Hello,
I'm wanting recommendations for myeloma care centers in the Mountain West.
Two years ago I moved to the boonies. This town has an oncologist only 2 days a month. Two months ago, my diagnosis moved up to intermediate risk smoldering multiple myeloma (t(4:14)). Since I arrived, I've had to travel out of state over a dozen times for care of a variety of new health problems.
Because of that, I haven't gotten connected here and am considering moving, lock-stock-and-barrel, to get set up in a new place before I get sick. But where? Who are the best of the West?
zuska
Forums
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Re: Myeloma treatment centers in the Mountain West?
What specific area do you consider to be the "Mountain West"?
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Multibilly - Name: Multibilly
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Smoldering, Nov, 2012
Re: Myeloma treatment centers in the Mountain West?
Basically anyplace in the west with mountains. The Intermountain West is my comfort zone. The empty space of the mountains gives me peace of mind which I expect will be desirable when / if I advance. Scottsdale is the first place I thought of.
Re: Myeloma treatment centers in the Mountain West?
Are you looking for a doctor that is pro-transplant, anti-transplant or one that could go either way?
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Multibilly - Name: Multibilly
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Smoldering, Nov, 2012
Re: Myeloma treatment centers in the Mountain West?
Good question. I guess either way because I don't yet have an opinion about that. I thought transplant was the standard of care.
Re: Myeloma treatment centers in the Mountain West?
Scottsdale has the Mayo Clinic.
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rumnting - Who do you know with myeloma?: husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 4/9/11
- Age at diagnosis: 54
Re: Myeloma treatment centers in the Mountain West?
I will avoid diving into the transplant discussion here. You can find many threads on the subject. However, the issue of transplant bias partly drove my own decision of who to work with.
You can find a listing of multiple myeloma centers here:
https://myelomabeacon.org/resources/treatment-centers/
I can only personally speak to some of the Colorado centers.
In Denver, you have access to University of Colorado Hospital and the Rocky Mountain Blood Cancer Institute, which are both transplant centers as well. The doctors I met at both facilities are very transplant-centric in their thinking and seemed to be most capable.
There is also the Rocky Mountain Cancer Center (RMCC) network of facilities and providers throughout Colorado that has some very capable oncologists, but I wouldn't call any of them "multiple myeloma specialists". I use a hematologist within the RMCC network for monitoring purposes and local consulting purposes, but, again, I wouldn't call him a true multiple myeloma specialist (although he does keep up on most of the major new developments in the field of multiple myeloma). He happens to utilize both transplants and drug-only approaches with his multiple myeloma patients.
I also have a "go-to" multiple myeloma specialist that is out of state. He is who I will work with on a treatment regimen should I ever become symptomatic. My RMCC doctor is more than happy to work with this out-of-state specialist so that I can remain in Colorado for my treatment. If you are of the transplant mindset, I believe RMCC partners with the University of Colorado Hospital for transplant purposes.
As Rumnting mentioned, Scottsdale has the Mayo, which has an excellent reputation with treating multiple myeloma.
You can find a listing of multiple myeloma centers here:
https://myelomabeacon.org/resources/treatment-centers/
I can only personally speak to some of the Colorado centers.
In Denver, you have access to University of Colorado Hospital and the Rocky Mountain Blood Cancer Institute, which are both transplant centers as well. The doctors I met at both facilities are very transplant-centric in their thinking and seemed to be most capable.
There is also the Rocky Mountain Cancer Center (RMCC) network of facilities and providers throughout Colorado that has some very capable oncologists, but I wouldn't call any of them "multiple myeloma specialists". I use a hematologist within the RMCC network for monitoring purposes and local consulting purposes, but, again, I wouldn't call him a true multiple myeloma specialist (although he does keep up on most of the major new developments in the field of multiple myeloma). He happens to utilize both transplants and drug-only approaches with his multiple myeloma patients.
I also have a "go-to" multiple myeloma specialist that is out of state. He is who I will work with on a treatment regimen should I ever become symptomatic. My RMCC doctor is more than happy to work with this out-of-state specialist so that I can remain in Colorado for my treatment. If you are of the transplant mindset, I believe RMCC partners with the University of Colorado Hospital for transplant purposes.
As Rumnting mentioned, Scottsdale has the Mayo, which has an excellent reputation with treating multiple myeloma.
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Multibilly - Name: Multibilly
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Smoldering, Nov, 2012
Re: Myeloma treatment centers in the Mountain West?
Thanks rumnting and multibilly for your reply. It looks like Scottsdale is the best fit for me. It seems huge to move for treatment. I'm a widow without family support, so I'm doing this totally alone.
8 posts
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