#7333 03-24-2006 10:50 AM | Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 1 Member | OP  Member
Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 1 | Hello everyone
Which one is better for head and neck cancer?
Especially if the neck lymph nodes are involved
and the patient is young(30 years)
Thank you very much | | |
#7334 03-24-2006 04:15 PM | Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 4,918 Likes: 65 OCF Founder Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | OCF Founder Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 4,918 Likes: 65 | They are institutions of equal quality. I would be pleased to be treated at either location and have total confidence in the treatment plans they developed for me. If you are going to stay for a couple of months in a foreign city without a relative or friends home to stay in, Houston is way cheaper to exist in. If this is not importanat to you, New York has more going on if you want ot get out (Especially in the first 3 weeks when the full effects of treatment haven't hit you yet.) If it was still freezing in NY, I'd opt for the sunny winters and mild temps of Houston. ( I went through treatments over a Xmas there). But when it comes to hard core facts, people, equipment, and capabilities you are choosing between the two finest cancer facilities in the world.
Brian, stage 4 oral cancer survivor. OCF Founder and Director. The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between, the leader is a servant.
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#7335 03-25-2006 05:03 AM | Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 274 Platinum Member (200+ posts) | | Platinum Member (200+ posts)
Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 274 | Brian is the MDA guide, I can help you with info on MSKCC. If you have and questons, email or private message me. Brian makes a very accurate point about $$$, MDA will be easier on the wallet for the same treatment options.
Glenn
NY Metro area | | |
#7336 03-27-2006 07:22 PM | Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 349 Likes: 2 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | | Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 349 Likes: 2 | Having seen the H&N Drs at both institutions I can tell from personal experience that they are quite similar on the surface.
I choose MSKCC for several reasons, and am still very glad that I did. To this day, I speak to the "team" every few days and the genuine compassion, caring and professionalism is unparralleled.
It may come down to pure logistics. Is cost of living a major concern? Are insurance issues a concern? Travel? Access? Climate? Lot's of things to consider.
A quite "normal" apartment near MSKCC will run about $ 4000 to $ 6000 a month, and for MD Anderson a nice house near the campus can be rented for $ 1400, (as an illustration of the difference) and both institutions offer some limited housing assistance, etc through social services.
Other factors are stage, location and type of cancer, plus planned treatment, (ie: surgery first, etc).
Good luck with the decision. This site is a true LIFE SAVING RESOURCE for the patient and those that care for him (or her).
Feel free to email me for personal references, ideas, candid recommendations and resource lists for either location.
Michael | 53 | SCC | Right Tonsil | Dx'd: 06-10-05 | STAGE IV, T3N2bM0 | 3 Nodes R Side | MRND & Tonsillectomy 06/29/05 Dr Fee/Stanford | 8 wks Rad/Chemo startd August 15th @ MSKCC, NY | Tx Ended: 09-27-05 | Cancer free at 16+ Yrs | After-Effects of Tx: Thyroid function is 0, ok salivary function, tinnitus, some scars, neck/face asymmetry, gastric reflux. 2017 dysphagia, L Carotid stent / 2019, R Carotid occluded not eligible for stent.2022 dental issues, possible ORN, memory/recall challenges.
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#7337 03-28-2006 02:24 AM | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,219 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,219 | Just wanted to wish you and whoever you are checking for, good luck with their treatment. It's a hard decision to make. I will be thinking of you.
PS Michael,
Happy to see you back. How are you doing?
Jerry
Jerry
Retired Dentist, 59 years old at diagnosis. SCC of the left lateral border of the tongue (Stage I). Partial glossectomy and 30 nodes removed, 4/6/05. Nodes all clear. No chemo no radiation 18 year survivor.
"Whatever doesn't kill me, makes me stronger"
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#7338 03-28-2006 02:06 PM | Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 4,918 Likes: 65 OCF Founder Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | OCF Founder Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 4,918 Likes: 65 | Michael. Nice to see you back. I have deleted your email from your post (it is still on the little index card next to your screen name). The reason for this is there are people that search boards like ours with programs designed to scan for email addresses and copy them. These are then sold to spammers, and you know what kind of pain in the butt that can be. Their programs cannot go to a second link (like the index card) to pull your email address.
I do know many of the doctors at both institutions and OCF
Brian, stage 4 oral cancer survivor. OCF Founder and Director. The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between, the leader is a servant.
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