Experience with the Seattle Cancer Alliance? Tell me more.

zarovka

I live in NM. So far I have received decent treatment for a de novo stage IV breast cancer diagnosis here. I have the most common flavor of breast cancer and it is responding to the accepted first line treatment. But I would like to get setup with one of the major cancer research centers. If and when i get to a decision point in the future, I want to who I am going to talk to for a second opinion or for complicated procedures. I want them to have my records, etc.

Seattle is the most convenient place for me to go. The Seattle Cancer Care Alliance is recognized as the 5th best cancer center in the US by US News and Report. Does anyone have any experience with SCCA? Good or bad?

>Z<

petjunkie

I see Dr. Julie Gralow at SCCA (metastatic for over 6 years now). The treatment at SCCA is top notch, the nurses and staff are amazing. I feel really confident knowing that I am getting the benefit of being at a research institution. I meet a lot of people there who travel from Alaksa, Idaho, and Montana. I know some of them have an oncologist there that they meet with once in awhile, but they get their treatments like chemo at a home institution. I really don't know how complicated that is, but just know it's done.

We have a great, casual Stage IV support group in Seattle that meets once a month at people's homes to chat and share info, etc. If you do decide to come up to SCCA, please feel free to contact me and maybe just you and I could meet up for coffee or you could come meet the group if the timing works out.

Karen

zarovka

Thank you. Dr. Gralow looks great. Her emphasis is on exercise and exercise a cornerstone of my treatment plan. I hope I can get an appointment with her as I see she is both well known and accomplished.

The general new patient number just keeps sending me to voice mail. If you have any tricks on getting through to schedule an appointment, let me know.

Congratulations on 6 years! I'll be in Seattle late on August 3rd and all day they 4th and 5th and I would love to have coffee.

>Z<

zarovka

The only available appointment at SCCA that works with my schedule was with Dr. Jennifer Specht on August 4th. If you know anyone who works with her, I'd be interested in their experience. PM me if if needed.

>Z<

petjunkie

Yes, I've met Dr. Specht and a few gals in our support group go to her. She is awesome! Very soft-spoken, an excellent listener, and certainly on the forefront of the latest research. I think you will really enjoy meeting her. I love Dr. Gralow, but she travels so much it's hard to get to see her in person. If I ever had to see someone else, I would chose Jennifer Specht.

I'd love to meet when you are in town and hopefully I can get a few other stage IV gals from our group to join, perhaps some that are also patients of Dr. Specht. Feel free to PM me anytime and I'll give you my email address!