RE: Any Opinion or Experience with Hopkins or Sloan-Kettering

[Guest guest]

Bechtold wrote:

> I feel after my surgery in 5/07 (T2c - 3+3 clear margins

> pre-surgery PSA of 7.4) and radiation treatments in 3/08, even

> though my PSA is only 0.48 (risen from 0.10 after radiation), I

> feel it's time to find a good specialist or program to get

> involved in.

From what I understand, there is a good possibility that you

don't need treatment yet. Different medical oncologists have

different ideas about when to start treatment.

However, whether you do or do not need treatment now, I agree

that it is an excellent idea to get some expert advice.

> I live just outside of Philadelphia, so New York and Baltimore

> are within 2 hours. I was wondering if anyone, in this group

> nobody wants to be in, has any good or bad experience with

> either Hopkins or Sloan-Kettering. They both seem to be at

> the top of the list for prostate work and I'd like to at least

> start a relationship at age 56 with one of them before my

> condition changes drastically.

I have not been treated at either of those institutions but I

know that you are right in thinking that, by reputation at least,

they are at the top of the list.

Three other institutions at the top of the National Cancer

Institute list are closer to you:

Fox Chase Cancer Center

Abramson Cancer Center at the University of Pennsylvania

Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferon University

All of them are in Philadelphia. See:

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

It is a list of centers that the National Cancer Institute thinks

are the best in the nation. The ones marked " Comprehensive

Cancer Center " are their highest recommendations.

I have seen postings from a couple of people treated at Fox Chase

who were very impressed by their doctors.

Best of luck.

Alan