Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 11
Member
OP Offline
Member

Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 11
Has anyone been treated for Oral Cancer at any Cancer Treatment Centers of America Hospitals? I'm currently scheduled for a biopsi on my tongue next week. This could be my second round in dealing with tongue cancer.


GJH
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 10,507
Likes: 6
Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services
Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Offline
Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services
Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)

Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 10,507
Likes: 6
Here is a list of the top treatment facilities in the US. The place you have mentioned is not on the list of top centers. One thing that many people dont know is just because a place has "Cancer Center" in its name doesnt mean it really is one of the best places to be treated. Most members have been treated at the centers on this list. The names I hear most often around here are Moffitt, Johns Hopkins, Sloan-Kettering, and MD Anderson.

With recurrences you will want to be treated at a TOP cancer center (comprehensive cancer center or CCC). It can be especially important to get treated quickly and by the best doctors. Dont let location choose your fate. Many of the top CCC's have free places to stay nearby while you are being treated.

list of top Cancer Centers

Good luck!!!!


Christine
SCC 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 smile
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 30
National OC Advocate/Speaker
Contributing Member (25+ posts)
Offline
National OC Advocate/Speaker
Contributing Member (25+ posts)

Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 30
Can you go to the U of Alabama in Birmingham? Is CTCA convenient to where you live? Or is there another reason you are thinking about going there?



Joined: May 2006
Posts: 720
Likes: 1
"Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Offline
"Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)

Joined: May 2006
Posts: 720
Likes: 1
The Reuters news service published an investigation into Cancer Treatment Centers of America's survival statistics last month. Before joining Reuters, the lead reporter, Sharon Begley, was a science editor and columnist at Newsweek/The Daily Beast; she previously was science columnist at the Wall Street Journal and science editor at Newsweek.

Here's some background on the data used to put the article together.


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: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,082
Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Offline
Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)

Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,082
Three years ago this CTC was discussed on the forum
CTC 09
As Leslie's article points out, CTC plays fast and loose with its survival rates. Worse, in my mind, is that the CTC offer real TX like radiation, chemo, and surgery but push very expensive non insurance covered quack remedies like naturopathy
Highly questionable places,
Finally, as someone who just qualified for Medicare 6 months ago, I do not like their policy of screening out Medicare patients. My CCC treated me exactly the same both before and after Medicare for all my treatments and hospitizations.
Reuters exposed this nasty information last month that Leslie has kindly posted above under the "investigation" link.

So basically, their survival numbers are bogus. As Mark Twain used to say: Figures lie and liars figure. Here is how CTC runs their little deception, again from Leslie's article

[quote]In the database CTCA compares itself to, called SEER and run by the National Cancer Institute, 53 percent of patients were diagnosed at the Medicare-eligible age of 65 or older, and 14 percent are below the poverty level, an indication of those covered by Medicaid or uninsured.[/quote]
Charm

Last edited by Charm2017; 04-06-2013 04:00 AM. Reason: url glitch

65 yr Old Frack
Stage IV BOT T3N2M0 HPV 16+
2007:72GY IMRT(40) 8 ERBITUX No PEG
2008:CANCER BACK Salvage Surgery
25GY-CyberKnife(5) 3 Carboplatin
Apaghia /G button
2012: CANCER BACK -left tonsilar fossa
40GY-CyberKnife(5) 3 Carboplatin

Passed away 4-29-13
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 3,267
Likes: 1
Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Offline
Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)

Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 3,267
Likes: 1
I also heard CTCA are selective who they treat, and know of someone who was turned away, but many CCC will do the same, especially with complicated cases, prior treatments elsewhere. Due to their selectiveness, they inflate their success rates, and Medicare is not accepted, I believe, as mentioned. Also, I do not see CTCA in "US News Report's Best Hospitals", which I often go by, for cancer and ENT, although their marketing is probably the best around. Good luck.


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)
Offline
"Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)

Joined: May 2006
Posts: 720
Likes: 1
If you look at Otolaryngology under the "Doctors" link at the CTCA website, you'll see that the hospitals in Philadelphia, the Atlanta area and the Phoenix area each have only one ENT on staff and the hospitals near Chicago and in Tulsa have none. (Last year CTCA had only one ENT for all of its facilities.) So head/neck/oral cancer isn't an area in which CTCA has a lot of experience.

The top centers in the U.S. have many more ENTs on staff -- M.D. Anderson (#1 in cancer and #5 in ENT according to the U.S. News rankings) has 14, and Johns Hopkins (#1 in ENT and #3 in cancer) has 12. Closer to home for you, UAB -- which Eva Grayzel mentioned and which, like M.D. Anderson and Hopkins, is a member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, an alliance of 21 leading cancer centers in the U.S. -- has five. These numbers would allow for diverse perspectives and easy consultations as a treatment plan is developed.

If it turns out that you are dealing with a recurrence, your best move is to be at a place that treats hundreds, or even thousands, of OC cases each year.


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: Oct 2007
Posts: 11
Member
OP Offline
Member

Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 11
Thanks for all of the information. I will be going to UAB in Birmingham.


GJH
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 5,260
Likes: 3
"OCF Canuck"
Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Offline
"OCF Canuck"
Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)

Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 5,260
Likes: 3
Awesome good luck!


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: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,082
Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Offline
Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)

Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,082
RICH QoUACKS ZERO. HOMETEAM HEROES 100
YEA!!!!!!

Last edited by Charm2017; 04-10-2013 08:11 AM. Reason: Typo

65 yr Old Frack
Stage IV BOT T3N2M0 HPV 16+
2007:72GY IMRT(40) 8 ERBITUX No PEG
2008:CANCER BACK Salvage Surgery
25GY-CyberKnife(5) 3 Carboplatin
Apaghia /G button
2012: CANCER BACK -left tonsilar fossa
40GY-CyberKnife(5) 3 Carboplatin

Passed away 4-29-13

Link Copied to Clipboard
Top Posters
ChristineB 10,507
davidcpa 8,311
Cheryld 5,260
EzJim 5,260
Brian Hill 4,912
Newest Members
Jina, VintageMel, rahul320, Sean916, Megm37
13,103 Registered Users
Forum Statistics
Forums23
Topics18,166
Posts196,921
Members13,103
Most Online458
Jan 16th, 2020
OCF Awards

Great Nonprofit OCF 2023 Charity Navigator OCF Guidestar Charity OCF

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5