Jennifer --

For what it's worth: According to the latest rankings by US News (out this week), Johns Hopkins is #1 in the country for ear, nose and throat -- and has been for a number of years.

My husband gets checked at Hopkins every few months, and there are other Hopkins patients/caregivers who post here as well.

-- Leslie

Thanks all for the support.

Leslie? May I ask where you have stayed? The only place I found available was a Best Western on O'Donnel St? I hear it's not in the safest part of town. Everything is booked up and I really have no clue how long I will be there. I know my first Appt is on Wednesday at 2:30. I find it ironic that Mayo Clinic is sending me to John Hopkins.

I am listening to my body plus the meds they have given me are not working. I just jumped on the scale this morning curious on knowing what I weighed and I am down to 109 from 125 2 weeks ago. My left face is swollen, very bad ear pain, and my head pressure is enourmous.

All in all I feel terrible.

Hi, Jen,

I am new to the board and haven't even introduced myself yet but wanted to respond to you as my husband is being treated at Johns Hopkins. As soon as he was diagnosed with SCC (originated in tonsils), I spent a lot of time doing research on where he could get treatment from a center that had a throat and neck cancer clinic. We live in Maryland so Johns Hopkins not only stood out in terms of reputation but was relatively convenient for us. We are extremely pleased with our experience so far which has included a biopsy, insertion of peg, insertion of a Hickman port for chemo, and 2 weeks of induction chemo (after that my husband will have radiation/chemo combined). We really like our entire team of doctors and the RNs and other staff are terrific. I stayed at the Admiral Fell Inn one night (an historic inn on the waterfront 1 mile from hospital at Fells Point- a fun and safe area of Baltimore). Other options that are not very far away are located in the Inner Harbor area. Not sure if you found the place on the Hopkins website where they mention hotels that give patients a discount. That's how I found the place I stayed.

Thank you Sophie for the info. Yes, I saw what you have mentioned about the hotels and such. However, there is some kind of convention going on and all places seem booked. The best they could find( John Hopkins out of state patient network advisor) was this Best Western place about 15 miles from John Hopkins. I will be arriving on Wednesday July 18th at 11:00 am. My first appt with the ENT is at 2:30 that same day. I have no clue how long I will be there for. If you need someone to vent to or just talk, I will be there in case you would like to call. I understand 100% your frusturation on how the Doctors could have missed your husbands cancer. I am going through a goose egg hunt myself. I am hoping John Hopkins can help.

My number is 732 887 2983

Thanks again

Jennifer --

We live about an hour south of Baltimore, so it's an easy drive for us. Sorry I couldn't help you!

-- Leslie