Choosing a treatment facility
Find the finest care for the kind of cancer you have.
Whether you’re investigating treatment
facilities because you’ve just
been diagnosed, are seeking a second
opinion, or you’re dissatisfied with
the place where you’re currently being
treated, you owe it to yourself to find
the finest care available for the type of
cancer you have.
Oncology programs and the facilities
where they’re located vary in size,
quality, and area of expertise.
Among the most significant differences
are access to state-of-the-art
technologies and therapies and integration
across health and wellness
disciplines. For example, some facilities
participate in research and clinical
trials in new and investigational cancer
treatments. And some offer access to
comprehensive nutritional, naturopathic,
and other complementary
therapies in additional to conventional
medical treatments. It’s important
to find a program that harnesses
all the tools you want at your disposal
to fight cancer.
Your diagnosis should also play a
role in helping you determine where
to get treated. If you have a type of
cancer that typically responds well to
standard treatment, a well-regarded
local hospital may offer appropriate
care. However, if you require more
complex or specialized treatment,
you may want to consider going a
longer distance to a facility with the
technology and expertise to treat the
type of cancer you have.
Other factors that may complicate
your decision are whether family or
work may limit your ability to travel
for treatment. Keep in mind though,
that since much of your ongoing
care may be handled in an outpatient
clinic, you may be able to be treated
at more than one facility —
perhaps one closer to home
and one in another city.
That way, you may be able to limit your travel for important
milestones in your treatment while
undertaking more routine care locally.
Whether you seek treatment at
home or across the country, you want
to look for a facility that has extensive
experience treating the type of cancer
you have and performing the specific
procedures you may need.
Making a choice
As a general rule, larger hospitals
treat more individual cases of cancer
each year. Both large and small
specialized institutions have pioneered
new treatments or approaches and
have distinguished reputations.
Here’s an overview:
University medical centers are teaching
hospitals associated with university
medical schools. Individual centers
may focus on cancer research and
treatment. Some well-known cancer
specialists are affiliated with particular
institutions. Keep in mind, though,
that some university centers have
stronger reputations than others, and
that some people find large hospitals
bureaucratic and impersonal.
Community and regional hospitals are extremely diverse. The quality of
care varies widely, from excellent to
inadequate. Certain local hospitals
are affiliated with university centers
and their experienced oncologists.
Some — but not all — have appropriate
accreditation.
Cancer centers may offer state-of-the-art technology, an experienced
staff, and a full range of services,
including complementary therapies.
While some are excellent, others may
compromise on facilities and staff to
keep costs down.
Outpatient clinics may be independent
oncology practices or departments
of a hospital or cancer center. Most
chemotherapy treatments are administered
in an outpatient setting, as is
most radiation therapy.