Specialists

[DRADCLIFF]

Ok guys I need recommendations for a CLL specialist in the state of Ga or close around that area.

I live in South Ga. USA

Thanks guys,

Deana

[Justasheet1]

Are you close to being treated? I lived in Florida and moved to north Georgia one year ago.

Moffitt in Florida and Emory hospital in Atlanta are good. I go to MDACC in Houston now because my insurance covers it and they have the best doctors and clinical trials for me.

Jeff

[DRADCLIFF in reply to Justasheet1]

I had chemo 9 years ago and have just been put on imbruvica about a month ago!

[New1948]

Dr. Chanan-Khan at Mayo in Jacksonville, Florida. I'm currently in a trial there on mono ibrutinib (MERIT).

[Justasheet1 in reply to New1948]

He’s really good but the hospital is fickle about what insurances they accept.

[New1948 in reply to Justasheet1]

Agree I have Medicare and retired federal BCBS (North Carolina) and have struggled with the whole financial business. Medicare sends their payment ledger to NC BCBS since that is where I live and they deny the claim because the Florida BCBS must process the claim since that is where the treatments/services were done. And the FL BCBS says they need to know what Medicare paid before they can process the claim.

Since some of the services at Mayo of Florida are not considered by Medicare as a participant provider, Medicare sends me checks for what they cover and forwards the ledger to NC BCBS. An absolute mess.

I've been reluctant to pay the Mayo Clinic since I do not know what BCBS will cover. This has resulted in Mayo forwarding the bills to a collection agent who then harasses me to pay the full amount minus what Medicare covered. I've met with the financial office at Mayo several times and explained that I've paid Mayo what Medicare has sent to me but I'm not going to pay the balance until I know what BCBS covers.

I could go on but I'll stop here. Yes you need to fully understand how the insurance coverage will play out wherever you decide to go.

[Justasheet1 in reply to New1948]

Before I went to MD Anderson, I was considering Ohio State too. I called, filled out all the paperwork and emailed it back. It took 2 weeks but I am preapproved at both places now with my insurance.

Jeff

[GMa27]

Moffitt in Tampa or Mayo in Jacksonville.

[CLLmoxie]

Dr Awan at UT Southwestern in Dallas

[DebDenC]

My husband sees Dr. Hefner at Emory, but is considering changing to Dr. Cohen there. He listened to Dr. Cohen on a CLL webcast and was very impressed with him, plus he sees patients closer to where we live. Dr. Hefner only sees patients at the main Emory hospital. My husband is a Co-facilitator with CLL Society support group, so we know people who also see Dr. Flowers at Emory.

[Ashlar677 in reply to DebDenC]

Deb, you said Dr. Cohen see patients closer to where you live, would that help me, I live in Northeast Alabama?

[CLLAdvocate]

CLLSociety.org is a great resource. You can find CLL specialist by state here cllsociety.org/toolbox/cll-....

[Teobeck]

I see Dr. Ajay Tadepalli at Emory Johns Creek Professional Bldg. adjacent to Hospital. He was formerly MD Anderson at Huntsville. He's a wonderful CLL/SLL specialist. I had 6 rounds of BR there last year. Emory nurses are kind and very knowledgeable. I'm on Emory patient E-mail portal and can ask questions at any time and get immediate responses. I had foot infection and was immediately referred to blood infection specialist in same bldg. I had outer ear infection and was immediately referred to dermatologist in same bldg. This is same hospital where I had biopsy, chemo port installed, got infusions at IFR Center, get CT Scans, and had a Pet Scan. It is a one stop new hospital/Professional Center for every kind of treatment, highly rated. I'm 79, Medicare and Supplement patient, and actually enjoy my visits there. I also attended Emory U from 1957-61, so I had great faith in my alma mater. Very professional, capable doctors and nurses, and have many cancer trials available. Winship Cancer Institute at Emory in Top 25 cancer centers.

[Justasheet1 in reply to Teobeck]

Teobeck,

I live in Georgia. I check regularly for clinical trials at Emory. There are never of any interest. I agree that they have world class doctors but treatment is standard of care. If you want to participate in a cutting edge trial, you have to travel.

Jeff

[Cllcanada Top Poster CURE Hero]

Dr. Chistopher Flowers is a noted CLL clinical researcher at Emory Winship.

~chris 🇨🇦

[DebDenC]

Dr. Cohen sees patients at Emory St Joseph, if that helps. I think Dr. Flowers sees patients at St. Joseph and main Emory campus. Dr. Flowers is also very impressive - I’ve heard him speak, although as head of the Lymphoma department, i dont know how much of his focus is strictly CLL.

[Teobeck]

Jeff:

I agree about leaness of Emory CLL trials. However, most very elderly are never accepted in any trials anyway. Most of us have accepted our mortality and are thankful for treatment extended quality of life if we have minimal side effects.

I have been spending my time helping my son establish a 501(c)(3) charity for needy children with Non Hodgkins Lymphoma, a segment where 800 kids a year are diagnosed nationally, and where more than 50 each year fall through the cracks (mostly rural kids) for lack of treatment due to being under/un/insured and/or parents' lack of travel/lodging/drug funds and loss of employment/bankruptcies due to same. This provides me with a good purpose and reason for living while I await my own fate.