Treatment Centers/Physicians

DR. MYRON SCHWARTZ-LIVER SURGEON
5 east 98th st-mount sinai hospital-12th floor
new york, new york
phone number 1-212-241-2891

DR.MAX SUNG -ONCOLOGY MEDICINE
1 gustave l. levy place
new york, new york
phone number- 1-212-241-7902

DR. JOSEF MACHAC-DIRECTOR, NUCLEAR MEDICINE
one gustave l. levy place, box 1141
new york, new york
phone number- 1-212-241-7888

DR. JOSHUA WEINTRAUB- RADIOLOGY
one gustave l.levy place
new york, new york
phine number-1-212-241-4888

all of these doctors are under one roof and are KNOWLEDGEABLEof this cancer… i cannot say enough good things about the hospital or its doctors……ron and lucille

For the greater part of 2010 I was treated by the physician staff of Barnes-Jewish Hospital/Washington University Medical Center of St. Louis, MO. I’ve changed to another hospital in St. Louis for further treatment at this time.

My main treating physicians at Barnes were:

Dr. David Linehan, whom I refer to as the “happy cutter”, an hepato-biliary surgeon of excellent reputation and highly experienced at liver surgery. He twice reviewed me for possible liver resection but unfortunately both times he found that the IHCC tumor mass had infiltrated too far into the liver vasculature to permit a likely outcome of surgical success–if I understand him correctly. The reason I refer to him as the “happy cutter” is that he seemed to me to be almost enthusiastically happy when surgery seemed a likely possibility, but spoke to me very little and much less joyously once surgery was ruled out. He seems to truly enjoy his surgical work! Can’t say enough good about him, except I wish he could have done the resection.

Dr. Benjamin Tan, whose specailities include medical oncology and hematology. He oversaw the chemotherapy administered to me this year, and the outcome was reported as quite successful, having shrunk the “huge” single tumor by about one-half in size from 10+ cm to about 5+ cm .over the course of treatment in spring, summer and fall of 2010. In all honesty, his course of treatment has led me to state that Barnes has the best scientific-based (AMA and FDA-approved science, I might add, for better and for worse) presently available for cholangiocarcinoma in the St. Louis area. My experience with Dr. Tan would lead me to agree with another reporting here that Dr. Tan seems somewhat conservative in his approach to treatment.
I have also consulted with another Barnes phycician of exceptionally high repute, who said to me “Unfortunately, we have not been very successful in our consertavive approach to treating Cholangioncarcinoma, except for surgical resection where possible. Therefore, you have little to lose by pursuing alternative treatment methods.” This means that in the understanding of some of the best minds at Barnes, they are applying treatments which are unlikely to be completely successful, and yet by adhering to conservative methods, they are closing their minds to alternative methods which might work.
Dr. Tan has repeatedly told me that no patient suffering from cholangiocarcinoma and being treated by Barnes has survived more than four years after the date of the original CC diagnosis–unless the patient undergoes a successful surgical resection. All that being said, Dr. Tan is, as yet, the only physician with whom I have encountered a personality conflict severe enough to require me to seek treatment elsewhere. I am now being treated with chemotherapy by a medical oncologist at another local St. Louis area hospital.

Dr. Robert Myerson, Professor of Radiation Oncology. An excellent and persuasive communicator, with a great knowledge of radiology, cancer, and with the patience required to answer many of my questions about radioembolization and stereotactic body radiation therapy. He and his associates designed and administered the five SBRT treatments in a clinical trial during August and September 2010. Follow-up is to be scheduled.

LOVE Dr Christopher Siegel, University Hospitals, Cleveland, OH. When the Cleveland Clinic expert recommended my brother seek hospice a coule of years ago, Dr. Siegel performed a very successful surgery and my brother was considered cancer-free up til recently. Very easy to speak with and understand, tops in his field.

I would like to provide the name of a brilliant & brave surgeon – Dr. Tomoaki Kato. He is affiliated with Colombia University in New York, NY. Dr. Kato is a pioneer of multi-organ transplants, as well as ex vivo surgery (outside the body). I am honored to say that I have had the pleasure of being one of Dr. Kato’s ex vivo patients. I was diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma & after failing chemo & being told by many physicians that my tumor was inoperable & there wasn’t much hope, Dr. Kato removed my tumor in its entirety. Four months later, I am alive & well. Please research Dr. Kato & contact him if you’ve been told there is no hope. He is my hero & I hope will become yours. Best wishes to all. My prayers are with every one of you!

Thank you Gavin and Marion.

As far as the specialist information on AMMF’s site is concerned, the details we are including have been as a result of direct contact with the hospital/team concerned – so it’s slow going, but we want to be as certain as we can be that the information we are providing is as accurate as possible. We will be adding to this information as new details come in or are confirmed …

Climbing that mountain, and looking for the miracle!!!

Helen

Hi Marion

This information is something that is so badly needed in the UK. AMMF (the UK’s cholangiocarcinoma charity) is working on providing a database of as many specialists and where they are based in the UK as we possibly can.

Our new website has just gone live, and the section on UK specialists is on there, and will be expanding as more information comes in.

For anyone wishing to access this information, please see http://www.ammf.org.uk.

Marion , thank you for the wonderful resource you provide to the cc family with the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation website …

Helen

About time I added our miracle workers

Dr. Alan Hemming Surgeon, UCSD San Diego

Dr. Paul Fanta, oncologist, UCSD Moore’s cancer center

Dr. Thomas Savides, ERCP, UCSD San Diego

And our unsung hero, the man who suspected klatskin tumor immediately and sent us down the right path,

Dr. Sam ElSheikh, Gastroenterologist, Grossmont Hospital