I noticed that everyone advises to seek out a myeloma specialist. I live in central Pennsylvania and travel to UPMC in Pittsburgh to see an oncologist who specializes in blood cancers. He does all the same tests and I take Revlimid and dex; I have been in remission for six months.
My question to all here at the Beacon: Is my doc a specialist, or should I look for one in the future when things progress?
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Re: Is my doctor a myeloma specialist?
Hi Don,
I think UPMC used to have a well-respected specialist by the name of Dr. Roodman. But he has moved on. There are quite a few folks on this forum in that area of the country that could point you to which facilities or specific specialists they use in the Pennsylvania area, including Penn.
The sorts of things I look for in multiple myeloma specialists is whether they publish papers on the topic, are involved in research and clinical trials associated with multiple myeloma, and attend and/or present at multiple myeloma conferences like ASH, etc.
I have a local hematologist/oncologist that specializes in blood cancers, including multiple myeloma. And the facility he is at treats a couple of dozen folks with multiple myeloma and he can almost always answer my questions. But in spite of all this, I don't consider my local oncologist to be a "multiple myeloma specialist". So, I travel and periodically touch base with a well-known specialist, but continue to get all my tests and monitoring done locally. If I should ever need treatment, my local onc would be more than happy to consult with and take direction from my specialist.
I think UPMC used to have a well-respected specialist by the name of Dr. Roodman. But he has moved on. There are quite a few folks on this forum in that area of the country that could point you to which facilities or specific specialists they use in the Pennsylvania area, including Penn.
The sorts of things I look for in multiple myeloma specialists is whether they publish papers on the topic, are involved in research and clinical trials associated with multiple myeloma, and attend and/or present at multiple myeloma conferences like ASH, etc.
I have a local hematologist/oncologist that specializes in blood cancers, including multiple myeloma. And the facility he is at treats a couple of dozen folks with multiple myeloma and he can almost always answer my questions. But in spite of all this, I don't consider my local oncologist to be a "multiple myeloma specialist". So, I travel and periodically touch base with a well-known specialist, but continue to get all my tests and monitoring done locally. If I should ever need treatment, my local onc would be more than happy to consult with and take direction from my specialist.
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Multibilly - Name: Multibilly
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Smoldering, Nov, 2012
Re: Is my doctor a myeloma specialist?
My understanding is that a multiple myeloma specialist is an oncologist who sees mainly multiple myeloma patients. S/he may see some people with other blood cancers if the department has gradually expanded from a one person blood cancer department to one that has several groups within the department each specializing in a different blood cancer. That's sort of how the department has developed where I am treated. My oncologist is considered to be a myeloma specialist, but he still has a few patients with other blood cancers because they have been with him since he was the only blood cancer oncologist. Now there are multiple myeloma specialists, lymphoma specialists, leukemia specialists, etc.
What Multibilly has detailed as to what a myeloma specialist does is what is the main definition of a myeloma specialist.
Have you asked your oncologist about how many multiple myeloma patients s/he sees and what his/her main focus of research is? You should also be able to go on the UPMC website to look up your oncologist's bio. At my cancer center they list education, where they trained, what organizations they belong to, and their publications. Usually from the associations that they belong to and the titles of the publications you can get an idea of what their main focus is.
Nancy in Phila
What Multibilly has detailed as to what a myeloma specialist does is what is the main definition of a myeloma specialist.
Have you asked your oncologist about how many multiple myeloma patients s/he sees and what his/her main focus of research is? You should also be able to go on the UPMC website to look up your oncologist's bio. At my cancer center they list education, where they trained, what organizations they belong to, and their publications. Usually from the associations that they belong to and the titles of the publications you can get an idea of what their main focus is.
Nancy in Phila
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NStewart - Name: Nancy Stewart
- Who do you know with myeloma?: self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 3/08
- Age at diagnosis: 60
Re: Is my doctor a myeloma specialist?
Thanks for the responses. The reason I haven't asked my doc the important questions (are you a specialist, how many multiple myeloma patients do you treat) is because the treatment has me in remission for the last six months. I'm not a meek person and may ask in the future, but I sort of like how my relationship with my doc and UPMC are right now.
I'll take the advice and do more research on my doctor, and when this disease progresses, I'll decide if he is or isn't a specialist, and go from there.
I'll take the advice and do more research on my doctor, and when this disease progresses, I'll decide if he is or isn't a specialist, and go from there.
Re: Is my doctor a myeloma specialist?
My mother is treated locally at a large oncology practice but twice a year sees a myeloma specialist at Dana Farber in Boston, which is some distance away. The local oncologist and myeloma specialist consult with one another regarding my mother's treatment and it has worked out well so far.
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