Postby wdt » Sat Jan 06, 2007 3:16 pm
When we were researching, we found a lot of information from Cleveland Clinic in Ohio and at Rush in Chicago. My husband's insurance would cover him to go to Cleveland but not Rush in Chicago, so find out about what your insur company will allow.
We ultimately ended up having the surgery in our home town rather than traveling...which was our choice, but both of these centers are highly recommended. We had a couple of friends who went to Cleveland Clinic for things other than colorectal cancer, however they both had very good things to say about CC and got good care there.
Our primary reason for looking at places like CC and Rush were that we were not happy with the answers and options we had in our city, or entire state for that matter. We went to 3 different surgeons - second and third opinions - before we settled on staying here for the surgery. The first sugeon left us with the impression that my husband would end up with a permanent colostomy and when he told his nurse to schedule the surgery he said "schedule mr X for an APR please..." An APR is an abdominoperineal resection - in other words, permanent colostomy. He did not do a scope to see the extact location of the tumor nor did he do a preo CT scan, endorectal ultrasound or get a CEA test. The other two surgeons (who both looked up my husbands bum) told us that at the level the tumor was located that it would be highly unlikely that he would need to end up with a permanent colostomy. (sometimes a temporary colostomy is needed, but gets reversed in a few months after healing). Anyway, what I am getting at is that you don't have to go with the first person that tells you something, and there is NO reason you should not pursue a second or third, or even 4th opinion if you are not comfortable with any aspect of what a doctor tells you. Research and educate yourself - it is your best defense. Best wishes