Doc

Just found out I have HD, and am doing some footwork to identify a likely oncologist. What's the difference between a medical oncologist and a radiation oncologist? Are there any subspecialties, like hematology or internal medicine, that might serve to recommend one oncologist over another? Is there any advantage to being listed as an AMA member, rather than just having a listing on that website?

Also, can you give me some direction on questions I should be asking, beyond the obvious of what's the treatment, and what are the chances it will work?

Thanks,
Too Cute

gads mate , Hodgkin's Disease , i am so sorry but with determation i'm shure you will prevail

Thanks, Pappy. the good news is that I understand this one is usually curable.

My aunt had HD. She relapsed 3 times and ended up with a bone marrow transplant. She is doing extremely well and has been fine for over 15 years. In her case, she worked with a medical oncologist/hemalogist as well as a radiation oncologist. It seems that many of them work as a team, each doing more what is in their specialty.

I found a couple links that may help with info. Good luck and keep positive, that makes a world of difference.

http://www.med.ufl.edu/radonc/Site_Lymphoma.htm

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/wyntk/h...?page=&keyword=

Thanks, Bull.

Whoever diagnosed you should be able to give you the benefit of their experience of what doctor to use. Don't pick one out of the phone book. Talk to some Friends and see who they recommend. A medical Oncologist is best to start with in HD. If any radiation is needed he will farm it out to a colleague. Good luck and keep up informed. BTW realize that this is very treatable and has high cure rates , well up in the 90's.

Too Cute, so sorry to hear, but it does have high success rates for cureing, and I hope all goes well, and thank you Doc for replying and being here for us.

Thanks, Doc.

I looked around on the AMA website, and found a medical oncologist who has a subspecialty of hematology - I also met him a few years ago when he was sent in to consult on a case that I was near and dear to. I asked my surgeon about him, and got some good feedback. I also found out that he is in practice with the second oncologist my mother had picked towards the end, after the one she had been sent to initially was unceremoniously fired by her practice. So when I go to my PCP on Monday, I will tell him that I have this guy in mind.

You're right, though. If there is any bright spot in this, it's that HD was the first one they learned to cure, and there's great hope for full recovery.

Thanks, all, for your support and wishes. I'll keep you posted.