How do you choose a radiation oncologist.

Check with your insurance co...I did not realize until after my 30 treatments that I was charged an office visit charge for each day..This was because I chose to go to a free standing Cancer Center instead of my local hospital for my treatments...I chose the IMRT (is a state-of-the-art cancer treatment method that delivers high doses of radiation directly to cancer cells in a very targeted way)..To say the least, I was in shock when the bill came and this amount was not even considered towards my deductible...If I ever have to deal with bc again, I will choose a Breast Cancer clinic with all my docs in one place and any treatments needed...In my small area, I had one here, one there and then drove about 45 min for rad treatment....I still question the radiation treatments that I received as they were different almost everyday.....Start asking the nurses who they would go to if they were in your shoes.....Best of luck to you.....

I also chose a center closer to home (commute would have been about an hour each way for a 15-minute procedure, and I'm just lazy.)   I started out finding the places covered by my Blue Cross insurance, then looked up the backgrounds of radiation oncologists, selecting two who had been trained at UCSF where I was being treated.  And I checked about the per-visit charge, too (good call!)  

You definitely DO want to go where they know what they're doing and have updated technology.  But being able to work during treatment is important, too , especially if you're fond of eating regularly.  Whichever way you choose, make sure all reports are sent to your oncologist and your primary care physician -- and get a copy for your own files -- so everybody has all the information.