#17506 05-11-2005 08:19 AM | Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 3,552 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 3,552 | First off, a cancer center or comprehensive cancer center will have a coordinated team of doctors which is essential.
Secondly, they have access to the state of the art treatment techniques and clinical trials as well.
Thirdly, your odds of survival are greatest at a CC or CCC, hands down. You REALLY want people who deal with this every day. This is an unforgiving disease and screwups in treatment or diagnosis can cost you your life. We have sadly seen this many times here.
Your team, minimally, should consist of:
1. Oncologist - who coordinates meds, lab tests, scans and chemotherapy. They will typically be your primary care physician as well and will also coordinate your pain meds, etc. 2. Radiation Oncologist - who evaluates, plans and executes radiation therapy. They also order scans. By the way, a radiation therapist is the technician who actually runs the machine. 3. ENT or Head & Neck Surgeon - who evaluates, diagnoses, biopsies, operates if necessary, etc. They also do the followup exams. They rarely order scans. 4. Nutritionist - should be obvious. 5. Dental oncologist - Sometimes teeth need to be pulled prior to treatment. There are many others behind the scenes, Radiologists reading the scans, technicians, etc. I estimated at one time there were about 50 persons involved in my treatment.
Gary Allsebrook *********************************** Dx 11/22/02, SCC, 6 x 3 cm Polypoid tumor, rt tonsil, Stage III/IVA, T3N0M0 G1/2 Tx 1/28/03 - 3/19/03, Cisplatin ct x2, IMRT, bilateral, with boost, x35(69.96Gy) ________________________________________________________ "You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes" (James 4:14 NIV)
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Suddenly, life changed
| Zap | 05-11-2005 03:53 AM |
Re: Suddenly, life changed
| Gary | 05-11-2005 06:42 AM |
Re: Suddenly, life changed
| netteq | 05-11-2005 07:43 AM |
Re: Suddenly, life changed
| Kris | 05-11-2005 11:00 AM |
Re: Suddenly, life changed
| VRB | 05-11-2005 11:15 AM |
Re: Suddenly, life changed
| Zap | 05-11-2005 01:42 PM |
Re: Suddenly, life changed
| Gary | 05-11-2005 03:19 PM |
Re: Suddenly, life changed
| Mark | 05-11-2005 10:32 PM |
Re: Suddenly, life changed
| Hacklene | 05-13-2005 01:02 AM |
Re: Suddenly, life changed
| Hacklene | 05-13-2005 01:02 AM |
Re: Suddenly, life changed
| doreen | 06-26-2005 01:26 AM | |
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