeon we met there last week was horrible beyond belief and our onc just followed what she said which was a huge disappointment and will have us consulting back at Ucsd. One member here had dr varma and I hear she is great (not who we met).

I'm just saying you want strong and hopefully curative results and that's what dr I and her team work toward and they often do resection of primary when they insert the pump. They are a well oiled machine and everyone works together and that is invaluable for your care.

Go and beat it! You can get flights from sfo to by not too bad and you can probably work with ucsf to maintain the pump when you just need the saline or they can follow dr k's instructions for the drug.

Xoxo

Serena

[nkoske]

I did Stanford. Dr. Shelton did my LAR. Everything works so good on him. Dr. Koontz in my Med Onc, young guy (so am I), him an I get on great. Dr. Chang was my Rad Onc liked him a lot. His Nurse Pat is freaking awesome.

If radiation is in the cards I would not hesitate to go to Stanford and there's not many better places as it's the birthplace of medical linear accelerators.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Try and go to someone with the most experience.

[KWT]

Nick,
I too really like Dr. Chang, I'm just curious did he do a short course of radiation for you? Mine was five days at a higher dose.

Kenny

[Maddielolo]

Thanks guys - I'm guessing radiation is out as it's not rectal. I've been recmnded Jim ford and Pam kunz at stanford. If hereditary link pops up on pathology (should know today/tomorrow) the I might go see them. Otherwise, start at ucsf, make appt at Sloan, and go get em.

[nkoske]

Nick,
I too really like Dr. Chang, I'm just curious did he do a short course of radiation for you? Mine was five days at a higher dose.

Kenny

I did 25 days. I was treated on a IMRT rapid arc machine 2 Gy for 25 treatments for a total of 50 Gy. Due to the proximal nature of my tumor (potential small intestine irradiation), I was approved for the IMRT, which in my understanding is not standard operating procedure. All does were equal, as it was explained to me, because of the conformal nature of the rapid arc IMRT more energy can be directed more precisely on the tumor.

Blog post from my radiation treatment http://keepupkoske.blogspot.com/2012/12/pain-in-nicks-radiation-therapy.html