I landed in Dr. Eaton's office for a consultation back in June after receiving an unfavorable biopsy that revealed a melanoma tumor on my nose. Although Dr. Eaton was out of my insurance network, my dermatologist of 15 years, a highly-respected physician who also performs Mohs surgery, urged me to see him. I had had two Mohs procedures previously performed by my dermatologist for basal cell carcinoma, but the melanoma on the nose involved a much more complicated procedure, with potentially disfiguring results. My dermatologist indicated he frequently refers his most complicated cases to Dr. Eaton because of his unique qualifications. When my husband and I met Dr. Eaton, we waivered a little initially due to the additional costs we'd incur in being a cash patient, but when presented upfront with his fee schedule for surgery, pathology and reconstruction, it appeared more reasonable than we had anticipated. One of the differences between the procedure for melanoma and the procedure for having Mohs for other skin cancers is that melanoma specimens must be sent to an outside lab, and there's a longer waiting period for results after each excision.
I feel forever grateful that I decided to go with Dr. Eaton. His overwhelming kindness, sincere compassion, and the organization and scheduling procedures of his office were very impressive. I ended up having three excisions, plus reconstruction, after removing the skin off nearly my entire nose. All of this was accomplished in just one week. I experienced a lot of anxiety during that week, waiting for results on three separate occasions, not knowing for sure whether or not the melanoma had become invasive, but what I experienced with Dr. Eaton and his staff made it very tolerable, if not pleasant. His calm demeanor and incredible bedside manner allowed me to feel more at ease. I always felt confident I was in good hands and knew he was looking out for my best interests. Every decision made by him is with thoughtful calculation. I am still under his care, as my reconstruction involved a skin grafting to the nose. Complete healing on a skin graft can take up to a year, and further repair will likely be done in the future, but I am very pleased with his work. Most importantly, the cancer is completely gone. Patients need to keep in mind that expectations must be reasonable, and a flawless cosmetic result is not always attainable. When a doctor such as Eaton is so well respected and so often referred by his peers, this is an endorsement worth paying attention to. I would highly recommend him to anyone undergoing a skin cancer procedure. read more
