NCI cancer center?

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lago
lago Member Posts: 17,186
edited June 2014 in HER2+ (Positive) Breast Cancer
NCI cancer center?
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  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited August 2010

    Just checked out the national ratings for hospitals in my area. 2 are NCI (National Cancer Institute) cancer centers (not comprehesive hospital care)  but the hospital I'm going to is not. I feel good about my surgeon and it is a top hospital. My concern is the chemo, treatment after surgery.

    Should NCI cancer center matter? I don't know who my oncologist is at this point and probably won't know till after surgery. I assume I can chance switch hospitals if I want. I'm assuming I should get a 2nd opinion on chemo (maybe radiation) hormone treatment anyway.

     Any ideas? feedback? personal experiences? I'm still all new to this… hoping for surgery date Wednesday for my bilateral MX.

    BTW my hospital was rated  43rd in the US for cancer. One of the NCI ones was 15th in nation the other 27th. Both had higher ratings due to more physicians with reputations. I'm good with my surgeon so that doesn't matter to me that he hasn't published/speaking engagements as much as some others.

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  • maxie918
    maxie918 Member Posts: 3
    edited August 2010

    If you live in a large city you just have to do your homework before talking to onc.  Your surgen can probably give you some names, it helps if you go somewhere that does clinical trails even if that onc doesn't participate.

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  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited August 2010

    Thanks. I'm in Chicago… really big city.

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  • Cowgirl13
    Cowgirl13 Member Posts: 1,936
    edited August 2010

    Lago, since you are triple positive, i'd think you would definitely have chemo w/herceptin.  Herceptin for a year.  At some point in treatment you will also be put on tamoxifin or an aromatase inhibitor.  Chemo is very doable--i just finished up with my last Herceptin treatment last week.  One thing to ask your onc is what would your survival rate be if you did not have chemo, and then again if you didn't have herceptin.  That was all i needed to hear.  It was very straight forward for me.  Wishing you well and you will find a lot of wonderful support.  BTW, i would suggest having treatment at a center who deals a lot  with breast cancer if you can.

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  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited August 2010

    Thanks Cowgirl. I never thought Herceptin or Chemo would be optional for me. With such a large tumor, grade 3 tumor , peri-menopasaul and HER2+ both Chemo & Herceptin is a must IMO regardless of my lymph node status. I was hoping to get out of radiation but that doesn't seem like an option either due to the size of the tumor and the fact that I am so small breasted (regardless of the margins). Of course this is all speculation. I'm just assuming they are going to hit me with everything especially since I am in excellent health otherwise and 49 years young.

    Yes this hospital does have a cancer center and the surgeon is a oncological breast cancer surgeon with a great reputation. I'm pretty sure my oncologist iwll be the head of oncology but I might get a second opinion at that #15 hospital just to feel better when the time comes.

     Lets hope I respond to tamoxifin or go into meopause real quick. I hope I respond to the chemo too and no heart issues.

     BTW I got my surgery date today. 8.31.2010. They don't seem to be in any rush!

    maxie918 & cowgirl best of luck to both of you. You guys seem to be doing well.Thanks so much for posting.

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