Doctor referrals?? please

Hi. I am wondering if anyone has any gynecologists that specialize or are HIGHLY skilled w/ HPV in the San Francisco Bay area (willing to travel a little ways).
I have a doctor but she is a 7 hour drive from where I live. She is great. She really knows what she is doing and treats internal symptoms as well. She is extremely thorough. I do not have much money, or health insurance (besides medi-cal). But I am borrowing the money to see this doctor because the medi-cal doctors I have seen (including planned parenthood) really have not known too much what they are doing and have caused me to prolong this pleasant experience probably several months longer than it needed to be. Plus they do not treat or even check for internal warts. I found out about the internal risk factors through my friend who urged me to see her doctor in Los Angeles and that she had completely cured her. She also warned me about the cancer risk and how I need to not be messing around w/ people (who aren't even doctors but rather nurse practitioners) or are operating on low funds and do not have the proper equipment, treatments or know how to properly serve me.
Anyway, as you can probably tell, I am at my wits end. Thanks for bearing w/me. If there is an expert in the Bay area that anyone could recommend, it would be GREATLY appreciated. For it is a pretty big inconvenience traveling every 2 weeks and also a strain on my finances which I am borrowing on most of it. Causing more stress and stress is what the doctors are unanimously telling me I need to cut down in my life.
So... any referrals would be awesome! or any tips on finding a doctor in my area who really knows what they are doing.. and means it.

Thanks!

By flowershoplady
Posted April 26, 2009 at 5:08 pm
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you're seeing the gynecologist every other week for treatments? i certainly understand why you'd want someone closer to you! i'm not familiar with this sort of treatment, but you may want to contact the major teaching/university hospitals and/or the society of gynecologic oncologists for referrals.

By Eimaj
Posted April 27, 2009 at 8:31 pm
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I have a friend who lives in San Fran. She used this Doctor when she had a baby several years ago.
Dr. Marilyn Milkman
Hope this helps.. Best of luck..

By kala81
Posted April 29, 2009 at 1:27 am
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Freezing & acid treatments.
How come almost everyone I mention that to sounds surprised? Even doctors offices sound confused. Planned parenthood wanted me to come in every week. That's how you keep the warts at bay. You keep knocking 'em down every time they think about coming back. that way they don't keep spreading or become the big C. My doctor is concerned about that.

By flowershoplady
Posted April 29, 2009 at 10:17 am
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kala, many of us here on this message board may be surprised at the frequency of the treatment because we're not familiar with it. most of us on this message board are dealing with cervical dysplasia and cervical cancer and other cancers (anal, vulva, etc.) caused by the high risk hpv strains.

By kala81
Posted April 30, 2009 at 2:22 pm
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Yes, I see that. Hmmm... I guess I thought you first go through this before that. But I know often times there are no symptoms in the beginning. My doctor told me I have 3 or 4 different kinds.. some of which are a cancer risk, which is why she wants to keep treating me. I am starting to wonder how much she knows either. I am really starting to feel sad and scared about this and probably not going into work today. I need to figure out how I can get health insurance or a loan in order to take care of this... while it is treatable. Because now my doctor is talking cancer but she is also recommending I get the vaccine which looks like studies are showing is a bad idea.. so how much can she know?
Anyway, thanks for the help everyone. Sorry if I have misunderstood what this site is about. I thought it was for HPV also. Not just cancer. I am a little confused. But thank you anyway.

By flowershoplady
Posted April 30, 2009 at 2:33 pm
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kala, keep in mind that genital hpv has 2 categories....'high risk' strains which can potentially cause cervical cancer and 'low risk' which can potentially cause genital warts. many women have multiple strains of hpv and can have both high risk and low risk strains. i would encourage you to ask your doctor more about the hpv strains that are currently active. low risk strains don't 'become' high risk....they're one or the other. but, like i said, you can have multiple strains. many of us don't have cancer, but rather have dysplasia which can sometimes progress into cancer if left untreated...or can sometimes regress and clear on its own. and there are women here who have both high risk and low risk strains of hpv.

i think many people use the term 'having hpv' while there are many hp viruses, some are genital and sexually transmitted, and others can create warts on people's hands and feet (again, the same general category of virus, but also very different in its transmission and potential impact).

hope that helps!

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