WHERE TO GET TREATED?

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York is really one of the best centers. It is rated as the second best cancer hospital in USA according to U.S. News. They have an excellent reputation, and they are known for being “aggressive” with their treatment strategy. What I mean by aggressive, is that they don’t take any risks in treating the cancer.

The center advises patients to write down all sort of questions prior to their visit with the doctor and to have a family member or a friend come along to the visit to assist in taking notes. Also, the visit with the doctor takes about an hour or so. Doctors spend their time with their patients, and really make sure that you understand everything that is being said and give you enough time to ask all your questions. Once you’re done from seeing your doctor, his/her nurse comes in and guides you through the chemotherapy process providing you with all the information you need. When you’re done, you are given a detailed schedule for your chemo sessions for the first cycle. They tend not to give you a schedule for the 3 cycles because they wait until you are done with the first cycle to make sure that you are responding well to the medications given to you.

The majority of patients take their chemo sessions as outpatients, a minority require hospitalization. At the beginning of every cycle, a “blood work” is done; and prior to every session, your vital signs are taken, and this includes blood pressure, temperature, pulse, height & weight. The nurses in the chemotherapy suites are well-trained, and compassionate. Before you are given any medication, 2 nurses verify your identity (they ask you to spell out your name & date of birth) and make sure the medication you are about to take is the right one.