Finding Care
The best place to receive care is at a comprehensive cancer center. What does that mean? It’s a center where highly skilled and experienced physicians work with a team of peers to provide the most advanced treatments available. Here are a few things to consider when evaluating a cancer care center.
Experience Matters
All cancer centers are not equal. The truth is, where you go first matters most. The best centers in the world can offer more advanced treatments, and studies show that centers with more experienced staff provide better outcomes for patients. While the closest hospital may be the most convenient, it doesn’t necessarily give you the best chance to beat your cancer. Comprehensive treatment centers have experts on specific types of cancer, and attract the top cancer doctors in the world.
To ensure you have the best treatment, find out how many cancer patients a center sees every year. Do they have medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, and surgeons who have expertise in treating your type of cancer?
If you hear the terms "multidisciplinary care" or "team approach" this means you will be seen by, or have your case reviewed by, a medical team that includes an oncologist, radiologist, surgeon, pathologists, and others involved in your care. They’ll discuss your case and determine the best treatment plan for you. You’ll likely be included in this meeting. This is extremely beneficial as specialists from several fields, with different perspectives, help decide the best course of action for your particular situation.
Find out if the center offers treatments being studied in research protocols. In order to conduct cancer research, a center’s physicians have to be well trained and extremely knowledgeable about the disease they research and treat. Those physicians will likely know more about treating cancer than a general community practitioner because of their experience levels.
Certifications, Accreditations, & Designations
The National Cancer Institute provides a list of NCI Designated Cancer Institutes (searchable by state or alphabetically). To be part of the NCI’s list, a cancer center must complete a rigorous review process that focuses on a center’s or institution’s research efforts. Centers with a broad range of research programs are called "comprehensive cancer centers," while those with focused programs are called "clinical cancer centers."
You can also get information from the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), a not-for-profit organization that works with 24 approved medical specialty boards and has developed standards for ongoing evaluations and certifications of physicians in the United States. The ABMS is recognized as the gold standard in physician certification. They believe that higher standards for physicians means better care for patients. To find a board-certified physician, go to https://www.abms.org/.
You can also visit the National Comprehensive Cancer Network. The NCCN is a not-for-profit group of 21 of the world’s leading cancer centers that share a common goal: improving the quality and effectiveness of cancer care provided to patients through leadership and expertise. They promote the importance of continuous quality improvements and clinical practice guidelines for patients, clinicians and others involved in making health-care decisions.
Other Considerations
On-site Counseling and Support Groups: A cancer center should address patients' emotional, psychological, nutritional, and educational needs.
Services: The center you choose should offer as many services as possible under one roof, from radiology to reconstructive surgery. This enables specialists and staff to work as a team and effectively coordinate care.
Location and Comfortable Treatment Area: Does the center you're considering have a chemotherapy treatment area? Ask for a tour. Is the atmosphere comforting? Are extra chairs available for family and friends? Is the center close to home? If not, do they provide patient housing options?
A Patient Advocacy System: A quality center assists patients in dealing with physicians, insurance, and emotional needs.
Resource Center: Are resources available to help you learn about your disease and treatment? Books, videos, Internet access, and staff trained to help you research medical literature should all be available.
Sensitive, Trained Staff: A nurse or radiology technician who is trained in dealing with patients with cancer and who is sensitive to a patient's comfort or anxiety is invaluable during the treatment process.
