Did you travel for treatment?

Bookpusher

I live in a rural area. Awaiting biopsy results from one week ago.

I am wondering how many here travel for treatment?

Veeder14

Hi Bookpusher,

I did travel for treatment, 2 hrs each direction for treatment at a major medical center. I spent a month in a hotel during radiation because no way I could do daily commuting. It was definitely worth traveling for the expertise and excellent treatment however tiring. I still travel for follow up scans, etc. Good luck with your treatment.

LW422

I'm lucky to live in the Houston metro area, so it's only about an hour to MD Anderson where I am treated. (It wouldn't take that long but the traffic is horrible.) It amazes me how many people travel from other states to be treated there, so many people do travel for treatment.

GG27

I travel 5 hours each way every week for treatment with 2 of those hours on a ferry. It's worth it for me as I had an MO only about 2 hours away but we disliked each other. I found my current MO while on a trial & she & I are on the same page as far as treatment options etc.

LivinLife

I could not have radiation b/c of other health issues. I traveled 4 hours for surgery. Had I undergone radiation I would have had that done locally at the direction of my onc who is 4 hours away.....

BettyMorgan

I live in a rural area and will be traveling 2 1/2 hours plus ferry for treatments.

It wasn't bad when I traveled for my thyroid cancer either

Bookpusher

Thanks everyone for your comments. I am a little over 2 hours away from two reputable breast care centers associated with universities.

I guess you are assigned a surgeon/team at random? I don’t know any of the doctors at either place. Our local breast surgeon is excellent, she has a sterling reputation. But I don’t know how good the follow treatment would be here her. Hard decision as to where to seek treatment.

ruthbru

I'd have surgery with the surgeon you know & trust. Ask her about the follow-up you'd have if you stay local, she can refer you on if she feels it wouldn't be adequate. When I was diagnosed, follow up care wasn't available in the small hospital in the town where I live. I did have my surgery here (I trusted the surgeon, knew e was nearby in case I ran into problems, I felt I would get more personalized care with people who knew me), but had to travel for all my oncology appointments and treatments. When I first met with the oncologist, he commented on the good job my local surgeon had done.

HersheyKiss

I received all my treatments through the local community hospital. I was fortunate; my surgeon has treated breast/chest patients for over 25 years, and my oncologist specializes in breast and gynecological cancers. Both are highly respected in the community and serve as adjunct faculty at an NCI-designated cancer center an hour-and-a-half away. The treatments I received at the community hospital were the same I would have had at the cancer center. Perhaps your local medical professionals have similar relationships with the breast care centers. Best wishes with your decisions.

Bookpusher

Thanks everyone. I just got my biopsy report. I am starting a new thread on it. Please help me interpret it