How Do You Find The Best Gynecological Oncologists?

My mother-in-law lives in Seattle Washington and has just been told she has a large grapefruit-size mass on her ovaries.  From the ultrasound, her physician believes it's cancer.  She is scheduled for surgery to have the mass removed by a prominent surgeon in Seattle. 

Should we try to get her into see one of the best surgeons in the country for this procedure?  If so, do you have any recommendations?

If it is cancer, can you please recommend some of the best Ovarian Cancer Centers in the country?  Would it matter if she traveled to one of these or can she receive the same standard of care in Seattle?

Thank you so much for any help....

Amy

Amy,

There are only ~ 400 practicing gyn oncologists in the USA.

Odds are that if you go to a reputable University teaching institution, and find a BOARD CERTIFIED GYN ONCOLOGIST you would probably, but not absolutely, be fine.

Most States in the country have websites where you can check a specific physician's credentials to see if they have had any malpractice judgments filed against them. If you find a gyn oncologist in Seattle,  this is the first thing you should pursue: check out their track record.

If you think of traveling out of state and MN is not far from Washington, Mayo Clinic is one of the finest institutions in the country for all cancer surgery, bar none.

Good luck to your family. 

 Hi,

In Seattle you have the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center - see   http://www.fhcrc.org/

 It is one of the  US National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer centers , which is where you want to consult if you have cancer.

Hope this helps.