Choosing a NCI-designated Cancer Center
May 2, 2008 by Karen Lynch
Filed under Women's Health
When I was first diagnosed, I looked up the website for Memorial-Sloan Kettering Cancer Center because I thought that in the New York area, this facility would be the gold standard. They have a great page on their site about Making Care Choices; one call to Sloan and I received this life-saving advice: get myself to the nearest National Cancer Institute designated cancer center. If I wasn’t completely satisfied with their care, make an appointment to see an oncologist at Sloan.
The Sloan website also links to this NCI webpage: How to Find a Doctor or Treatment Facility if You Have Cancer.
You really should attempt to get yourself to a NCI-designated Cancer Center — recognized by the US government ‘for the scientific excellence and extensive resources focused on cancer and cancer-related problems.’ Here’s another snippet from the website:
“NCI-designation is voluntary and is awarded via a grant using a peer-review process. All NCI-designated cancer centers receive substantial financial support from NCI grants and are reevaluated each time their cancer center support grant comes up for renewal (generally every 3 to 5 years). The NCI recognizes two types of centers: Cancer Centers and Comprehensive Cancer Centers, based on the type of grant received. In terms of patient care, there is no difference in the quality of care they each provide.”
For instance, the only NCI designated cancer center in Connecticut is the Yale Cancer Center. It happens to be a Comprehensive Cancer Center according to the NCI.
For me, a Connecticut resident, this was the only place I wanted to be treated. I had a team of physicians that are, in my book, the cream of the crop.
You owe it to yourself to get yourself the best possible care.
There’s a search feature on that site (here’s the link again) for each state so you can find the NCI designated cancer center nearest you.
How did you choose your medical facility/team?
