How to Select dr and facility?

margo53

Hi,

I’m starting radiation hopefully early November and I’m wondering how you go about picking your RO? Did you just go with your BS recommendation? I’m trying to research them, but having difficulty.

Or did you go with location? The 2-3 I’m looking at all have the same latest equipment, so that’s not an issue.

Thoughts

MinusTwo

Margo - I got recommendations from my oncologist, ran those names past my BS and than interviewed two of them. I thought they would both do an excellent job so picked the one that was easier to get to traffic wise. Since you have to go every day for x weeks (mine was 5 weeks) that is one thing to consider.

Ingerp

My BS set up my first appointment with my RO--just took the first available at the practice that's affiliated with the same hospital. It turns out I really like her personally, but I'm not sure that matters so much. Your treatment plan will be the same regardless of where you go. Once you get going you'll only see your RO once a week, and then every 6-12 months for follow-up. I would absolutely make the decision based on location. I'm fortunate to live in a place that's small enough that nothing is too far away, but I feel sorry for the women who are traveling 60-90 minutes each way to rads. I was able to set up my appts for lunchtime, so didn't even take any time off of work through rads. For early stage cancers, I really think it's all about convenience.

edj3

All my cancer doctors are affiliated w/ St. Luke's so once I got the dx, I was in the system. It's worked out really well for me since they talk to each other and I don't have to make sure my RO knows what my MO knows and the loop in my BS. It also helps that I find them competent and decent people, no jerks among them.

ksusan

I got recommendations from my MO's facility, then looked them up to see who looked like a better fit. I then went to the medical licensing board's site and checked whether they had any sanctions.

gb2115

I chose based on location since it was so many visits and I had to fit it into a workday. It helped a lot being able to get it all done in less than an hour. I went to work for a couple hours, left for an hour then came back. It was often even quicker than that.