[Doody]

Does anyone here know of a good resource online to find good doctors in specialty areas?

I know there are a couple in Des Moines, IA that are supposed to be good at melanoma surgery, but they don't subscribe to insurance...cash only.

Apparently I don't have my wits about me to find a good online resource.

My mom was just diagnosed with a melanoma on her face, and I don't trust the oncologist where I live even one little bit. I'm in central Iowa.

Anyway, thought somebody might know and TIA.

[Abbie]

hi doody...

don't know if this will help or not... but found these:

www.iowaclinic.com
www.iowahealth.org or call to find a physician to fit your needs you can call: 1-800-IA-Health (1-800-424-3258).

www.webmd.com has a physician finder

found this also:
Heartland Dermatology & Skin Cancer Center PC


if you want me to look further.. just let me know... i'll be glad to help you out...


abbie

[Lara]

Hey Doody,
as Abbie said... Same here. We're happy to help you out. I'm not in your area as you well know, but I'd be happy to help. One thing you could do just by phone is contact the American Medical Association or the American College of Surgeons even. Our AMA here would give this type of help so imagine yours would also. Not sure how it all works there. Will keep looking.
That webMD one that abbie left has a good info. page on it as a physician finder...

http://doctor.webmd.com/physician_fi...ws=1&rad=state
WebMD Physician Finder

http://doctor.webmd.com/physician_fi...x?sponsor=core
WebMD Physician Directory

http://www.plwc.org/portal/site/PLWC...00f2730ad1RCRD
Find an Oncologist Database

http://www.cancer.org/docroot/ftc/ftc_0.asp
American Cancer Society
Find Treatment Centres

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/directories.html
Medline Plus Directories

http://www.melanomafoundation.org
http://www.melanomafoundation.org/AMF/patient.htm
American Melanoma Foundation
Phone: (858) 277-4426

http://www.nci.nih.gov
Cancer Information Service (CIS), NCI Public Inquiries Office
Phone: 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237)
This free telephone service is provided by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to cancer patients, their families, the public, and health professionals. They may provide referral to local resources and services, and will send cancer information on request.

[Doody]

Thanks girls!!!! I very much appreciate all your help! Usually, I am the one out there hunting sources down but I feel an urgent need and haven't had time today and my brain isn't wrapping around it.

I was able to find out why this particular physician wants to refer mom to an ENT. I couldn't figure out why in the world an ear, nose, throat doc would do this kind of surgery. But apparently, part of the otolaryngologists expertise is dealing with cancers on the head, neck or face plus the plastic surgery knowledge to repair damage. Color me embarrassed for not figuring that out on my own, but geesh, what do I know!

Thank you!!!! I will check out all those sites and thanks again abbie and lara!

[Lara]

otolaryngologists

You want me to look for that specifically?
I'll look on the Medline site and post if I find that anything there is specific.



OK, looked...

http://www.entnet.org/ent_otolaryngologist.cfm
Find an Otolaryngologist

[Chemar]

Doody

just adding a here for your mom and for you, and a prayer that this will be able to be quickly and thoroughly treated for her,

Cheri

[theoneRogue420]

Doody, I just wanted to add my best wishes and prayers for your Mom. I can tell you from personal experience that these usually go well, except for the possibility of a major scar.

I want to tell you about my experience so you know what to expect, but if it's some sort of thread-stealer, I'll be happy to edit it out.

Mine was a malignant melanoma on my right shoulder. The mole itself was only as big around as the eraser on a pencil. I asked my Dr. to remove it, and at first he said no. It looked perfectly normal to him, and he thought I was being vain. I told him so what if that's what it turns out to be? I want it off, and if you won't do it, another dr. will. He took it off, lol.

He was much more shocked (and very afraid of my reaction) when he had to call and tell me I was right all along. I didn't let him touch me again, I went to a plastic surgeon for the deep removal, just as your Mom is doing.

They must remove a very large section of skin from around the site, to be sure they get it all. They use a shape like this () , so it's hard to get the middle section back together. It can be quite tight, and your Mom will have to be careful to keep from tearing in open. I bet that will be hard, what about chewing, talking and tooth-brushing? (I had to wear a sling that strapped my arm down to my stomach.) I just hope the scar isn't too bad...I am left with a 5" long scar.

But that all happened almost 20 years ago, and here I am cancer free all this time. I pray your Mom has the same wonderful outcome.

[Doody]

Aww, thanks you guys.

I'm actually really surprised at how I'm reacting to all of this. Probably won't make any sense. I don't consider my mom a best friend for lack of any other analogy. I won't go into life history, just that...I've tried very hard not to be like her. She's always rubbed me the wrong way with her negativism and, well...bitchiness.

Don't get me wrong. She's ALWAYS been there for me right along side dad, and they are in their 80s now. But this has thrown me for a loop, and I can't get her off my mind. I've been very supportive of her and when I get home, I can't get it off my mind. I'm worried.

Thanks very much Rogue! Yes, they told mom that it would be a very large incision most likely. Depends on how far they have to go to get to the 'good' cells, and they expect they'll have to graft it. I imagine things have changed tremendously in the last 20 years where this is concerned.

I'm glad your cancer free Rogue! I had a friend, at a very young age, die from melanoma spread and it was awful.

Mom's went from looking like a pimple...to an acne cyst looking thing, to all of a sudden a large ugly black, brown, yucky irregular raised spot.

She has an appointment on Thursday to see an ENT whom I have been to myself. He diagnosed my TMJ and I do really like him. As far as his skills...I really don't know. We don't have much choice.

What's funny is, when I go to those links for doctor searches, they don't turn up anything for my area, lol. Oi vey.

Thanks again all and I will report back on how it all goes.