My local oncologist initially referred me to City of Hope for my transplant planning and eventual transplant. It turns out that they don't accept my PPO insurance. At that point, based on research and where my parents and siblings live, I was referred to SCCA in Seattle. I had a consult there are was incredibly impressed. They have impressive outcome numbers for multiple myeloma.
I have not gotten a 100% go ahead from my insurance yet, but SCCA is contracted with them (there may be some random "out-of-state" rule). So, my question is, what facilities in Los Angeles or San Diego have people gone to and how was your experience?
Do you think there is a big difference in which facility one goes to for their SCT or are the outcomes more or less the same everywhere?
Thanks!
Forums
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CindyBrown - Name: Cindy Brown
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 4/26/14
- Age at diagnosis: 48
Re: Stem cell transplant in California
I know you didn't ask about Stanford and I don't know about your insurance coverage, but I am going to answer because it is in California.
I am scheduled to have my SCT next month. I can't yet offer the experience of the transplant (stay tuned for that ... I'll be posting), but I know they do about 200 of them a year.
In my dealings with them so far, I can say I have never been more impressed with a facility. On our dozen or so visits there so far, every staff member we have had contact with has been professional and very kind and caring. On several occasions, my husband and I got lost going from one part of the hospital to the other. Not only did people direct us, they stopped what they were doing and walked us to where we needed to go. Every time!
So, I'm just throwing that out there. Come join me!
I am scheduled to have my SCT next month. I can't yet offer the experience of the transplant (stay tuned for that ... I'll be posting), but I know they do about 200 of them a year.
In my dealings with them so far, I can say I have never been more impressed with a facility. On our dozen or so visits there so far, every staff member we have had contact with has been professional and very kind and caring. On several occasions, my husband and I got lost going from one part of the hospital to the other. Not only did people direct us, they stopped what they were doing and walked us to where we needed to go. Every time!
So, I'm just throwing that out there. Come join me!
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KimT - Name: Kim Tank
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: July 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 53
Re: Stem cell transplant in California
I have a similar question. I will probably be having a SCT this fall in September or October. We live in the north Bay Area and also have a second home on Bainbridge Island near Seattle. If I have the choice of having the procedure done at UCSF or at the Seattle (Hutchinson) Cancer Center, would one be better than the other?
One consideration is that, if I need to go to the doctor during the recovery time, my regular oncologist and hospital is only a 5 minute drive away, and in Seattle we have to deal with ferry schedules. The total commute time is one hour (not counting trying to coordinate with the schedule). If I feel well enough to take a little walk, it's likely to be warmer and sunnier in California. My husband loves to spend time in Washington, so as caretaker he might be happier there.
Another consideration is our dog. Is it OK to be around the dog during the recovery period?. If not, my sister can keep her. In California, we have a fenced in yard and can just let her go in an out at will. In Washington, we have to put her on leash, put on a jacket, get the umbrella and take her for a walk several times a day. So unless Seattle is far superior at the procedure, I guess we would choose UCSF.
One consideration is that, if I need to go to the doctor during the recovery time, my regular oncologist and hospital is only a 5 minute drive away, and in Seattle we have to deal with ferry schedules. The total commute time is one hour (not counting trying to coordinate with the schedule). If I feel well enough to take a little walk, it's likely to be warmer and sunnier in California. My husband loves to spend time in Washington, so as caretaker he might be happier there.
Another consideration is our dog. Is it OK to be around the dog during the recovery period?. If not, my sister can keep her. In California, we have a fenced in yard and can just let her go in an out at will. In Washington, we have to put her on leash, put on a jacket, get the umbrella and take her for a walk several times a day. So unless Seattle is far superior at the procedure, I guess we would choose UCSF.
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Pegbb54
Re: Stem cell transplant in California
Stanford is on my insurance list and so is UCSF. My feeling, though, is that if I am a plane flight away, Palo Alto isn't better than Seattle and my caregivers are in Seattle. That being said, I will see my husband and autistic son less if I am in Washington, and that makes me nervous. My local oncologist feels strongly, so I'm still leaning toward Seattle.
I live in Orange County, half way between LA and San Diego. There are no available facilities within the 20 mile radius the transplant centers require, so I will have to get some kind of short-term housing no matter where I go.
I am also tentatively scheduled for September or October.
I live in Orange County, half way between LA and San Diego. There are no available facilities within the 20 mile radius the transplant centers require, so I will have to get some kind of short-term housing no matter where I go.
I am also tentatively scheduled for September or October.
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CindyBrown - Name: Cindy Brown
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 4/26/14
- Age at diagnosis: 48
Re: Stem cell transplant in California
It may not address some of the very specific situations some of the people here have raised. However, just in case, some of you may want to check a related discussion here in the forum that took place a few months ago:
Thoughts on stem cell transplant centers in California?
Thoughts on stem cell transplant centers in California?
Re: Stem cell transplant in California
Pegbb54 wrote: "Another consideration is our dog. Is it OK to be around the dog during the recovery period?"
Hi Pegbb54,
I had my transplant 20 months ago. I also have a dog and that was one of my questions I asked my doctor. My doctor was ok with it. During my recovery, I wiped my dog feet and her body with Lysol disinfection wiper after she was out for a walk, just to make sure she was extra clean and didn't bring anything back inside the house. I was ok the whole time, didn't get sick from any germs. She was by my side the whole time.
Good luck with your transplant.
Kaew
Hi Pegbb54,
I had my transplant 20 months ago. I also have a dog and that was one of my questions I asked my doctor. My doctor was ok with it. During my recovery, I wiped my dog feet and her body with Lysol disinfection wiper after she was out for a walk, just to make sure she was extra clean and didn't bring anything back inside the house. I was ok the whole time, didn't get sick from any germs. She was by my side the whole time.
Good luck with your transplant.
Kaew
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Kaew
Re: Stem cell transplant in California
Hi,
On the question about whether it's ok to be around your dog after your SCT - I got differing advice/instructions about that from different doctors on my medical team prior to my SCT. And some of them acknowledged that it was mostly a matter of opinion.
In the end, it would have been just too hard and expensive to board our two dogs at a kennel (for a month, two months, however long) after I came back home following the SCT. So we kept them at home, and I pet them less frequently than usual for the first couple months but didn't do anything else special during that time. And I had no problems. In fact, I'd argue that the affection and love you get from your pets provide therapeutic benefits that offset the risk of infection, if you're careful.
On the question about whether it's ok to be around your dog after your SCT - I got differing advice/instructions about that from different doctors on my medical team prior to my SCT. And some of them acknowledged that it was mostly a matter of opinion.
In the end, it would have been just too hard and expensive to board our two dogs at a kennel (for a month, two months, however long) after I came back home following the SCT. So we kept them at home, and I pet them less frequently than usual for the first couple months but didn't do anything else special during that time. And I had no problems. In fact, I'd argue that the affection and love you get from your pets provide therapeutic benefits that offset the risk of infection, if you're careful.
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mikeb - Name: mikeb
- Who do you know with myeloma?: self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2009 (MGUS at that time)
- Age at diagnosis: 55
Re: Stem cell transplant in California
Cindy,
I recently posted about where to go in southern California for a harvest and transplant. i thought that I could go to City Of Hope (COH). As it turned out, my insurance is contracted with USC Keck Hospital. At first I was disappointed, because my wife had cancer and we received a second opinion at COH. They were extremely nice and the facility was great there. Then I found out that my oncologist has worked with USC for his multiple myeloma patients. He told me that there are a lot of great hospitals out there but really, you need to think about the type of cancer we have and go to a hospital that specializes in that type of cancer treatment. Of course, insurance plays into that also.
I just had my first visit at USC. Everyone there was really down to earth. I was a little nervous about the first visit ,thinking that they were going to be talking in technical doctor terms. Something I might not understand. But that was not the case. Right now I am waiting for the insurance to ok a harvest.
The crazy part is that my dentist has two patients with multiple myeloma and they also see my oncologist. Both went to USC. I also met a person here on the Beacon that answered my post about USC. He told me about his transplant experience at USC with a Dr. Mohrbacher. That is who my oncologist works with and sent me to. Small world. I am very happy so far at USC.
George
I recently posted about where to go in southern California for a harvest and transplant. i thought that I could go to City Of Hope (COH). As it turned out, my insurance is contracted with USC Keck Hospital. At first I was disappointed, because my wife had cancer and we received a second opinion at COH. They were extremely nice and the facility was great there. Then I found out that my oncologist has worked with USC for his multiple myeloma patients. He told me that there are a lot of great hospitals out there but really, you need to think about the type of cancer we have and go to a hospital that specializes in that type of cancer treatment. Of course, insurance plays into that also.
I just had my first visit at USC. Everyone there was really down to earth. I was a little nervous about the first visit ,thinking that they were going to be talking in technical doctor terms. Something I might not understand. But that was not the case. Right now I am waiting for the insurance to ok a harvest.
The crazy part is that my dentist has two patients with multiple myeloma and they also see my oncologist. Both went to USC. I also met a person here on the Beacon that answered my post about USC. He told me about his transplant experience at USC with a Dr. Mohrbacher. That is who my oncologist works with and sent me to. Small world. I am very happy so far at USC.
George
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Castaway - Name: George
- Who do you know with myeloma?: just myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 1/24/14
- Age at diagnosis: 62
Re: Stem cell transplant in California
Thank you for the responses regarding being with my dog post transplant. My sister could take her. We both got our dogs at the same time. They are the same breed (rat terriers) and they love each other. I would rather keep her with me though. She is good company and my reason to get outside and go for a walk everyday. My husband can take her out if I'm not up to it at first. It would be good for him to get out and get more exercise too.
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PegBb54
Re: Stem cell transplant in California
USC Keck Cancer Center. Outstanding!
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coop223 - Name: derek cooper
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: November 2011
- Age at diagnosis: 57
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