Re: Radiation oncologists

[Guest guest]

If your going for radiation therapy and not the proton, look for a radiation oncologist that works with the Tomo Radiation. Less side effects with the Tomo. The one thing I recall I hated the most about radiation, was keeping a full bladder. I was 8min 32 sec in the Tomo machine, 5 days a week, for 8 and half weeks. After surgery, I didn't have all the great of control, and couple times well... thank goodness I didn't get electrocuted. >> How do you go about figuring out who is a good radiation oncologist? While we are leaning toward proton therapy, we are not sure about if the insurance will cover it. So, I would like to start researching radiation oncologists, but how do I know who is good? What things should I be looking for? We have the VA for insurance, so I don't know how many doctors that we can speak with, so I may not be able to interview that many. Where do I start?> > Thank you for all of your advice!>

[Guest guest]

LYNN wrote:

> How do you go about figuring out who is a good radiation

> oncologist? While we are leaning toward proton therapy, we are

> not sure about if the insurance will cover it. So, I would like

> to start researching radiation oncologists, but how do I know

> who is good? What things should I be looking for? We have the

> VA for insurance, so I don't know how many doctors that we can

> speak with, so I may not be able to interview that many. Where

> do I start?

One possible place to start is with the list of " National Cancer

Institute Designated Cancer Centers " available here:

http://cancercenters.cancer.gov/cancer_centers/index.html

Here's the state by state list:

http://cancercenters.cancer.gov/cancer_centers/cancer-centers-list.html

I just learned about this program last week. NCI has put

together a list of 65 centers throughout the United States where

they believe that excellent research and treatment are carried

out.

NCI spends a lot of money funding scientific research and this is

a research oriented list. It doesn't mean you can't get good

care at other places that don't do research, or don't do it at

this level. There are many fine doctors working all over the

country. However, if I understand the program, if you go to one

of these centers you're likely to be treated by people who are

very aware of the latest science and the latest techniques and

research results.

I also believe in making a personal evaluation of doctors. Is

the doctor patient? Does he give careful and thoughtful answers

to questions? Does he take his time? Does he listen? Does he

speak realistically and not try to snow you with claims about his

results that are way out of line with what everyone else claims?

Even if I were at an NCI Designated Cancer Center, I'd still want

to apply those tests to the doctor proposing to treat me. And if

I found a doctor I really liked, I probably wouldn't care if he

was not at a famous center. However, the initial problem is to

find someone to evaluate. Maybe the NCI list can help with that.

Local referrals are also useful.

Good luck.

Alan

[Guest guest]

For anyone in the Fox Valley/NW Burbs of Chicago, I'd like to recommend the American Cancer Center in Elgin. Although they are not mentioned on the list Alan forwarded, I feel I received excellent care and a reduction in PSA from 5.7 to less than .1. Dr. Jailwala has two American Cancer Centers, one in Elgin and one in Algonquin. I would have preferred protons to photons but could not afford to travel to and stay at one of the proton facility locations. But I am very pleased with the 44 treatments I received at ACC.

Tom

Re: Radiation oncologists

LYNN <adopt4uaol> wrote:> How do you go about figuring out who is a good radiation> oncologist? While we are leaning toward proton therapy, we are> not sure about if the insurance will cover it. So, I would like> to start researching radiation oncologists, but how do I know> who is good? What things should I be looking for? We have the> VA for insurance, so I don't know how many doctors that we can> speak with, so I may not be able to interview that many. Where> do I start?One possible place to start is with the list of "National CancerInstitute Designated Cancer Centers" available here:http://cancercenters.cancer.gov/cancer_centers/index.htmlHere's the state by state list:http://cancercenters.cancer.gov/cancer_centers/cancer-centers-list.htmlI just learned about this program last week. NCI has puttogether a list of 65 centers throughout the United States wherethey believe that excellent research and treatment are carriedout.NCI spends a lot of money funding scientific research and this isa research oriented list. It doesn't mean you can't get goodcare at other places that don't do research, or don't do it atthis level. There are many fine doctors working all over thecountry. However, if I understand the program, if you go to oneof these centers you're likely to be treated by people who arevery aware of the latest science and the latest techniques andresearch results.I also believe in making a personal evaluation of doctors. Isthe doctor patient? Does he give careful and thoughtful answersto questions? Does he take his time? Does he listen? Does hespeak realistically and not try to snow you with claims about hisresults that are way out of line with what everyone else claims?Even if I were at an NCI Designated Cancer Center, I'd still wantto apply those tests to the doctor proposing to treat me. And ifI found a doctor I really liked, I probably wouldn't care if hewas not at a famous center. However, the initial problem is tofind someone to evaluate. Maybe the NCI list can help with that.Local referrals are also useful.Good luck.Alan

[Guest guest]

For anyone in the Fox Valley/NW Burbs of Chicago, I'd like to recommend the American Cancer Center in Elgin. Although they are not mentioned on the list Alan forwarded, I feel I received excellent care and a reduction in PSA from 5.7 to less than .1. Dr. Jailwala has two American Cancer Centers, one in Elgin and one in Algonquin. I would have preferred protons to photons but could not afford to travel to and stay at one of the proton facility locations. But I am very pleased with the 44 treatments I received at ACC.

Tom

Re: Radiation oncologists

LYNN <adopt4uaol> wrote:> How do you go about figuring out who is a good radiation> oncologist? While we are leaning toward proton therapy, we are> not sure about if the insurance will cover it. So, I would like> to start researching radiation oncologists, but how do I know> who is good? What things should I be looking for? We have the> VA for insurance, so I don't know how many doctors that we can> speak with, so I may not be able to interview that many. Where> do I start?One possible place to start is with the list of "National CancerInstitute Designated Cancer Centers" available here:http://cancercenters.cancer.gov/cancer_centers/index.htmlHere's the state by state list:http://cancercenters.cancer.gov/cancer_centers/cancer-centers-list.htmlI just learned about this program last week. NCI has puttogether a list of 65 centers throughout the United States wherethey believe that excellent research and treatment are carriedout.NCI spends a lot of money funding scientific research and this isa research oriented list. It doesn't mean you can't get goodcare at other places that don't do research, or don't do it atthis level. There are many fine doctors working all over thecountry. However, if I understand the program, if you go to oneof these centers you're likely to be treated by people who arevery aware of the latest science and the latest techniques andresearch results.I also believe in making a personal evaluation of doctors. Isthe doctor patient? Does he give careful and thoughtful answersto questions? Does he take his time? Does he listen? Does hespeak realistically and not try to snow you with claims about hisresults that are way out of line with what everyone else claims?Even if I were at an NCI Designated Cancer Center, I'd still wantto apply those tests to the doctor proposing to treat me. And ifI found a doctor I really liked, I probably wouldn't care if hewas not at a famous center. However, the initial problem is tofind someone to evaluate. Maybe the NCI list can help with that.Local referrals are also useful.Good luck.Alan