Anyone who can recommend an doctor, hospital or clinic here in Duma, Cebu, Bacolod or even Manila for malignant melanoma treatment?
Mokum, I was diagnosed just over 12 months ago with skin cancer. Since then I have had 2 malignant melanomas removed one in February and one in July both this year. I come from Australia (the melanoma centre of the world). I had chemotherapy for 6 months (was supposed to be 12 months but doctors were happy for me to stop - as was I) and as a consequence had very many other issues which happily are now under control and not a factor. My specialist and GP in Australia tell me that due to the fact that asians are not generally subject to skin cancer there is very little experience here which means that a skin specialist is very likely to cut out rather than make an informed decision or alternatively miss a diagnosis. I return to Sydney every 3 months for a check and treatment and whilst this is expensive I do it by way of risk management. Have had a rapid education in this area and happy to talk to you further so you can P.M. me if you wish. All the best. P
Pompolino has answered this excellently and based on first-hand experience - but he returns to Australia. All I can say, apart from best wishes to the person requiring treatment, is go to Manila or Cebu if you have to choose within the Philippines. This is not something you want done in a place like Dumaguete if you can afford otherwise. And your posting is a timely reminder to all of us here with white skin in a sunny climate to protect ourselves and to be aware of the nature of melanomas as quick awareness and treatment is highly important.
Pompolino, thanks for your reply and your concern. The melanoom I have is on the sole of my foot and started as painful spot what later developed in a lump. I went to dr Munoz who gave me an ointment to soften it up. This resulted in an slight infection . Tru Dermatology opened this up , took a skin sample and burned it tight. This infected seriously so I had to take a very strong antibiotic subscribed by a surgeon in SUMC. The diagnose of the biopsy of the skin sample was malignant melanoma, a second opinion by Silliman the same. Additional tests done in Manila (P 14.500) the same. So now I'm looking for a specialist who can cut a part out and do this <To detect the sentinel glands, radioactive fluid is used, which is injected by the nuclear medicine physician at the site of the melanoma.> what I suppose is done by you too? Tomorrow I plan to visit Dr Labaco in SUMC who seems the be the cancer expert in Dumaguete. This mainly for advise on further treatment in Cebu or Manila. I answer you on the forum to warn others to be aware and not neglect the early warning signs like I did. So far I spent about P 25,000 !!
Luck that I had two cut out several years ago back in the UK. I keep out of the sun and if I have to go in the sun wear a broad rim hat and put sun block on the exposed skin. I check for any spots that might be cancerous.
One dema advised me to (if possible) avoid sun exposure between 9am and 3pm as a good preventive measure.
"(if possible)" Since 1970 I sailed with my boat(s) in the sub- and tropics mostly wearing shorts only or nothing at all so getting melanoma was not a surprise to me. But the melanoma on the sole of my foot was. Dec 6 th I'm operated in Chong Hua after extensive/expensive testing a.o. a MIR off the foot what gave a good impression of the cancer spread . They cut out accordingly and removed a big slap 5"x 5"x 5/16". Biopsy of the slap turned out good, no spreading so now I have to go for regular lymph node controle and try to get my foot back in shape. Total cost incl previous treatments/tests about P 200,000 whereof Phil Health covered P 36,000.
I think another member wrote about a melanoma in the same place (except it was his foot, not yours, of course) - rather surprising but shows that sun exposure is not the only trigger. Perhaps it is due to constant abrasion of the tissue there and its replacement giving opportunities for cell mutation - however, the same for the hands.
All good info (except about the infection, bummer). Just want to second info on TRU right down the street from SUMC (down the street behind 7-11, same bldg as Alima). Dr Tanya (trained in Toronto), also caught my Basel Cell Carcinoma last year. She cut it out too, sent it to Manila for biopsy, no problems. And by the way, if i see one more white man without a hat (any age), i'm gonna whack him upside da head....
