Cancer Treatment Centers of America

CTCA's “flagship" hospital is in Zion, IL, an hour (more, in traffic) north of me near the WI border. We are inundated with commercials for it. Chicago Magazine's biennial “Best Doctors" list (unlike other magazine's lists, nominated by any Chicago-area doctors who wish to vote and totally independent of advertising) lists CTCA docs Warren Granek and Dennis Citrin among their top oncologists. But it never occurred to me to go there.

For the past 20 years I've been using what is now the NorthShore system (first, its affiliated mammo center at Nordstrom's Old Orchard and then Evanston Hospital's Center For Breast Health) for my mammograms. My IDC was discovered this year on my annual screening mammogram, and I decided I wanted to use Evanston Hospital/Kellogg Cancer Center for the “seamlessness" of its care. It accepts most major insurance companies as well as Medicare and Medicaid. Yes, it runs attractive, well-produced commercials--but you'll notice they don't feature patient testimonials or success stories: they don't need to superimpose the fine-print bottom-of-screen disclaimers that CTCA does: “No case is typical; you should not expect to achieve these results." They don't insult your intelligence with descriptions or pictures of their non-medical amenities (though they don't have limos, patient dining rooms, day spas and luxury suites, their facilities are nonetheless clean, modern and pleasant--though you can't get a latte after 4 pm and the robotic grand piano in the lobby is sorta creepy). And I have a great “team" of surgeon, medical and radiation oncologists, therapists, nurses and and nurse-navigator (plus their complementary medicine services, counseling and lectures if I want them). It, too, is an NCI Breast Center of Excellence--in fact, it was the first in the area and one of the first in the nation. It is a teaching hospital of the University of Chicago Medical School and affiliated closely with the Mayo Clinic, as are all the hospitals in the NorthShore system. And it's only 20 minutes away by car or 30-40 by rapid transit.

But you know what? So are Northwestern Memorial's Lynn Sage Breast Cancer Center (Cleveland Clinic-affiliated) and the University of Chicago itself, as well as Rush (where my DS was born, my shattered leg was patched back together, my gallbladder & I parted company, and which--for TV trivia buffs--serves as the exterior for “Chicago Med"s fictional hospital). I didn’t want to have to drive downtown into the city and pay an arm & a leg to park, so I didn’t use any of those this time. If you live within an hour of a major metropolitan area or university campus, and are standing in front of an area map blindfolded, throw a dart and you'll probably hit an excellent teaching hospital affiliated with a topnotch cancer center and/or breast health center. And for your initial and occasional treatments, it's worth the trip if you need to travel a longer distance to one, (Chemo and radiation can be done closer to home). Don't fall for fancy commercials and patient testimonials, or even survival statistics--it's all smoke & mirrors. Ask professionals whose opinion you respect. And ask among our sisters here!

I did the same thing as kessala, call CTCA, knowing full well they did not take my insurance, and had a similar experience. Now, I understand that not every facility takes every insurance plan, but they seem to be limited to the so called "Cadillac" plans or a very large chunk of cash upfront. I don't doubt that their care is good, but nothing seemed innovative or cutting edge. Yes, their amenities are top of the line, but that wasn't a factor for me in seeking care. My HMO has all of it's facilities on one large campus and all care providers know what the others are doing with the click of a mouse. Yoga, nutrition, other classes, support groups and a weekly farmer's market are all on the same campus and many are free or charge a very nominal fee. They partner with Stanford Medical School, participate in and share research freely and are very community oriented. This fits me well as I do not feel like I need celebrity treatment to get great care (a limo won't help me). Again, not saying CTCA is bad, but the bells and whistles, the super selectivity of patients (and their refusal to even chat with those who don't fit their criteria), don't make it a better to center than what many of us use. In the end, if you feel confident and comfortable with your care, that's what matters.

A Keurig in every room? Of course, we all know that hospital coffee is awful, so why not 😜? Again, I think that's lovely, but it won't help my cancer one little bit. Neither my insurance provider nor myself needs to pay for such things. Now, if they had a Keurig in the limo..

• I have been going to.CTCA in Tulsa since Jan 2014..the dr I had seen at the west clinic in memphis was horrible...I wholeheartedly believe that the care I received at CTCA saved my life...no kuerig in my room but a wonderful friendly knowledgeable staff. I would not feel comfortable anywhere else..

tg1203,

I am so glad that you're doing well. As I said earlier, in the end, if you are comfortable and confident with your choice, that's what counts.

I believe that somewhere, earlier on this thread or perhaps a similar one, someone asked how a non-profit facility can make a profit. Yes, they can , but the profits are plowed back into the facility and to it's operations, not to shareholders or owners. Additionally, most non-profits provide for those who need low cost or indigent care as well as participating in and sharing research.

Yep. It is an insurance year issue. This is probably her deductible and they sure seem to want it upfront. i'm guessing January, when all those deductibles start rolling in, is a really great month for them, and just think how their cash flow statements contrast with those from non-profit hospitals. Having very careful cash management (all those how-will-you-pay questions everyone is mentioning) appears to be a factor in how they are able provide so many perks.

Hey I'm not knocking them here. They are a for-profit business and need to operate (and be viewed) as such. If McDonald's can give out toys with kids' meals, and my grocery store can give me a discount on the gas I put in my car, then limosines and keurigs at CTA make perfect sense. But do keep in mind, these perks are all carefully budgeted marketing devices, not gifts.

No experience with homeopathic meds (though homeopathic teething gel did nothing for my granddaughter). Claritin is a standard recommendation for Neulasta pain. Sorry to hearing that it's hitting her so hard. Surely she was aware that seeking treatment so far away might result in situations like this arising. Couldn't CTCA call in a script to her local pharmacy?

Just a question, I am familiar with their commercials but there is not one in my immediate area. Once my chemo treatments are done, I will begin radiation and it is 33 treatments Mon- Friday. I don't believe I would have the energy to drive an hour every day so I am using our local hospital cancer center.

If they provide radiation treatments, can you go some place closer to home for radiation?

Isn't it STRANGE???  We, have so many on these Boards and so FEW even entertain going to this Place.......Liz

Lisa,

This thread has been inactive for several years. Have you used the search function to see if there is something more recent? Wouldn’t it be easier to call CTCA and ask them the question so that you are getting an up to date first hand answer? There are a very small number of bco members who have been treated at CTCA.