I received a letter on Saturday that my oncologist at MD Anderson, Dr. Philip Thompson, is leaving effective January 3, 2023. Nooooooooo! Dr. Thompson is originally from Australia and has made the decision to return to Melbourne and join the Low-Grade Lymphoma and CLL group at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre. Great news for those in Australia...Dr. Thompson is a wonderful and caring doctor! But sad news for me...and all of his patients who travel to Houston.
According to the letter, I will be assigned to another CLL specialist at MDA and, where possible, they will work to accommodate my preference. I know a number of folks on HealthUnlocked go to MDA, so I am soliciting recommendations. I don't have an appointment until June of 2023, but I suspect a new doctor will be assigned fairly soon.
Thanks!
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Lisa-1959
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Wow Lisa, what a journey this has been for you. I read your bio and story. I am so happy to hear you are doing great and wishing you continuing success! Hopefully you will get many replies regarding great CLL specialist at MD Anderson. I'm a novice and not a full year diagnosed with this awful CLL. Wishing you all the best. Michael
Michael, thanks for the well wishes. I realized that I had not updated my bio since June 2021, so I just did a few updates to add more to my story. It has definitely been a long road...30 years in 2023 since the first sign of CLL popped up.
I’m sorry to hear your doctor is returning to his homeland. But as I’ve said many times MDA is arguably the best cancer center in the world so its bench is deep. There have been at least a handful of talented Aussies that I recall who have trained at MDA. If these young doctors are moving all the way from Australia to Houston it’s because MDA provides outstanding training. Therefore, you will get a great replacement! Good luck with your next doctor. And congratulations to those CLL patients in Melbourne who now have a well trained and highly experienced doctor.
Mark, I certainly agree that MDA has a deep bench, and yes, the folks in Melbourne and all through Australia are blessed to be getting this wonderful doctor!
I have heard a lot of good things about Dr. Weirda...thanks for the recommendation. One of the things I really liked about Dr. Thompson is that he took plenty of time to answer your questions during office visits and would often personally answer questions on the portal. I realize not every doctor has the best bedside manner, but I am hoping my new doctor will be just as caring and concerned as Dr. Thompson.
It may just be a coincidence but I think your doctor is replacing my doctor at Peter Mac as my doctor has left Peter Mac and has gone to our biggest public hospital as head of the lymphoma unit now ( he also trained at MDA) but though when he first said he was leaving I also went oh no at first but lucky for me the hospital he is now at is also in Melbourne and closer to where I live. Hope you find a good replacement real soon- Cheers from down under!!!
Great that your doctor is even closer to where you live! I can definitely say that Dr. Thompson will be a wonderful addition to the CLL community in Melbourne...
I go to MD Anderson/ San Antonio Mays Cancer Center Annex. My current doc is a young physician who grew up in Canada. The state of Texas funds all MD Anderson locations - we train lots of cancer docs, for sure.
Hi Lisa, I see Dr Thompson as well. He is going to be so missed by us as well
Tuesday after my appointment he told my husband and I he was going back home and that he is going to try and get us with Dr Burger I am praying he is great like Dr Thompson as I am starting treatment for the first time at the end of this month! Wish I knew more Doctors there to tell you about, maybe message the nurse?
I love that Dr. Thompson is so available to answer questions and is so concerned about me the patient...I will miss that. I haven't messaged Nurse Lisa to find out the plan, but I will ask about Dr. Burger. I have been through treatment (Venetaclax & Rituxan)...finished in July 2021, but I didn't reach MRD undetected, so I am back in Watch & Wait. Pray your treatment goes well with great results!
Hi there I just checked my visits in my chart and looks like they have me scheduled with Dr Prithvirage Bose for my December appt now 😱 I see Dr Thompson again and should have my BMB results just hope and pray they put me with whatever specialist is good for my case…we shall see
Just read your bio...your w&w was very long...we all hope for same. I was diagnosed in 2021...go to MD Anderson in Jacksonville FL. Dr Norkin said I don't need to go there at this stage but it's my decision. Figure if insurance pays for the best why not go to MD A.
I agree on getting the best, so you are wise to start out with a CLL specialist versus later on in your CLL journey. Pray your W&W is lengthy as well!!!
I was at MDA in 1997 and saw Dr. McLaughlin & Dr. Kornblau (sp?)...both were assigned to me. When I opted to go back in 2018, I was assigned Dr. Thompson and was very happy with him. I am sure all of the doctors are great, but felt feedback from those with experience with other doctors would be helpful. Thanks for your comments!
My wife and I have been very pleased with him and the team there.
I honestly believe that any of the MDs on their team would be excellent and we are very fortunate to have this resource. It gives us access to expertise and clinical trials if needed.
Hi Lisa, I also see Dr. Wierda at MDA and have been a patient of his since I was diagnosed in 2016. I was in a trial started by Dr. Jain (I think) and did reach Umrd but it didn't last that long for me. However my level of disease is low and I am now back in W & W. I was scared at first when I came out of Umrd but Dr. Wierda told me not to worry - that he had other treatments up his sleeve when/if I need them. I love his team as well.
Great that Dr. Wierda is so reassuring...know that certainly helps. When I first went to MDA in 1997, I was told I likely had 5 years and chemo was the only treatment option. So grateful to still be kicking!
Very early in my treatment when I was uncertain which therapy to try because of unfavorable markers (TP 73, del. 17 and complex caryotype), I happened to see an email address for Dr. Wierda at the bottom of one of his research studies. I emailed him and asked a few questions about prospective treatment which he very graciously answered even though he had no idea of who or where I was. Fast forward through a few months on Acalabrutinib and then treatment with Venetoclax mono therapy which failed, my doctor in Colorado thought I might have Richter’s Transformation. Needless to say, that got my attention and I got the first available appointment with Dr. Wierda in Houston. I was very impressed with him, his staff and everyone else at MDA; the tests given to me were extensive and his explanations of what he thought I should do were comprehensive and easily understandable. I have changed to another wonderful doctor in Denver but will see Dr. Wierda once a year in Houston. I can’t recommend him highly enough.
Wow! Your situation has had some twists and turns. Glad you are plugged with with a great doctor in Denver, but I do appreciate you taking the time to share about Dr. Wierda.
My chart is updated again with appts all the way into Feb with Dr Burger now I’m glad that Dr Thompson placed me with who he recommended that I should be with for my case That shows how great he is and follows up on his word It sounds like Dr Weirda is highly recommended as well. They have so many specialist that are great in different areas So glad they place patients with who the Doctors think are the best fit for. I’m sure Dr Thompson will recommend the best Doctor for each patients situation This keeps my faith in MD Anderson.
I need to check with Nurse Lisa and see if anything has been decided for me. I looked on mymdanderson for my appointment in June, but it still lists Dr. Thompson. Thanks for mentioning Dr. Burger.
I just had my last visit with Dr. Thompson on Tuesday, He said he had more patients than any other doctor, so they are spreading the assignments around. He still wasn't sure who I'd get. I mentioned Dr. Wierda and Dr. Jain would be nice, but he didn't say one way or the other. Nothing has shown up in MDA's Epic MyChart portal yet for my appontment that he said would be in January.
He said that his oldest kid is 4, and he'd like them to go to school in Melbourne, where he's from. He's been in the U.S. for 9 years, he said.
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