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Which cancer center would you go choose?
I have poorly differentiated thyroid cancer since 2016. I live in Miami Florida but I really want to control this POORLY DIFFERENTIATED THYROID CANCER, it’s metastisized to my cervical and lung. I don’t know which cancer center to choose from. I want to control the cancer. I checked out some doctors at MD ANDERSON, UM Sylvester cancer center, I HAVENT CHECKED MOFFIT CANCER OR ANYWHERE ELSE. I really liked MD ANDERSON, but my family/ kids would need to be in school and etc. I know MD ANDERSON IS KNOWN TO BE THE BEST but I want to control this. I’m torn between two places and just want peace of mind and peace in total. What would you do and give me your opinion.
COMMUNITY LEADER
I'm not really familiar with a lot of cancer centers, but I did a little research and came up with an article showing that there were 4 cancer centers in Florida awarded the Governor's award for excellence in cancer treatment in 2015. I can't find anything any more recent.
"The recipients include the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Mayo Clinic Florida, University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center and University of Florida Health Cancer Center, which includes University of Florida Health Shands Hospital, University of Florida Health Proton Therapy Institute and Orlando Health's Orlando Regional Medical Center."
I know there's a Moffitt Center in Tampa and one in The Villages; I'm not sure if there are others around the state or not. Mayo Clinic is in Jacksonville. There are several University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Centers, all located in the southern part of the state - 3 in Miami, Coral Springs, Deerfield Beach, Hollywood, and Plantation but you already know about all of those. University of Florida Shands is in Gainesville, University of Florida Health Proton Therapy Institute is in Jacksonville and of course, Orlando Health Medical Center is in Orlando.
I'm not sure why MD Anderson would not have made a top quality list. There is an MD Anderson Center in Orlando. My aunt was sent there when she had breast cancer in 2o10. I don't know if there are other MD Anderson centers in the state or not.
We can't really give you an opinion, because we never know what we'd do until we find ourselves in the same/similar situation. Of course, the best care is the first thought but there may be other things to take into consideration as well. If we have children that have to go school, as you do, and don't have anyone to care for them while we go somewhere for treatment, that limits the options to facilities near home. If we have someone to care for children, that may open up the possibilities. Transportation could be another limitation, as could finances because one might need places to stay if the treating facility is not an inpatient facility or if one brought a family member, etc. There could be other issues, depending on the circumstances.
"The recipients include the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Mayo Clinic Florida, University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center and University of Florida Health Cancer Center, which includes University of Florida Health Shands Hospital, University of Florida Health Proton Therapy Institute and Orlando Health's Orlando Regional Medical Center."
I know there's a Moffitt Center in Tampa and one in The Villages; I'm not sure if there are others around the state or not. Mayo Clinic is in Jacksonville. There are several University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Centers, all located in the southern part of the state - 3 in Miami, Coral Springs, Deerfield Beach, Hollywood, and Plantation but you already know about all of those. University of Florida Shands is in Gainesville, University of Florida Health Proton Therapy Institute is in Jacksonville and of course, Orlando Health Medical Center is in Orlando.
I'm not sure why MD Anderson would not have made a top quality list. There is an MD Anderson Center in Orlando. My aunt was sent there when she had breast cancer in 2o10. I don't know if there are other MD Anderson centers in the state or not.
We can't really give you an opinion, because we never know what we'd do until we find ourselves in the same/similar situation. Of course, the best care is the first thought but there may be other things to take into consideration as well. If we have children that have to go school, as you do, and don't have anyone to care for them while we go somewhere for treatment, that limits the options to facilities near home. If we have someone to care for children, that may open up the possibilities. Transportation could be another limitation, as could finances because one might need places to stay if the treating facility is not an inpatient facility or if one brought a family member, etc. There could be other issues, depending on the circumstances.
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Eveything you said makes perfect sense. But all I would want is the right place to get treated and with the right doctors. Can you share the article you found. Thanks Barb
I'm sorry, I thought I posted a link to the quote; I usually do. It didn't offer much in the way of information about the facilities; it was more about the excellence award. I guess they expect the person that needs treatment to do facility research... Anyway, here's that link:
http://www.floridahealth.gov/newsroom/2015/03/032315-cancer-centers.html
Here's a link to another article listing top 10 cancer hospitals in the state:
http://www.myatlantichealthsolutions.com/radiation-oncology-cancer-treatment-resources-for-patients/2016/7/14/top-10-cancer-treatment-centers-in-florida
Again, MD Anderson is not on the list, but that doesn't mean it's not a top hospital. There are others, as well, such as the Robert Boissoneault Oncology Institute in The Villages that has a 5-star rating. I think there's also one of those in Ocala and I know there's at least one other cancer center in Ocala, plus others around the state. I'm sure most of them are excellent facilities; they just may not be as known state-wide or nationally.
In order to find the best place for you, you'll have to research each facility, individually, to determine what they offer and who their doctors are, then take your own circumstances into consideration. The right place and doctors will be different for each of us.
A big consideration, for me is whether I'd be getting treatment as an in-patient or out-patient, as travel and expense become major issues.
Personally, I'd research the centers in my area first because those would be my first choices and I'd only go outside my area if necessary.
http://www.floridahealth.gov/newsroom/2015/03/032315-cancer-centers.html
Here's a link to another article listing top 10 cancer hospitals in the state:
http://www.myatlantichealthsolutions.com/radiation-oncology-cancer-treatment-resources-for-patients/2016/7/14/top-10-cancer-treatment-centers-in-florida
Again, MD Anderson is not on the list, but that doesn't mean it's not a top hospital. There are others, as well, such as the Robert Boissoneault Oncology Institute in The Villages that has a 5-star rating. I think there's also one of those in Ocala and I know there's at least one other cancer center in Ocala, plus others around the state. I'm sure most of them are excellent facilities; they just may not be as known state-wide or nationally.
In order to find the best place for you, you'll have to research each facility, individually, to determine what they offer and who their doctors are, then take your own circumstances into consideration. The right place and doctors will be different for each of us.
A big consideration, for me is whether I'd be getting treatment as an in-patient or out-patient, as travel and expense become major issues.
Personally, I'd research the centers in my area first because those would be my first choices and I'd only go outside my area if necessary.
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