Melanoma specialist in Bangkok

[Yipuin]

Hello everyone, my mother has a former of advanced melanoma and I would like to ask if anyone can recommend a specialist who really knows about melanoma in Bangkok since most have no idea how to treat it. Thank you very much in advanced.

[Sheryl]

There is almost zero expertise in Melanoma in Thailand. Is your Mother here now? As she is strongly advised to return home for treatment of this if at all possible. I will come back with names of some doctors but they will not in any way have the experience available in Western countries.

As I assume you know this is a life and death matter so should seriously consider treatment outside thailand if at all possible.

[Yipuin]

Thank you for your reply. I am fully aware of the matter but it is not possible for my mother to travel in the near future right now. Most doctors she had been to have no idea how to treat it. I would be really grateful if you can recommend me any doctor even if it is a slim chance. Thank you again

[Sheryl]

OK I am looking.

There is one clinical trial in treatment of advanced melanoma currently underway at 3 sites in Thailand and recruiting participants. The website does nto list the names of the Thai investigators but has phone numbers in the US and UK you could call. Don't know if your Mother would qualify or not, if she does, might be worth doing. There is nio placebo group so she would get treatment and in a clinical trial it is usually free of cost

https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02083354

Meanwhile i keep trying to get doctor names for you

[Sheryl]

Can you tell me something about the treatment received so far and stage of the disease? As this affects what type of doctor she needs

[Yipuin]

She has not started any treatment. It is melanoma in her toenail. She had the discoloration surgically removed for a biopsy a while back in Bangkok. The doctors did suspect it was melanoma but we were told it was not "cancerous". Her condition is getting worse and she recently went to Phayathai2 hospital which the doctors were of no help. She is reluctant to seek help because we can't find a specialist.

Thank you very much. I really appreciate your help.

[johnatong]

She has not started any treatment. It is melanoma in her toenail. She had the discoloration surgically removed for a biopsy a while back in Bangkok. The doctors did suspect it was melanoma but we were told it was not "cancerous". Her condition is getting worse and she recently went to Phayathai2 hospital which the doctors were of no help. She is reluctant to seek help because we can't find a specialist.

Thank you very much. I really appreciate your help.

Does your Mother have a copy of the Histology report ?

[Sheryl]

She has not started any treatment. It is melanoma in her toenail. She had the discoloration surgically removed for a biopsy a while back in Bangkok. The doctors did suspect it was melanoma but we were told it was not "cancerous". Her condition is getting worse and she recently went to Phayathai2 hospital which the doctors were of no help. She is reluctant to seek help because we can't find a specialist.

Thank you very much. I really appreciate your help.

When you say condition getting worse, what do you mean? Is she systemically ill? I am trying to get a handle on the "advanced melanoma" part. That generally means metastasis and involvement of internal organs but you mention only toenail. Can you clarify? It makes a great deal of difference in terms of whether she needs a dermatologist, a surgeon, an oncologist etc.

[Yipuin]

@johnatong I don't think she does since it was such a long time.

I believe it is advanced melanoma because the growth from her toe nail has grown continuously (almost ping pong ball size) and it bleeds. The skin on her foot and leg seems to be darker as well. It is now painful for her to walk.

[johnatong]

@johnatong I don't think she does since it was such a long time.

I believe it is advanced melanoma because the growth from her toe nail has grown continuously (almost ping pong ball size) and it bleeds. The skin on her foot and leg seems to be darker as well. It is now painful for her to walk.

Like Sheryl I am struggling.

Is the 'melenoma' something that has been positively diagnosed by a doctor ?

Mum should obtain her medical records from wherever she was originally treated and records of more recent medical consultations.

All this will be needed if Mum wishes to apply to join the clinical trail mentioned above and will be very helpful if she decides to seek an opinion elsewhere

edit

If Mum has a growth such as you describe it requires urgent diagnosis/biopsy.

Edited April 7, 2016 by johnatong

[Yipuin]

My mother has not been formally diagnosed. But I am very positive it is melanoma from research online. I don't mean to sound pretentious but everything she goes to see the doctor all they say is "it is a disease that Thailand or Asia does not see often" etc. She has now become very reluctant to seek medical help.

[uptheos]

It's important that your mother knows two things if it is diagnosed as 'malignant' melanoma.

1. Breslow's Depth

2. Clarkes Level (1-4)

Depending on these results, should determine the type of treatment she receives.

[Sheryl]

So in fact she had not had a biopsy showing melanoma after all?

It is impossible to make such a diagnosis by online research, even ny a medically trained person let alone a layman.

[Sheryl]

From your post #6 it sounds like a biopsy was done and ruled out melanoma?

In any case, this is what I have come up with. These two doctors are Professors of Dermatology at Ramatibodhi Hospital:

Prof. Yingluk Visesseri

Prof. Suthinee Rutnin

They have some experience with melanoma and are also in general highly trained senior dermatologists.

Ramatibhodi is a Government hospital but has a private wing and I think (not positive) you can make appointment with them there:

http://med.mahidol.ac.th/qsmc/th/service/premium_clinic-th

fifth floor of the hospital's Sirikit Medical Centre and open Monday to Friday from 8 to 4. Call (02) 201 2211.

Should bring her prior records with her especially the biopsy report. It can be obtained from the hospital where she was terated, though she will have to og in person with her passport or other ID to get it. This is important.

IF it runs out to be melanoma, you should pursue the clinical trial I mentioned. I emailed an inquery and learned that the sites in Bangkok are:

1. Bangkok Hospital Wattanosoth Cancer Hospital
and

2. Oncology Unit, Department of Medicine, Rajavithi Hospital

But unfortunately got only the main hospital phone numbers and no doctor names. I will try further but really need to first be certain of diagnosis. So in the meantime, get her records (at least from the visit in which biopsy was done and the biopsy result) and try to see one of the doctors listed above.
6623548059

[Yipuin]

Thank you so very much for your help, I truly appreciate it. I will make an appointment at Ramathibodi and update to you asap. Thank you again for your kindness.

[gamini]

There is almost zero expertise in Melanoma in Thailand. Is your Mother here now? As she is strongly advised to return home for treatment of this if at all possible. I will come back with names of some doctors but they will not in any way have the experience available in Western countries.

As I assume you know this is a life and death matter so should seriously consider treatment outside thailand if at all possible.

I really can't understand a person like you making such an uninformed comment. The dermatology department at Siriraj Hospital in Bangkok is as good if not better than in any other country. Doctors are US trained. Two of my friends with melanoma are being successfully treated there and I have been having skin cancer treatment there for the last 10 years. You should not post false information which can cause inconvenience to the poster. I strongly recommend that the mother mentioned seek treatment at Siriraj

[gamini]

dermatology department Siriraj hospital. Excellant melanoma treatment by US trained doctors. Vert affordable too.

[Sheryl]

If you have specific doctors at Siriraj you recommend, please provide their names.

[gamini]

If you have specific doctors at Siriraj you recommend, please provide their names.

The dermatology department at Siriraj is a huge 8 story building devoted to skin diseases. It has all the latest state of art equipment and lots of doctors and surgeons. By contacting this department and informing them that you want to see a melanoma specialist, they will arrange one for this type of cancer. Unlike other hospitals where you would get a general skin specialist, you will get a melanoma specialist at Siriraj. I believe Dr Ragsima is one of them. I see a Dr Panu for basal cell carcinoma and a young surgeon removed some squamious cell carcinoma but I do not know his name. I have had treatment in Chiangmai, Australia and New Zealand and none of it compared with the expertise at Siriraj. I lived in Singapore and Malaysia and treatment there was dismal. Other hospitals in Thailand have not been good and very expensive. Siriraj is about one fifth the price. Once you register and get into the system you can get regular appointments and don't have to wait.

[Sheryl]

You mean Dr. Rungsima Wanitphakdeedecha, yes?

[gamini]

You mean Dr. Rungsima Wanitphakdeedecha, yes?

Yes! But there are many other good ones too. As a matter of interest I find all the doctors at Siriraj first class. I was considering da Vinci robotic surgery there for prostate cancer. According to my urologist they have the best and most experienced surgeons for these type of operations.

I might add that I do not use Siriraj hospital just because it is much cheaper than private hospitals, I go there because it is the best.

[johnatong]

You mean Dr. Rungsima Wanitphakdeedecha, yes?

Yes! But there are many other good ones too. As a matter of interest I find all the doctors at Siriraj first class. I was considering da Vinci robotic surgery there for prostate cancer. According to my urologist they have the best and most experienced surgeons for these type of operations.

I might add that I do not use Siriraj hospital just because it is much cheaper than private hospitals, I go there because it is the best.

I believe that lady specialises in "beauty" and cosmetic enhancement surgery.

[wpcoe]

I know the OP is in Bangkok, but would Dr. Anna in Pattaya be a viable option? I know she specializes in skin cancer, and would assume she has experience with melanoma?

In theory, a visit to Bangkok Hospital-Pattaya can be a day trip from Bangkok, but perhaps with an older person it might be better to schedule an overnight stop?

[Sheryl]

1. Yes, Dr. Rungsima's main area of interest is cosmetic though in her public hospital practice she of course treats skin pathologies. This is one reason did not suggest her. Also, had experience a few uears back with a Brit with advanced melanoms treated at Siriraj who wad advised by docs at Siriraj to return to UK. Number of cases of melanoma are few here and of advanced stage subungual melanoma even fewer.

3. I considered Dr. Anna but in addition to distance from sounds of this it is a large growth with possible metastasis and will need an inter-disciplinary team not just dermatologists.

From what I could determine after several hours of research the suggested doctors at Ramatibodhi seemed best option

[gamini]

1. Yes, Dr. Rungsima's main area of interest is cosmetic though in her public hospital practice she of course treats skin pathologies. This is one reason did not suggest her. Also, had experience a few uears back with a Brit with advanced melanoms treated at Siriraj who wad advised by docs at Siriraj to return to UK. Number of cases of melanoma are few here and of advanced stage subungual melanoma even fewer.

3. I considered Dr. Anna but in addition to distance from sounds of this it is a large growth with possible metastasis and will need an inter-disciplinary team not just dermatologists.

From what I could determine after several hours of research the suggested doctors at Ramatibodhi seemed best option

I admire your efforts to help people on this forum and I apologies for being a bit harsh on you. It is just that I have had serious skin cancer for 40 years and sought treatment in many hospitals and skin clinics worldwide and quite frankly Siriraj was the only one I received effective treatment,nearly all of the others, especially in Thailand seem to be much more aligned to cosmetic surgery because of its profitability.