Author Topic: Dr. Chang at Stanford / radiation  (Read 15242 times)

Sueoelke

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Dr. Chang at Stanford / radiation
« on: July 08, 2015, 09:06:28 am »
I've seen quite a few messages with great feedback regarding Dr. Chang at Stanford for radiation treatment.  Can anybody provide Dr. Chang's first name?  I'm assuming it is Dr. Steven D. Chang, but just want to confirm.  Also, does anybody have any recent info/opinions on both him and the Stanford facility in general?  This afternoon I'm seeing a local radiation doctor in Milwaukee who I was referred to by my ENT and neurosurgeon.  He also came highly recommended by a close friend who works at another hospital in the area.  I just want to keep my options open and seek a 2nd opinion. 
Diagnosed 2/2015 with 3.2cm left side AN.
Translab 5/20/2014
2nd Translab 2/2015

kejac

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Tumor discovered 8/2012 10x5x5
WW 6 months tumor grew 12x6x6
CK treatment Stanford 3/2014
6 month scan swelled to 15x9x9
1 year scan tumor reduced to 14x7x6
2 year scan tumor reduced to 12x6x5
3 year scan tumor stable 11x6x5
5 year scan no change 11x6x5

john1455

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Re: Dr. Chang at Stanford / radiation
« Reply #2 on: July 11, 2015, 05:40:24 pm »
Yep, kejac is correct, that's him. I was very pleased with my CyberKnife treatment at Stanford and the facilities were top notch. When it comes to AN treatment, it's all about experience and I doubt that there are very many physicians or facilities that have as much AN experience as Stanford. After all, that was where CyberKnife was born.
Diagnosed with 19x16x19mm cystic AN right side on 7/2013
MRI on 3/2014 showed AN increased to 21x20mm
right side 70% hearing loss, tinnitus, balance issues
CK at Stanford completed 3/21/2014 (3 sessions)
Dr Steven Chang and Dr Iris Gibbs

mcrue

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Re: Dr. Chang at Stanford / radiation
« Reply #3 on: January 10, 2016, 08:08:41 am »
Dr. Chang offers free MRI reviews as well. His staff is most excellent.
5/19/2015 - 40% sudden hearing loss + tinnitus right ear

6/26/2015 - AN diagnosed by MRI - 14mm x 7mm + 3mm extension

8/26/2015 - WIDEX "ZEN" hearing aid for my catastrophic tinnitus

12/15/2015: 18mm x 9mm + 9mm extension (5mm AGGRESSIVE GROWTH in 5 months)

3/03/2016:   Gamma Knife - Dr. Sheehan

Blw

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Re: Dr. Chang at Stanford / radiation
« Reply #4 on: January 20, 2016, 09:06:43 am »
Stanford was excellent. If you choose CK, I don't know where would be better.

CattAN

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Re: Dr. Chang at Stanford / radiation
« Reply #5 on: January 20, 2016, 10:08:02 am »
Stanford CyberKnife treatment is outstanding. They accept various types of insurance and have a great coordination of the treatment schedule.
Right side AN diagnosed 6/7/2015
12x11 mm
Swelling to 15x13 mm @ six months
SSD, tinnitus, some balance issues....
~~~~~~~~~
Stanford CyberKnife1 9/2/2015 (single fraction)
Dr. Steven Chang & Dr. Iris Gibbs

GaryWNT

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Re: Dr. Chang at Stanford / radiation
« Reply #6 on: January 22, 2016, 05:27:59 am »
Can only echo the compliments of Dr. Chang and Stanford mentioned already. I am 2 1/2 month post CK treatment and am doing great! Although my contacts with Dr. Chang were limited, I was in the care of Dr. Hancock and felt very secure and confident in the treatment. Everyone needs to make their own choices when it comes to treatment, but I'm delighted with the choice I made.
Gary
Sudden hearing loss in left ear 02/15
MRI 07/15 showed 2.5cm AN
CK at Stanford (3 days) 11/16
No change in symptoms (Mild tinnitus, mild balance issues, moderate hearing loss)
1st follow up MRI coming 04/16
some evidence of central necrosis on the treated left acoustic neuroma 05/10/2016

MG

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Re: Dr. Chang at Stanford / radiation
« Reply #7 on: February 01, 2016, 02:17:35 pm »
Can anyone tell me if there are any excellent doctors here on the east coast that compare to Dr. Chang. I live in Florida and I can't afford to fly all the way to Ca. for Cyber Knife.

Thanks,
MG
Resides Inverness, Fl.
Diagnosed w/ AN tumor Aug 2013  9x5x6mm
 2016  1.3 CM Touching Brain Stem 
'Wait and Watch' is over. w/ symptons of tinnitus along w/ ear pain and pressure most every day. Will be having Cyber Knife in June 2016

Doc

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Re: Dr. Chang at Stanford / radiation
« Reply #8 on: February 01, 2016, 02:42:15 pm »
Can anyone tell me if there are any excellent doctors here on the east coast that compare to Dr. Chang. I live in Florida and I can't afford to fly all the way to Ca. for Cyber Knife.

Thanks,
MG

MG - I saw Dr. Mark McLaughlin at Kennestone Hospital (Wellstar) north of Atlanta for my CK treatment. Went very well...he also treated my wife when she had breast cancer.

http://www.wellstar.org/physicians/pages/physician-profile.aspx?pid=0A8CBB08-A6D2-4F7B-A345-0C7C88690600
Left-Translab July '09. Cyberknife Jan 2010. In Apr 2017, four more tumors found; three in the brain and one, 7cm long, on my spinal cord; it was surgically removed. It was cancerous, and so are the others. I've been receiving Chemo since June '18, and I'm still in treatment.

MG

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Re: Dr. Chang at Stanford / radiation
« Reply #9 on: February 01, 2016, 02:46:00 pm »
Thank you Doc! I will check it out. I hope you and your wife are doing well now.

Best wishes,
MG
Resides Inverness, Fl.
Diagnosed w/ AN tumor Aug 2013  9x5x6mm
 2016  1.3 CM Touching Brain Stem 
'Wait and Watch' is over. w/ symptons of tinnitus along w/ ear pain and pressure most every day. Will be having Cyber Knife in June 2016

mcrue

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Re: Dr. Chang at Stanford / radiation
« Reply #10 on: February 01, 2016, 04:26:12 pm »
Can anyone tell me if there are any excellent doctors here on the east coast that compare to Dr. Chang. I live in Florida and I can't afford to fly all the way to Ca. for Cyber Knife.

Thanks,
MG

The closest to you regarding Gamma Knife radiation treatment would be Wake Forest Baptist with Dr. Stephen Tatter, MD, PhD, neurosurgeon, and Michael Chan, MD, radiation oncologist.

I believe Wake Forest is the 3rd largest Gamma Knife center in terms of the amount of patients treated annually.

Best wishes.
5/19/2015 - 40% sudden hearing loss + tinnitus right ear

6/26/2015 - AN diagnosed by MRI - 14mm x 7mm + 3mm extension

8/26/2015 - WIDEX "ZEN" hearing aid for my catastrophic tinnitus

12/15/2015: 18mm x 9mm + 9mm extension (5mm AGGRESSIVE GROWTH in 5 months)

3/03/2016:   Gamma Knife - Dr. Sheehan

MG

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Re: Dr. Chang at Stanford / radiation
« Reply #11 on: February 02, 2016, 07:42:41 am »
Thank you for the information mcrue. I hope your situation works out for you. Sending prayers!

Best Wishes, MG
Resides Inverness, Fl.
Diagnosed w/ AN tumor Aug 2013  9x5x6mm
 2016  1.3 CM Touching Brain Stem 
'Wait and Watch' is over. w/ symptons of tinnitus along w/ ear pain and pressure most every day. Will be having Cyber Knife in June 2016

tdlight

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Re: Dr. Chang at Stanford / radiation
« Reply #12 on: February 12, 2016, 12:22:08 am »
Dr. Chang offers free MRI reviews as well. His staff is most excellent.

I called Stanford today in hopes of an MRI review and phone consultation with Dr Chang but was told none of the doctors do phone consults.  Do I just email Dr Chang directly?  I see his email address on their website but thought that seemed a little presumptuous.
Diagnosed 1/15/16
Left Side, 5x3x4 mm, 1 mm from cochlea
High frequency hearing loss (still useful), tinnitus
Three fraction CK at Stanford completed 3/25/16

tdlight

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Re: Dr. Chang at Stanford / radiation
« Reply #13 on: February 13, 2016, 10:38:20 pm »
To answer my own question; I emailed Dr Chang yesterday attaching my MRI and hearing test and I heard back from him within a couple hours.  I was very impressed.  He gave me his opinion in a fairly lengthy email and I could tell, even through email, he was not doing a sell job.  I think most of us, myself very recently, if we have received multiple opinions have come to the conclusion that many docs out there are trying to push their own agenda or justify their shiny new machine.  I did not get that sense with Dr Chang in any way, so that was very comforting.  Coming to the realization that no one is going to make this decision for us may be the most important step in the treatment process.

That all said, I am going full steam ahead with Dr Chang as my first choice; fractionated CyberKnife. 
Diagnosed 1/15/16
Left Side, 5x3x4 mm, 1 mm from cochlea
High frequency hearing loss (still useful), tinnitus
Three fraction CK at Stanford completed 3/25/16

GaryWNT

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Re: Dr. Chang at Stanford / radiation
« Reply #14 on: February 14, 2016, 01:33:12 am »
I emailed Dr. Chang and asked if he would review my MRI scans. He replied very quickly with an address where I should send the MRI and wrote back to me a day after he received it. I didn't do a telephone consult with him. Good luck!
Gary
Sudden hearing loss in left ear 02/15
MRI 07/15 showed 2.5cm AN
CK at Stanford (3 days) 11/16
No change in symptoms (Mild tinnitus, mild balance issues, moderate hearing loss)
1st follow up MRI coming 04/16
some evidence of central necrosis on the treated left acoustic neuroma 05/10/2016