Where would you get chemotherapy?

[SteveFromNY]

A friend was just diagnosed with cancer and will be needing chemo. Are there really reputable places near TV for evaluation & therapy?
I've told him about the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville and Moffitt in Tampa, but there could be others, closer perhaps.
Thanks.

[Pturner]

Steve, I don't have an answer, just want to extend my support and best wishes for your friend. I hope for every success in the medical treatment and for a quick, full and permanent remission.

[RealJudy]

A friend was just diagnosed with cancer and will be needing chemo. Are there really reputable places near TV for evaluation & therapy?
I've told him about the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville and Moffitt in Tampa, but there could be others, closer perhaps.
Thanks.

I took my chemotherapy through Dr. Rohatgi, here in The Villages.

[Russ_Boston]

I also don't have an answer for you but I would hope that as TV grows we won't have to leave campus (or at least not too far away) to trust these type of services. This is especially true for me as I plan on working there as an RN.

Best of luck!

[Number 6]

I think LRMC is affiliated with Moffitt. Apparently they are building a huge Cancer Center in, wait for it, Leesburg.

[zcaveman]

A friend of mine went to the building across 441 from the Morse biuilding for chemo.

[beartrack]

I would recommend Dr. Hussein. He is an Oncologist with offices in the Sharon Morse building. He operates a large Chemo lab as well as most services associated with cancer. He was recommended by the Lymphoma society and is well respected in the medical community.

[graciegirl]

I would recommend Dr. Hussein. He is an Oncologist with offices in the Sharon Morse building. He operates a large Chemo lab as well as most services associated with cancer. He was recommended by the Lymphoma society and is well respected in the medical community.

Dr. Hussein is overseeing the weekly chemo treatments for my next door neighbor who has lung cancer. She will go home to Chicago to her diagnosing oncologist for tests on the eleventh and hopefully will return back after that.

[nkrifats]

Friend of mine in TV is going to Moffit in Tampa.

[fgrider]

I have been a long time patient at Mass General in Boston and when talking to my oncologist about moving to The Villages he said he would recommend an oncologist at the Moffit Center in Tampa. I have full faith in my Boston oncolgist and would take his advice but many of you in The Villages have your own experience with local doctors.

[dog friendly]

I had a very bad experience with a female oncologist here in the Villages. I will not mention her name. Just because we have lots of Doctors to choose from her in tv doesn't mean the are all good. Dr I who was in the same office building as Dr. Gillion and Dr. I is now in prision. I had treatment at the Moffitt and yes it is a few miles from us in tv, but this is our lives we are dealing with,find the best. My neighbor is going to Dr Reyis and is very happy with him, and he is in tv.

[beartrack]

Thanks to our high tech world, all info concerning my case is shared between my treating doctor, Dr.Hussein located in the Sharon Morse building and Dr.Sokolof at The Moffitt Cancer center. My treatments, either Chemo or radiation, when needed, were done right here and all of the needed scans were shared with The Moffitt Center. Because of the wonderful treatment based on shared info between the doctors both here and at Moffitt, I am now in remission and I can only say that the care that I have received has been the best that I could have asked for. As a result of this outstanding care I am now cancer free. I have learned that all new cancer info is shared by oncologists everywhere via the inter-net. I have witnessed info coming in from Sloan Kettering and MD Anderson and others. No one needs to go to New York or Texas or Tampa because the best technology available is shared with your doctor with the push of a computer button.

[JohnN]

My thoughts and prayers with your friend.
I've had chemo, it was hard. I took mine close-by at our home "up north".
I don't know anywhere near TV for this, but I'd sure prefer something close for that - the closer the better. Best wishes.

[graciegirl]

A friend was just diagnosed with cancer and will be needing chemo. Are there really reputable places near TV for evaluation & therapy?
I've told him about the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville and Moffitt in Tampa, but there could be others, closer perhaps.
Thanks.

I have reactivated this post only for us to remember Steve from New York.

I don't know what I was thinking. I wanted to show his picture and of course that doesn't copy.

Maybe P Turner could do that.

Rest in peace Steve, I wonder if you were "the friend" who was diagnosed.

[Russ_Boston]

Kind of weird when re-reading this how many people mentioned Moffitt in Tampa. Now it may become a reality in TV.

[KathieI]

Rest in peace Steve, I wonder if you were "the friend" who was diagnosed.

Unfortunately, he was the "friend" but didn't want any posting about it.

[brostholder]

A friend was just diagnosed with cancer and will be needing chemo. Are there really reputable places near TV for evaluation & therapy?
I've told him about the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville and Moffitt in Tampa, but there could be others, closer perhaps.
Thanks.
I don't have answer for you either...just want to pass on my wishes for a full recovery.

[graciegirl]

Unfortunately, he was the "friend" but didn't want any posting about it.

bump

[downeaster]

A friend was just diagnosed with cancer and will be needing chemo. Are there really reputable places near TV for evaluation & therapy?
I've told him about the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville and Moffitt in Tampa, but there could be others, closer perhaps.
Thanks.

Ocala Cancer Center has a "branch office" in Summerfield. Not golf cart accessable but about three to four miles from Spanish Springs. I would say they are reputable based soley on my personal experience.

Google it for more detailed info.

[Avista]

I'm a Moffitt Graduate! <smile> (2003) Moffitt is a MCI Designated Cancer Center. The only one in Florida to my knowledge. http://www.moffitt.org/

http://cancercenters.cancer.gov/cancer_centers/cancer-centers-list.html#FL

It actually is an easy drive. Moffitt is on this side of Tampa. Go right up 75. No tolls.

[zcaveman]

A friend of mine got chemo at the building across the street from the Morse building.

[graciegirl]

My dear friend and neighbor gets chemo here locally when she is staying at her home during the season. The prescription for the chemo comes from her oncologist from Chicago.

Anyone who reads anything I have to say knows that I am a huge supporter of anything about The Villages.

However I think that all medical facilities are not equal and there are different forms of cancer, some far ...more involved than others. Some fast acting and deadly cancers can't be stopped but given the right treatment and watched by an excellent oncologist, some of those can be slowed down and even put into remission. It has been my experience that Cancer centers like Moffet in Tampa, Mayo Clinic's branch in Jacksonville and the cancer center at the University of Gainesville see a lot more patients and since they are teaching centers, they are on the cutting edge of new information.

I am pleased that Moffet will be opening a facility here and I also am glad to be given the opportunity to do what we can to help facilitate that financially as villagers.

[lightworker]

There are lots of health/nutrition clubs in The Villages one might consider. One is the "Achieve Better Health Club" another is the "Raw Foods" club, both of them held monthly. They talk about providing nutrition to the body that assists in tumor regression and keeping the body in an alkaline state. It is thought cancer cannot survive in an alkalinic state. Consider all forms of treatment. Keep in mind that chemotherapy is poisonous to the body. Do all the research you can. We shouldn't be turning our lives/health over to doctors. It's important to learn all we can about any disease, then take responsibility for our personal wellness. Most doctors are trained in traditional medicine only and don't have time to learn about complementary approaches. A comprehensive approach seems a good choice.

[graciegirl]

There are lots of health/nutrition clubs in The Villages one might consider. One is the "Achieve Better Health Club" another is the "Raw Foods" club, both of them held monthly. They talk about providing nutrition to the body that assists in tumor regression and keeping the body in an alkaline state. It is thought cancer cannot survive in an alkalinic state. Consider all forms of treatment. Keep in mind that chemotherapy is poisonous to the body. Do all the research you can. We shouldn't be turning our lives/health over to doctors. It's important to learn all we can about any disease, then take responsibility for our personal wellness. Most doctors are trained in traditional medicine only and don't have time to learn about complementary approaches. A comprehensive approach seems a good choice.

I am so sorry to say that I absolutely and completely disagree with you except when you say that chemotherapy is poison to the body.(and to cancer cells) Surgery, chemo and radiation are effective ways to fight cancer. In the future with knowledge increasing in genetics we will have a different approach.

I also agree that keeping your body healthy with good nutritional choices and appropriate exercise is always wise.

But I also believe that not all doctors are the same. In my humble opinion, finding an oncologist that has been trained at a highly regarded institution and who is in practice with a large number of oncologists trained in the same way is the best approach to begin the treatment of cancer.

I watched a friend choose the route of alternative medicine and we lost her. Although the traditional medical community cannot save everyone, they are by far your best shot, when it is YOU who has cancer.

I by no means intend to anger you. I sincerely beg you or anyone having a diagnosis of cancer to NEVER go any other route but the best medical doctor trained in oncology that they can find. Please.

[beartrack]

Excellent post Graciegirl. When I first had to deal with my own experience with cancer (Lymphoma) I was embarassed to talk about it. But now I have come to realize that my own experience can be a help to others. I have members of my family involved in the medical field and they all advised me, based on our location to run, not walk, straight to Moffitt. They did all the testing and made the recommendations for treatment. They forwarded that info to my radiologist and my oncologist and assigned a oncologist at Moffitt to follow my case. Conferences by all were held via the internet and the treatment began. Folks, as a survivor of this horrible disease, I would like to share with you all, that I was in good hands and I am still here to tell you all about it. If any of you think that you can not get the best of care right here in The Villages ( based on my experience ) you would be wrong. The Moffitt center coming here is a blessing for all of our neighbors that have, or will be victimized by this dread disease.

[same]

Kind of weird when re-reading this how many people mentioned Moffitt in Tampa. Now it may become a reality in TV.

Groundbreaking for Moffitt in The Villages is October 27, 2010.

[jannd228]

Gracie and beartrack, I did both the alternate route and the traditional one, I am now being referred back to the alternate one and seeing a physician who has my condition (mold fungi in lungs, cause inhaling mold in a classroom where I taught on Cape Cod), who lives of all places on CC

not sure which worked better but think the addition of the Moffitt Center to TV is a good one, hope all of you support it

[lightworker]

No anger here. Just giving a different perspective of the healing process. Most all physicians will tell you chemotherapy is toxic to the body. While it may attack cancer cells, it knocks out the immune system simultaneously. Though the cancer may seem temporarily out of commission, it often comes back with a vengeance since the immune system is compromised. I'm not sure you will find a traditional doctor who will talk of cures with chemo. I was a hospital nurse for 30 years and saw the end result of radiation and chemotherapy. I share this, since if more people were willing to explore a holistic approach as well, it might be to their benefit. The body has an innate intelligence for healing. The time has come to explore more of what we can do for ourselves...not always expecting others to create our wellbeing. Perhaps we can be open to all of what is available.

[RealJudy]

Having been through cancer, I received my chemotherapy from Dr. Rohatgi's office here in The Villages. The staff there is wonderful.