[SusanS]

Is a hematologist-oncologist the same as ...

by SusanS on Sun May 18, 2014 3:42 pm

... someone who is "board certified in medical oncology and hematology"?

My mom has seen a doctor that "is board certified in medical oncology and hematology..." He is the one that diagnosed her multiple myeloma earlier this month.

Is that the same as being a hematological oncologist? If they are different, what's the difference, and which would be better to see for multiple myeloma treatment?

[Wayne K]

Re: Is a hematologist-oncologist the same as ...

by Wayne K on Mon May 19, 2014 11:35 am

I suspect it is is the same. I'm not in the same camp with many in believing that you have to go to a large center. My oncologist is in a hematology oncology clinic and all the big centers are 200 miles away.

I think it is probably more important to investigate just how much specialization is going on and whether or not they are linked to one or more of the larger centers.

My oncologist treats leukemia, lymphomas, and multiple myeloma. Given the fact they are all blood cancers, I don't see any reason to believe he isn't a specialist. I started seeing him for chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

It was a visit for the CLL that revealed my multiple myeloma. Given the fact I'm 5 years from diagnoses I can't say my care has been lacking.

I repeat that I would do some investigation. Call some of the large centers and ask for a list of doctors in your area. You could even ask some patients in the waiting room for opinions.