On 5/4/2007
Coloradian wrote:
My rectal tumor is is very low (very close to the sphincter muscles). Has anyone heard about Memorial Sloan Kettering cancer center in new york and their treatment of this kind of cancer. I have been told that after surgery I will have another 4 - 6 months of chemo and I will have a ileostomy for that time period. Then they will do a reconstruction of the rectum - anal passage.
I would love to hear from someone who went to MSKCC
Thanks
Hi,
I am currently a patient at MMSK Pain & Palliative Care division.
I went to them for a second opinion in 1993 when I was diagnosed with stage IV Rectal Cancer. I was 37. I had a 3 yr old daughter and 2 yr old son. Then, it was not a welcoming place. The chief surgeon examined me and told me and my husband that we had 4 minutes to think things over. (I am not kidding - I thought he was!)
I went to a hospital closer to our home and have a wonderful surgeon. I had a colostomy and a reversal after a year of chemo & 6 weeks of radiation.
This is not the story though. Knowing what I know now, I would have gone to Sloan. They have the most advanced technology and can irradiate the site of the tumor (if you need this, I did.) while you are open & on the operating table. This saves damage to surrounding tissue that may be affected should you need radiation after surgery. I did and the damage was horrific and I still suffer today from chronic pain related to damage to my ovaries during the radiation.
To make a long story short, they are not warm and fuzzy, but they are the best at what they do! And they have the newest everything!
ALSO - should you have trouble getting insurance to cover care at Sloan you need a "uniqueness of care factor". Something that is available specific to your cancer that is ONLY available from Sloan. (I overheard this phrase while waiting in the billing section of the bulding.)
So if you decide to go - do some research & find out something that you have to have that only Sloan delivers.
I hope this helped. If you have any other questions let me know.
Warmest Regards & I wish you the best on your journey.
Susan
On 5/4/2007
Coloradian wrote:
My rectal tumor is is very low (very close to the sphincter muscles). Has anyone heard about Memorial Sloan Kettering cancer center in new york and their treatment of this kind of cancer. I have been told that after surgery I will have another 4 - 6 months of chemo and I will have a ileostomy for that time period. Then they will do a reconstruction of the rectum - anal passage.
I would love to hear from someone who went to MSK
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