Where did you receive treatment?

I used Dana Farber in Boston. I recommend it highly. There is also MGH in Boston. I think these these are top two in Massachusetts.

MGH is a little bit more forward with its care. Dana Farber and Brigham and Women's collaboration is a little bit more conservative, they want to see more evidence before they are changing their protocols. You are more likely to do something new at MGH, but their patient safety is a little lower than Dana Farber and Brighams and Women's collaboration. My treatment plans were the same at both, but surgery was a little different - different mastectomies

People are trying to limit identifying information.

Pluta Cancer Center, affiliated with Strong Memorial, in Rochester, NY. I had the best team of doctors and supporting staff.

Aries1,

Glad you have a great team of doctors. As a side note, I was born in Strong Memorial. I've never seen it though as we moved to Calif. when I was 1yr old.

ruthbru...I'm glad you are happy with your care but...I do not agree that all treatment facilities are equal. I'm in the medical profession and IMO being treated at a university based teaching hospital is very important. I was stage one and my doc originally was going to do intraoperative radiation which is a one time intense radiation treatment directly to the tumor that eliminates radiation after surgery completely. Unfortunately they found more tumors when I had a pre operative MRI so I was no longer a candidate. In contrast my friend had the same diagnosis as me at the same time and was treated at a local hospital. She asked her doc about the intraoperative radiation and was told they did not offer it. Local hospitals just can't compete with a major university teaching hospital. They do not have the state of the art equipment or the best docs. That being said of course you can get good treatment with good outcomes at a local hospital. However if it was me or someone I care about I would always recommend the university hospital.

North York General Hospital Breast Clinic in Toronto.

OBS- Dr. Brian Pinchyuk - Brilliant surgeon. Left no stone unturned.

MO - Dr. Paula Fishman - Wonderful and caring, takes so much time with her patients, no questions unanswered.

Sunnybrook Cancer Center

Rads - Dr. Stanley Lee - No words to describe the level of thisdoctors care but I’ll try with - absolutely amazing!

Gastric - Dr. Michael Bernstein - again amazing, really good lookin’ to boot!

I agree with Melissa Dallas. Many do not wish to include specifics to limit identifying information. That being said, many are wiling to name the place where they were treated. I was/am treated at Kaiser Permanente Santa Clara and think they are excellent. They place a great deal of emphasis on wellness, offer many classes and support services, including a weekly farmers market. My second opinions were at Stanford. Interns and residents from Stanford Medical school practice at Kaiser Santa Clara as well as Stanford Hospital. I am approaching my 7 year mark of living with stage IV.

I live in Houston, so MD Anderson was an easy choice. I’m happy with my care and feel good about all the trials and extras available to me, especially being relatively young and stage iv with brain mets.

Mercy, OKC

I received treatment at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa. Great care #6 in country.

I think that university settings are really important for difficult to treat cases, non-responsive cancers, or access to research studies for those who need them or just wish to contribute. They're also great for second opinions - to make sure that the plan of care that's being discussed for you is the best consensus. But a local setting is often more convenient and they frequently treat their patients more as individuals.

George Washington University Hospital in Washington DC, breast surgeon Dr. Christine Teal, reconstructive surgeon Dr. Joanne Lenert. Would definitely recommend.

I had two (quickly arranged) breast cancer surgeries at the Community Hospital in a little country town in the Deep South. Two months after, I had my (open) TAH-BSO surgery there.

Our special needs pet was only eight months old when I was diagnosed, and we did not want to leave him for longer than necessary. The only place to board him would be the Animal Hospital, and he really hates being at the Animal Hospital.

I don't agree that a university teaching hospital is necessary for BC. I trained at MD Anderson/Houston (late 80s early 90s) and always believed that if I or a loved one needed cancer treatment, that would be the place I would go. However, when my husband was diagnosed last year with multiple myeloma, it became clear that MDACC was not doing aggressive curative intervention, and we went to Mount Sinai. Then, this year, with my ILC diagnosis, I called and talked to a breast oncology surgeon at MDACC and she was very dismissive--wouldn't even discuss BMX with me because my tumor (by mammogram, mind you) was "only 5mm." She also said she would not recommend an MRI! By contrast, I'm being treated at the START Center in San Antonio, and the team is magnificent. Much better overall care than my husband got at Mount Sinai (we went there for a particular doctor who is amazing, but the place itself is terrible), and up-to-date with the literature, as well as having fully integrated services, including breast nurse navigator, breast surgeon, breast medical oncologist, plastic surgery, and genetic testing. Still haven't started treatment yet, but that's my input so far.