Valley Cancer Institute

No, but. If you search out US News and World reports, they did a ranking on the top cancer facilities in the country. M.D. Anderson in Houston was tops, that's where I went becuase I wanted the best. If you give me an email address, I'll forward the article.

Rick

Dana-Farber in Boston Mass. is number 5 on the U.S. News and World Report list for 2007.  Have you explored that option?  My boyfriend has been treated there with induction chemo and is now getting the rad/chemo portion of treatment locally but under their guidance.  His local doc calls his boston doc the "guru of head and neck cancer" 

I have been to Dana Farber. I was seen by Dr . Haddad. I was very pleased with him and his knowledge. I went for a second opinion and basically received the same diagnosis as my onc at Mass. General. Although they wanted me to do a clinical trial with them. I have H & N with mets to my lungs with no curative treatment available.I am feelinh wonderful, So at this point I do not want to get involved in treatment any sooner than I HAVE to. On the advice of my onc. we are waiting till just before symptoms start as we will begin chemo then, and apparently will be on chemo  forever after. So I am seeking out something  " out of the box " that will not involve chemo. Did your boyfriend see Dr. Haddad or Dr Posner? I understand he is very good.          Pam

I have been to Dana Farber. I was seen by Dr . Haddad. I was very pleased with him and his knowledge. I went for a second opinion and basically received the same diagnosis as my onc at Mass. General. Although they wanted me to do a clinical trial with them. I have H & N with mets to my lungs with no curative treatment available.I am feelinh wonderful, So at this point I do not want to get involved in treatment any sooner than I HAVE to. On the advice of my onc. we are waiting till just before symptoms start as we will begin chemo then, and apparently will be on chemo  forever after. So I am seeking out something  " out of the box " that will not involve chemo. Did your boyfriend see Dr. Haddad or Dr Posner? I understand he is very good.          Pam

Hi Pam,

glad to hear you are feeling feeling good!  my BF has been seeing Dr. Posner and has on occasion seen Dr Haddad when Posner was travelling.  he completed a clinical trial there - a four drug regimen of induction chemo...he had great response. the tumor in his neck has nearly disappeared. 

one of the things that has helped through all this is regular reiki sessions...something you may want to consider since you are open to thinking 'out of the box"

best wishes

~m

On 3/4/2008 meesh wrote:

Dana-Farber in Boston Mass. is number 5 on the U.S. News and World Report list for 2007.  Have you explored that option?  My boyfriend has been treated there with induction chemo and is now getting the rad/chemo portion of treatment locally but under their guidance.  His local doc calls his boston doc the "guru of head and neck cancer" 

I've had experience with this "institute."  There's an article in the NY Times today (7/5/8) that talks about the high cost of treatment for a small extension of life (at what quality of life cost).  They do not talk about the horrible side-affects from cancer treatment.  They don't talk about the poison called chemo or the "stuff" that disintegrates your bones (radiation).  VCI makes claims that appear real (they use less radiation than conventional treatment) but when you read the fine print they use 80% of the recommended dose.  To me, they're not telling the truth and that goes beyond a white lie.

I'd stay clear of VCI and this is based on my unfortunate personal experience dealing with them. At least in America, I know of no good alternative treatments for cancer.  We're a country too money-centric and I've seen reports finally even showing the ostensible corruption of the FDA.