How important is NCI designated comprehensive cancer center

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Lotus
Posts: 53
Joined: Thu Mar 29, 2018 10:03 pm

How important is NCI designated comprehensive cancer center

Postby Lotus » Sun Apr 01, 2018 9:46 pm

I have found a board certified colon rectal cancer surgeon at greenville cancer institute .....it is part of greenville health system but GHS is not NVA DESIGNATED COMPREHANSIVE CANCER CENTER. But the Greenville Hospital system is a teaching hospitsl. Can anyone comment on the importance of using NCI DESIGNATED Comp cancer center? Thanks in advance :D

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O Stoma Mia
Posts: 1709
Joined: Sat Jun 22, 2013 6:29 am
Location: On vacation. Off-line for now.

Re: How important is NCI designated comprehensive cancer center

Postby O Stoma Mia » Mon Apr 02, 2018 2:37 am

Lotus wrote:I have found a board certified colon rectal cancer surgeon at greenville cancer institute .....it is part of greenville health system but GHS is not NVA DESIGNATED COMPREHANSIVE CANCER CENTER. But the Greenville Hospital system is a teaching hospitsl. Can anyone comment on the importance of using NCI DESIGNATED Comp cancer center? Thanks in advance :D

The US News & World Report annual rankings of hospitals has something to say about GHS. Please read their "Colon Cancer Surgery Scorecard" for GHS in the link below. I think you should probably be able to find something better than this.

Colon cancer surgery scorecard: Greenville Health System (GHS)
https://health.usnews.com/best-hospitals/area/sc/laurens-county-health-care-system-6370001/colon-cancer-surgery

Find an NCI Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center
https://www.cancer.gov/research/nci-role/cancer-centers/find

in Pittsburgh:
https://www.cancer.gov/research/nci-role/cancer-centers/find/upci

Up the highway to Durham, NC:
https://www.cancer.gov/research/nci-role/cancer-centers/find/dukeci

Down the highway to Atlanta, GA:
https://www.cancer.gov/research/nci-role/cancer-centers/find/emorywinship
- -

Also, here are the NCCN member cancer centers. Unfortunately, there aren't any in your state.

Image

https://www.nccn.org/images/member_map/ ... 00x406.png

retiredteacher
Posts: 115
Joined: Sat Oct 21, 2017 1:34 pm

Re: How important is NCI designated comprehensive cancer center

Postby retiredteacher » Mon Apr 02, 2018 8:18 am

Check the stats on your surgeon as well ... I think Health Grades ranks the volume of colorectal cancer surgeries done by a particular surgeon.
RC F 63 9/17
Adeno 7 cm MSS G2 PET
T3N0M0
2.5K Cap/RT x 25
"Near complete response" PET 1/18
CEA 0.5 10/17, 0.6 10/18
MRI 2/18 yT2N0 12 cm fr AV 3 cm
LAR 2/18 yT1N0M0 0/21 G1 0.3 cm
CAPEOX 3/18, reduced to 80% at cycle 3
Completed 4 cycles; stopped, gut issues, liver enzymes
CT/ colonoscopy 11/18 NED
4/19 NED Sacral fractures/osteoporosis
"Caregiver" to the Iron Man
Hubby CRC Stage 3 2004 NED, Small Cell Lung Cancer Limited 2011 NED, Non-small Cell Lung Cancer 2019 NED October 2019

peanut_8
Posts: 2340
Joined: Sun May 25, 2014 1:31 pm

Re: How important is NCI designated comprehensive cancer center

Postby peanut_8 » Mon Apr 02, 2018 9:18 am

Lotus,

I see from a previous post of yours (viewtopic.php?f=1&t=59666&p=473986#p473986) that you are likely at early stage with no mets to other organs. Since this is the case, it's my opinion that it doesn't really matter if you go to an NCI designated hospital. The treatment you receive will most likely be standard of care, and will be the same wherever you go.

Again, this is just my opinion, butt I would go with an oncologist that you like. One that's easy to talk to, and is willing to spend time with you to answer any questions that you may have. Many of us here, myself included, have not gone with the first oncologist we've come across, and have gone with someone who is a better fit. Hopefully there is one in your area that fits the bill.

Sounds like you've already found a board certified surgeon. Good for you, that sounds like the most important thing at this point.

Best Wishes,
peanut
female, diagnosed Jan 14, RC stage 2a, age 56
MSS
April 14, 28 chemo/rad with Xeloda
June 14 adjuvant Xeloda 6 rounds
currently NED

Aqx99
Posts: 403
Joined: Fri Mar 31, 2017 7:28 am
Facebook Username: aqx99
Location: Pfafftown, NC

Re: How important is NCI designated comprehensive cancer center

Postby Aqx99 » Mon Apr 02, 2018 1:47 pm

I live in a city with two cancer centers. One is NCI designated, the other is not. My referral came from a doctor who works in the hospital system of the non-NCI cancer center, so all of my treatment was done there. The standard of care is the same whether you use an NCI designated hospital or not. The only time it really matters is if you have a more complex case. I got top-notch care at my cancer center. I never once even considered going to the other cancer center for a second opinion.
Anne, 40
Stage IIIB Rectal Cancer
T3N1bM0
2/21/17 Dx, Age 39
2/21/17 CEA 0.9
3/23/17 - 5/2/17 Chemoradiation, 28 treatments
6/14/17 Robotic LAR w/temp loop ileostomy, ovaries & fallopian tubes removed, 2/21 lymph nodes positive
7/24/17 - 12/18/17 CapeOx, 6 Cycles
7/24/17 Dx w/ovarian cancer
9/6/17 CA 125 11.1
11/27/17 CEA 2.6
12/5/17 CT NED
12/13/17 CEA 2.9
1/11/18 CA 125 8.6
1/23/18 Reversal
3/21/18 CT enlarged thymus
4/6/18 PET NED
7/10/18 CT NED
7/11/18 CEA 2.6
9/18 Bilateral Prophylactic Mastectomy

Aqx99
Posts: 403
Joined: Fri Mar 31, 2017 7:28 am
Facebook Username: aqx99
Location: Pfafftown, NC

Re: How important is NCI designated comprehensive cancer center

Postby Aqx99 » Mon Apr 02, 2018 1:59 pm

I should have added, if you do want to go to an NCI designated cancer center, it looks like Winston-Salem is the closest city for you. I can't speak for the care at the Comprehensive Cancer Center of Wake Forest University, since my treatment was done at the Novant Health Derrick L. Davis Cancer Center.

https://www.cancer.gov/research/nci-rol ... wakeforest
Anne, 40
Stage IIIB Rectal Cancer
T3N1bM0
2/21/17 Dx, Age 39
2/21/17 CEA 0.9
3/23/17 - 5/2/17 Chemoradiation, 28 treatments
6/14/17 Robotic LAR w/temp loop ileostomy, ovaries & fallopian tubes removed, 2/21 lymph nodes positive
7/24/17 - 12/18/17 CapeOx, 6 Cycles
7/24/17 Dx w/ovarian cancer
9/6/17 CA 125 11.1
11/27/17 CEA 2.6
12/5/17 CT NED
12/13/17 CEA 2.9
1/11/18 CA 125 8.6
1/23/18 Reversal
3/21/18 CT enlarged thymus
4/6/18 PET NED
7/10/18 CT NED
7/11/18 CEA 2.6
9/18 Bilateral Prophylactic Mastectomy

hawkowl
Posts: 132
Joined: Sun Dec 14, 2014 5:29 am
Location: MN/FL

Re: How important is NCI designated comprehensive cancer center

Postby hawkowl » Tue Apr 03, 2018 12:30 am

The best oncologists and most talented surgeons don't automatically end up deciding to work at NCI designated cancer centers or even at major teaching hospitals in large metropolitan areas...many of them end up choosing to live and practice in smaller communities for the same lifestyle/quality of life reasons that the rest of us do.

It always pays to do your homework, and it is always worth getting a second (or even a third) opinion, but in the end, you need to make your decision at least partly based on gut feeling, as well as other factors (how far from home, how good is your support network in that location).

For the record, I am a Hopkins Medical School grad and consulted with my colleagues there but ultimately (and with the support of Hopkins) decided to receive care much closer to home, and it was the right decision for me.
Dx 12/2014 T3N2MX (distant LPLN) low rectal
12/2014-4/2015: FOLFOX (8 cycles)
4/2015-6/2015: 28 cycles of chemoradiation with xeloda, SBRT
8/2015: Robotic APR with iliac node dissection; path showed ypT0,ypN0 (complete pathological response).
11/2015 scans clear, CEA 2.1
11/2015 parastomal hernia repair
3/2016 CEA 1.7, scans stable...
6/2020 5 years of normal CEA and stable scans
Now dealing with pyoderma gangrenosum.
Totally disabled due to oxaliplatin induced neuropathy and dysautonomia


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