Cancer Treatment recommendations
 

Request input reference quality of care at the cancer treatment centers in the area.

Just received a diagnosis of cancer in throat and back.

Thanks

Considerations
 

Nothing is more important than your health and treatments. Some suggestions are to go to MD Anderson in Houston, Texas. United flies direct from Orlando and they are No1 in US for Cancer. Also, Mayo in Jacksonville is a 3 hour drive and a great Clinic and Hospital. As a final Mofitt in Tampa is also very good. We have used all 3 at one time or another and would probably use Mayo.
Good luck and stay positive. Have friend who just had same thing and is fine.:smiley:

I sent you a PM, so please look for it. I believe, Florida Cancer Specialists is very good. They are local, with offices in The Sharon Morse building and Leesburg. Most of the FCS doctor's here were Moffit physicians that chose to stay on when Moffit left The Villages. Keep in mind it is also important to be close to your home, be comfortable and have support while undergoing treatments, and you have to consider your caregiver also. I stayed close to home and managed to take myself to most of my treatments and appointments through chemo and radiation. I felt better knowing I did not tie up my husband at every happening, and kept my independence. And then, not enough can be said for the support I received from friends and neighbors. Oh, and I was close to my kitties. :) These are all important aspects of your care and treatment, too. At least, I think so. You have a lot to consider. Think it thru and do what's best for you, no matter what I or even the doctor's may say. YOU have to be comfortable with your treatment plan and trust the doctor you eventually end up with. I wish you the best. Be strong.

There are some excellent cancer treatment facilities and doctors in and around TV, for example to name one:

Robert Boissoneault Oncology Institute | Radiation Oncology

Good advice given somewhere else in the thread, take into account how far from home you choose. The distance magnifies with the inconvenience and repetitve requirements of treatments.

Take a deep breath and talk again with your doctor if you feel good about him/her. Consider all the items mentioned in the above posts and find what fits you and your family. And, you have let a group of email friends know you need good thoughts, strength and prayers. You don't know how many of us have been in your shoes. I'm sure you'd be surprised. We are here; we are friends. One thing I learned too in my illness was...don't be afraid to ask for help.

Don't be quick jumping to the conclusion you need to travel to some famous cancer center/doctor. May I suggest you research what treatments are available for your particular type of cancer. Then what is the effectiveness of each type. I was a lot more comfortable in my own home feeling under the weather then I would have been somewhere else. I also felt better my spouse could carry on her normal activities (as much as normal can be under the circumstances) without totally disrupting her life. Force the doctors to tell you the success odds of each type treatment. Many people are going to specialists for a couple percent odds bet which is probably within the margin of error of the experimental results. One last point is in your own environment you may also carry on at times as normal. If your traveling or at some strange place the big C will probably always be forefront on your mind with little to distract you.

Interesting
 

It is interesting that in some cases time and travel are the consideration for cancer or other serious conditions. I firmly believe practices and policies are critical to the best treatment. In most major Clinic's and teaching hospitals (e.g. Lahey Clinic in Arlington, Mass, MD Anderson in Texas, Mayo Clinic in Rochester,Minn/Jacksonville, Fl., John Hopkins in Baltimore,Sloan, NY City etc) if in the case of the illness there is a question the Dept Doctor's in that speciality will sit at the end of the week and consult as to what is the best treatment, etc. If a person is facing a serious condition why not go to the known best?:wave:

It's not the time and travel, per se. It is the patient's peace of mind and familiarity with their surroundings. Most of these treatments have a specific protocol, available and required to be used by all facilities. No doctor can just go rogue and prescribe cauliflower and Vitamin D to combat a cancer. (just a silly example) Also, the insurance companies are in it every step of the way. They know what is required and even recommended. Sometimes they are good, sometimes bad, nonetheless they are another "eye" on your treatment. I would go anywhere and pay any amount of $$ to be assured my cancer would be gone. No one can do that, so I take my treatments here, play and go out to lunch with my friends when I can, and relax in the comfort of my home (not a motel) when I can't. I've been to Cancer Treatment Centers of America in Philly for 4 days. I loved it there...but, when faced with daily treatments, I chose to stay in my home. To each their own. What's important is that the patient is comfortable and confident in their treatment. In my humble opinion.

I agree. MD Anderson is what saved my Michigan friends' daughter whose local cancer treatment doctors told her she couldn't be cured. That was 20 years ago, and she's still going strong.

Her parents' research online on her rare form of cancer is what brought them to MD Anderson. A year of disruption to their lives was worth it to them.

I'm so happy for her and thank God they found what she needed, but big difference between 20 years ago and today. Most cancer patients of today wouldn't have made it 20 years ago. And we'll be saving even more in 2,3,4 years. Treatments just keep getting better and better. I plan to be around long enough to see it. Also, just as an example, tomorrow I have another radiation appointment BUT...right now, I am going across the street to play poker with my fun neighbor girls and laugh and forget about it for a while. Can't beat that!

I'm happy for you and wish you a good recovery.

It was a rare form of cancer that hit this girl. MD Anderson is one of the few places that researches this form of cancer.

I suppose it depends on what type of cancer you have.

Hi. Take a big breath and think about all your choices. I am currently a cancer patient at the
Florida Cancer Specialists right here in TV in the Sharon Morse Bldg. I really feel safe and trust
In Dr Thaper. If you decide to get different opinions requiring traveling, I think the treatment plan
Recommended will be administered wherever you go. I have a very dear friend who started her
Treatments at The Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, and transferred her treatments with Dr Thaper when
She came back in October. It really is important to feel as comfortable as possible and optimistic.
It's also important to "Look good, Feel Good".

Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa is a large hospital devoted to the treatment of cancer. It's known as one of the most highly-rated cancer treatment centers in the southeast U.S. It's a 60-75 minute drive south of The Villages.

Alternatively, there is the well known MD Anderson Cancer Center in Orlando (affiliated with the nationally-known hospital of the same name in Houston) or Shands Hospital at the University of Florida in Gainesville. Moffitt, Anderson and Shands are all notable cancer research hospitals.

Comfortable
 

A lot depends on what you are comfortable with. I have been a caretaker which involved a couple of very serious cancers, one was not curable the other was 4 months in treatment and 5 year wait. Also a couple of other illnesses which were "risky". As a result I had the opportunity to go to MD Anderson, Lahey Clinic, Mayo in Jacksonville, Cleveland Clinic for a potential serious heart problem, At Lahey one Dr. said almost anyone can treat once an accurate diagnosis has been made. MD Anderson clearly is great if you are famous or have a difficult cancer. If you are off the street with an off the street type of cancer it appeared their treatment was not too different from the others. Mofitt was impressive with the modern technical applications available. We have settled on Mayo in Jacksonville and it has proved to be excellent in treatment and other patient support. As this indicates we have done extensive shopping for the best and settled on Mayo not that the others are not good. When we were near Lahey we were happy with their clinic which has similar policies and practices as Mayo. Just as an aside..the Urgent Care Office at Lake Sumter is great for those type of problems!. :ho:

Many thanks! :)