Sloane Kettering vs Dana Farber

singlemom1

I am trying to decide if I should seek another opinion through MSK or DF. I live close enough to either one. I just read about about a satellite MSK office about an hour and half away with a nice write up on the new breast cancer director. I am considering trying to make an appt with her. Looking for any feedback between the two hospitals and any recommendations for oncologists at either. Thank you

Bosco2602

hi Singlemom1

I got my second opinion at DF. The care from everyone there was superior to the hospital I was diagnosed at ( and that was a decent size place).

I see dr nancy lin. She is amazing as is her np Christine. They have over 40 clinical trials going on now for bc alone. That was huge for me as I know one day I'll need them.

Good luck in your decision

pajim

Singlemom, I get my care at the Farber [because (a) my boss chose my onc, and (b) I can walk from my office], and it is excellent. I also know [personally] the head of Solid Tumor Oncology at MSKCC. He's a smart and caring man with a lot of smart people working for him.

I would guess that you will find the DFCI a little more conservative in their thinking than the MSKCC, but otherwise you should go to whichever one is more convenient for you.

I don't mean that the Farber isn't giving all the latest drugs, etc., but they treat more conservatively. More minimalist. My onc is, and I've seen it with friends who have other kinds of cancer.

teacher911

I had my second opinion at Dana Farber and thought that the care and treatment were excellent. I saw Dr. Erica Mayer. She is very involved in clinical trials as well.

singlemom1

thank you everyone for your feedback. Pajim, do you mind me asking which Doctor you see and if you like him/her?

readytorock

I had my second opinion at DF, but went with my local hospital as they had same treatment plan. I did not like the medical oncologist that I saw at DF - Wendy Chen. We asked her opinion of whether she thought I was going to need chemo or not and she laughed as she said - you're going to need chemo.

She also had some incorrect information about the Oncotype score, which I actually called the company to clarify.

She was pushing me very hard to go into a clinical trial where a flip of the coin determines if you undergo chemo or not (RXPonder.) I said if you are willing to flip a coin - doesn't that mean that "no chemo" is an option that you are ok with? She said - no, it is ok if you go in the study and get chemo, but if you don't join study, I have to recommend chemo.

Really rubbed me the wrong way.

singlemom1

thank you readytorock!