| Joined: Oct 2013 Posts: 2 Member | OP Member Joined: Oct 2013 Posts: 2 | Hi All,
I would like some suggestions on the best way to narrow down on a good doctor and a good hospital. This is for Oral Cancer.
Regards, Karan. | | | | Joined: Oct 2013 Posts: 2 Member | OP Member Joined: Oct 2013 Posts: 2 | To add, I live in San Mateo, California. | | | | Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,260 Likes: 3 "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,260 Likes: 3 | You need to look up the top CCC in your area. Christine will likely be along to post a list for you. welcome,
Cheryl : Irritation - 2004 BX: 6/2008 : Inflam. BX: 12/10, DX: 12/10 : SCC - LS tongue well dif. T2N1M0. 2/11 hemigloss + recon. : PND - 40 nodes - 39 clear. 3/11 - 5/11 IMRT 33 + cis x2, PEG 3/28/11 - 5/19/11 3 head, 2 chest scans - clear(fingers crossed) HPV-, No smoke, drink, or drugs, Vegan
| | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 | Karan, welcome to OCF! We are here to help you with info and support, but we cant advise which specific doctor is going to be the right one for you and treating your cancer. I will give you the list of the country's top hospitals. The very best places usually are comprehensive cancer centers (CCC's). Thats where they will use a whole team of professionals who all work together on each individual case, everybody is on the same page. CCC list ChristineSCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44 2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07 -65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr Clear PET 1/08 4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I surg 4/16/08 clr marg 215 HBO dives 3/09 teeth out, trismus 7/2/09 recur, Stg IV 8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy 3wks medicly inducd coma 2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit PICC line IV antibx 8 mo 10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg OC 3x in 3 years very happy to be alive | | | | Joined: May 2006 Posts: 720 Likes: 1 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: May 2006 Posts: 720 Likes: 1 | Be advised that because the National Cancer Institute (NCI) funds most of the cancer research in the U.S, its designation of an institution as a comprehensive cancer center (CCC) or cancer center (CC) has everything to do with a facility's research interests and nothing to do with patient care. Institutions choose to apply for NCI designation, which can lead to additional research funding, and the approval process can take as long as a decade. However, given that the top research institutions do tend to attract the top physicians, the list Christine linked to -- the list of NCI-designated facilities -- is a good starting point. Note: The difference between NCI-designated CCCs and CCs is that the CCCs do research in three broad areas, while the CCs concentrate in one or two. Just to confuse matters further, the phrase "comprehensive cancer center" or CCC is also used on these boards to refer to an institution -- not necessarily an NCI-designated one -- that uses a team approach for each case, bringing together specialists from a variety of areas (surgery, radiology, chemo, etc.) to determine an individualized treatment plan. Make sure that wherever you end up uses this approach. Another list to check is the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, the alliance of 23 leading U.S. cancer centers that annually develops and publishes the state-of-the-art treatment guidelines. You'll note that two of the NCCN members are in your area -- UCSF and Stanford. Finally, there's the list of best cancer hospitals published yearly by U.S. News. To get more specific, you can cross-reference this with U.S. News' list of the best hospitals for ear, nose and throat (ENT) (for example, Johns Hopkins is #4 in cancer and #1 in ENT). These lists are probably the best places to start to "narrow down on a good doctor and a good hospital." As for finding a doctor, Mamacita offered this advice in a recent post: [quote=Mamacita]-- No matter where you go, you should also choose the best doctors. Do your research before you call so that you can request the best doctors by name. Even CCCs have some docs who are stronger than others. Ask your GP, ENT or medically connected friends to recommend the top docs. Look at each docs publications -- Do they publish? Does his/her research show a predominant and recent interest in HNC? Do any of their publications concern your particular HNC? Is the doc in a leadership role at his/her institution or in national medical groups? All are signs that the doc is at the top of his/her field.[/quote] Where you are treated can depend on a number of factors, including your medical insurance (or lack of same) and willingness or unwillingness to travel. Since I first got involved here in 2006, I've known of a patient from California who flew to New York for treatment at Memorial Sloan-Kettering. Several people here, including OCF founder Brian Hill, traveled to Houston for treatment at M.D. Anderson; others have come to Baltimore for Johns Hopkins. Many people opt to stay closer to home, of course -- but wherever you are treated, everyone here will strongly recommend that you get a second opinion from one of the top facilities, which could confirm the recommendations of your initial consultation or could open up new treatment possibilities that doctors at smaller institutions just may not be aware of. Many health insurance plans will cover the cost of a second opinion, and some insist on it before treatment begins. And keep coming back!
Leslie
April 2006: Husband dx by dentist with leukoplakia on tongue. Oral surgeon's biopsy 4/28/06: Moderate dysplasia; pathology report warned of possible "skip effect." ENT's excisional biopsy (got it all) 5/31/06: SCC in situ/small bit superficially invasive. Early detection saves lives.
| | | | Joined: Jul 2012 Posts: 3,267 Likes: 1 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Jul 2012 Posts: 3,267 Likes: 1 | In addition to Christine's listings, there is the NCCN, National Comprehensive Cancer Network, an afiliations of the top hospitals throughout the country, many on the CCC/ NCI list. U.S. News Report has a yearly listing of the Best Hospitals in the U.S., in 16 specialties, two which are of interest to us, Cancer and Ear, Nose and Throat, where you can search the best from there, your surrounding area or wherever you want to go.
Good luck
Thanks Leslie. We must have posted the same time.
Last edited by PaulB; 10-04-2013 06:33 AM. Reason: Repeat post
10/09 T1N2bM0 Tonsil 11/09 Taxo Cisp 5-FU, 6 Months Hosp 01/11 35 IMRT 70Gy 7 Wks 06/11 30 HBO 08/11 RND PNI 06/12 SND PNI LVI 08/12 RND Pec Flap IORT 12 Gy 10/12 25 IMRT 50Gy 6 Wks Taxo Erbitux 10/13 SND 10/13 TBO/Angiograph 10/13 RND Carotid Remove IORT 10Gy PNI 12/13 25 Protons 50Gy 6 Wks Carbo 11/14 All Teeth Extract 30 HBO 03/15 Sequestromy Buccal Flap ORN 09/16 Mandibulectomy Fib Flap Sternotomy 04/17 Regraft hypergranulation Donor Site 06/17 Heart Attack Stent 02/19 Finally Cancer Free Took 10 yrs
| | | | Joined: May 2006 Posts: 720 Likes: 1 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: May 2006 Posts: 720 Likes: 1 | Hey, Paul -- great minds, and all that. ;-)
Leslie
April 2006: Husband dx by dentist with leukoplakia on tongue. Oral surgeon's biopsy 4/28/06: Moderate dysplasia; pathology report warned of possible "skip effect." ENT's excisional biopsy (got it all) 5/31/06: SCC in situ/small bit superficially invasive. Early detection saves lives.
| | | | Joined: Jan 2013 Posts: 1,291 Likes: 1 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) Joined: Jan 2013 Posts: 1,291 Likes: 1 | Pretty simple. You have UCSF and Stanford both within commutable distance. Both are highly regarded. good luck
Don Male, 57 - Great health except C Dec '12 DX: BOT SCC T2N2bMx, Stage 4a, HPV+, multiple nodes 1 tooth out Jan '13 2nd tooth out Tumor Board -induction TPF (3 cycles), seq CRT 4-6/2013 CRT 70gr 2x35, weekly carbo150 ended 5/29,6/4 All the details, join at http://beatdown.cognacom.com | | | | Joined: Dec 2012 Posts: 14 Member | Member Joined: Dec 2012 Posts: 14 | I live in SM too! Go ahead and PM me if you need any recommendations or a shoulder to lean on!
Joanna - caregiver (spouse) Init bio 11/12, gloss/neck dis 12/12, rad/cisplatin - 6 wks 2/13
"The most important thing is to keep the most important thing, the most important thing."
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