Free evaluations are available for East Bay melanoma patients.  Physician may refer a patient or patients may self-refer. Pretreatment conferences are conducted for newly diagnosed or recurrent melanoma patients who, in the opinion of their physician or the Medical Director of the Melanoma Program, might benefit from a multi-disciplinary educational case review. At each conference, a panel of specialists examines patients, reviews case histories, laboratory studies and x-rays, and then considers treatment options.  The Medical Director will discuss these options with the patient several days following the conference.

Depending on the nature of the case, patients may have to be present for examination but will not attend the conference that follows. Examinations are conducted in Oakland on the first and third Tuesday of each month from 5:45-6:30 pm Patients must be scheduled by the Monday preceding a conference.

Patients will not be charged for these services and the Melanoma Center will not deliver any treatments.  The goal of this program is to help patients and their current physicians to choose among optimal treatments and identify the means of obtaining them. 

Medical professionals who wish to be on the email list will be contacted twice each month, describing the cases that will be presented.  Information about the date, time, site, parking and other relevant details will be provided in each communication.

Patients can call [650] 467-6078 or send a brief email to jaib@gene.com to determine whether they might benefit from consideration of their case by the tumor board.

Professional Education Meetings

The Melanoma Center conducts quarterly educational meetings to inform  physicians about the most current treatment modalities.  Physicians from all specialties that diagnose and treat melanoma will be invited to speak at these educational meetings. These forums will be both informal and interactive.  Participants will be encouraged to occasionally bring challenging cases to discuss with the speaker.  Attendance is limited to professionals who care for melanoma patients.  To join the email notification list, call [510] 465-2242.