Seattle or Portland gynecologic oncologist
March 8, 2019 3:56 PM Subscribe
I so do not want to be asking this. I need your recommendations for finding a really good gynecologic oncologist in Seattle or Portland (or Spokane, although I assume my options will be better in Seattle or Portland). And actually any other advice for coping or practical things or, I don’t know, I’m lost and scared. Where do I go online to ask questions about ovarian cancer that won’t needlessly terrify me?
I'm so sorry you're dealing with this.
My mother was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2009, and lived a full and happy life (traveling, new romance, etc.) until she died last year (at 76) of a completely unrelated cancer. So don't despair! The treatments these days are really good!
I'd recommending going wherever the most current clinical trials are happening. Before cancer #2 showed up, she was taking a daily PARP inhibitor as part of a clinical trial. Minimal side effects, and while it didn't "cure" her cancer it kept it completely in remission. Her oncologist said treating gynecological cancer is a lot like treating diabetes these days.
Feel free to memail me if you want to chat.
posted by nixxon at 4:14 PM on March 8, 2019 [1 favorite]
My mother was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2009, and lived a full and happy life (traveling, new romance, etc.) until she died last year (at 76) of a completely unrelated cancer. So don't despair! The treatments these days are really good!
I'd recommending going wherever the most current clinical trials are happening. Before cancer #2 showed up, she was taking a daily PARP inhibitor as part of a clinical trial. Minimal side effects, and while it didn't "cure" her cancer it kept it completely in remission. Her oncologist said treating gynecological cancer is a lot like treating diabetes these days.
Feel free to memail me if you want to chat.
posted by nixxon at 4:14 PM on March 8, 2019 [1 favorite]
I'm sorry you're going through this. It's scary indeed. Do you have a friend or loved one who can help you through these beginning steps? It's weirdly unsettling, these first few weeks as you try to figure out where and how you'll be treated. But it's vital to your long-term prognosis that you get set up with the proper treatment to begin with, not six months or two years down the line. If you're facing surgery, it's important to know that the quality of an ovarian cancer patient's first surgery can be the key difference in the long-term outcome.
Start with the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, which is the consortium of the top treatment centers in the Pacific Northwest.
posted by BlahLaLa at 4:19 PM on March 8, 2019
Start with the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, which is the consortium of the top treatment centers in the Pacific Northwest.
posted by BlahLaLa at 4:19 PM on March 8, 2019
I’m sorry to hear this. I was diagnosed with a different cancer in 2016, so I feel you.
I really like smartpatients.com, which has individual forums for different types of cancers. I can’t speak to the ovarian cancer board, but I’ve gotten endless practical information and support from the multiple myeloma forum. These are people who will often be undergoing the same treatments you are, so they can respond to questions about specific medications.
Also, my favorite book on dealing with cancer is Anticancer Living. There are lots of lifestyle recommendations that can really help in staying physically strong while undergoing treatment. One thing I had to learn is that oncologists are experts in conventional treatment, but there’s also complementary treatment that there is real scientific evidence for (this is different from alternative treatment, which people do instead of conventional treatment - usually not a good idea). For instance, breast cancer patients who work with hypnotists have fewer side effects from chemotherapy.
It took me two solid months to get to where I wasn’t thinking about cancer every waking moment. It takes a while to get over the shock, so be gentle with yourself.
posted by FencingGal at 4:43 PM on March 8, 2019 [5 favorites]
I really like smartpatients.com, which has individual forums for different types of cancers. I can’t speak to the ovarian cancer board, but I’ve gotten endless practical information and support from the multiple myeloma forum. These are people who will often be undergoing the same treatments you are, so they can respond to questions about specific medications.
Also, my favorite book on dealing with cancer is Anticancer Living. There are lots of lifestyle recommendations that can really help in staying physically strong while undergoing treatment. One thing I had to learn is that oncologists are experts in conventional treatment, but there’s also complementary treatment that there is real scientific evidence for (this is different from alternative treatment, which people do instead of conventional treatment - usually not a good idea). For instance, breast cancer patients who work with hypnotists have fewer side effects from chemotherapy.
It took me two solid months to get to where I wasn’t thinking about cancer every waking moment. It takes a while to get over the shock, so be gentle with yourself.
posted by FencingGal at 4:43 PM on March 8, 2019 [5 favorites]
Also, two thoughts that helped me cope.
When I was first diagnosed and fretting about not being able to do things I wanted to do, my therapist said, You don’t know what’s going to happen. This was super helpful for me. The future is unpredictable.
And my roommate, who is a doctor, pointed out that survival statistics are by definition out of date, as they can only be based on older treatments. I have since decided to ignore all survival statistics.
posted by FencingGal at 5:14 PM on March 8, 2019 [3 favorites]
When I was first diagnosed and fretting about not being able to do things I wanted to do, my therapist said, You don’t know what’s going to happen. This was super helpful for me. The future is unpredictable.
And my roommate, who is a doctor, pointed out that survival statistics are by definition out of date, as they can only be based on older treatments. I have since decided to ignore all survival statistics.
posted by FencingGal at 5:14 PM on March 8, 2019 [3 favorites]
Dr. Melissa Pendergrass
Legacy Meridian Park, Tualatin, OR
(503) 612-5260
posted by sutureselves at 6:12 PM on March 8, 2019
Legacy Meridian Park, Tualatin, OR
(503) 612-5260
posted by sutureselves at 6:12 PM on March 8, 2019
I am sorry you are having to ask this question. Are you able to travel to OHSU in Portland? Here you’ll find a list of gynecologic oncologists, and they are accepting new patients.
posted by Knowyournuts at 7:38 PM on March 8, 2019
posted by Knowyournuts at 7:38 PM on March 8, 2019
Also let me know if you need help getting academic articles that are behind paywalls. I can get interlibrary loans and send you pdfs.
posted by Knowyournuts at 7:43 PM on March 8, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by Knowyournuts at 7:43 PM on March 8, 2019 [1 favorite]
Drs. Rushing, Gotkowitz and if needed De Wette at Compass Oncology. Memail me for more, but all have lots of gyn onc experience and are caring, compassionate physicians who will treat you as a human being and not just another patient. I’m happy to talk about my experience with them, what treatment was like, etc if it help.
posted by OneSmartMonkey at 7:55 PM on March 8, 2019
posted by OneSmartMonkey at 7:55 PM on March 8, 2019
One more thing. I wrote a post asking for general dealing with cancer help when I was first diagnosed and I got some great answers. You can read it here.
posted by FencingGal at 8:14 AM on March 9, 2019
posted by FencingGal at 8:14 AM on March 9, 2019
Response by poster: Thank you so much, lots of good leads here. I've been to Seattle Cancer Care Alliance before for a breast cancer scare and that's where my local doctor is proposing to refer me because she worked under one of the gynecological oncologists there. And most of all thank you for the support. I love it here always but never more than when in crisis because you're all such a reliable source of information and kindness.
posted by HotToddy at 9:54 AM on March 9, 2019
posted by HotToddy at 9:54 AM on March 9, 2019
Response by poster: Knowyournuts, I just memailed you.
posted by HotToddy at 5:04 PM on March 14, 2019
posted by HotToddy at 5:04 PM on March 14, 2019
This thread is closed to new comments.
"There are only ~ 400 practicing gyn oncologists in the USA.
Odds are that if you go to a reputable University teaching institution, and find a BOARD CERTIFIED GYN ONCOLOGIST you would probably, but not absolutely, be fine....If you think of traveling out of state and MN is not far from Washington, Mayo Clinic is one of the finest institutions in the country for all cancer surgery, bar none."
and
"In Seattle you have the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center - see http://www.fhcrc.org. It is one of the US National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer centers , which is where you want to consult if you have cancer."
posted by blob at 4:11 PM on March 8, 2019