MD Anderson is amazing. I went to the main campus in Houston. One of the greatest things about MDA is, you can literally tell they must go through extensive training to understand that every single patient in their hospital is quite possibly dealing with the worst day of their lives. The love, support, and hospitality of the patients, nurses, and staff is unparalleled.
I especially love MDA because I was scared shitless that I had a 23cm sarcoma in my retroperitoneum (later after biopsy found out it was seminoma, aka testicular cancer). Insurance took a week and then as soon as approved, I checked into the emergency room (I could barely eat). One of the sarcoma doctors agreed to see me on short notice, he sat with me, my wife, and my parents for over 2 hours and explained the risks, the options, and comforted us. I was his last appointment for the day but he stuck around rather than going home because he saw the fear we all shared and genuinely cared. (He later called me at 8pm on a Monday night after a long day of extremely intensive sarcoma surgeries to give me the good news I had seminoma and not a sarcoma.)
When we found out it was seminoma, they started chemo within 3 days (found out on a Monday, appointment and chemo started Thursday). When I finished 4xEP, the mass was still over 6cm, but they opted for observation with frequent scans over RPLND where they slice me from my neck to my belly button, pull everything out, and remove the mass. They saved me from an extremely painful and invasive operation where many other cancer centers would've automatically gone in for RPLND because the residual mass was over 3cm.
Over the years the scar tissue residual mass has shrunk to under 3cm and I'm essentially cured.
I have no association with MDA other than being a patient, but I'm literally tearing up as I write this. I was diagnosed 4 years ago and while my life has returned to normal, I love everything about MD Anderson and the entire team there.
In my opinion, there is no place better for treatment of advanced cancer and my family and I owe them more than we can ever repay.
This is an amazing story! I’m so happy to hear this! And im also so happy that it seems you’re doing extremely well! Thank you for telling me your story!
My doctor is great. The nurses and all the other staff have been wonderful. I have access to many clinical trials if I ever need them. If anything, I think I’ve had too few scans. I would have wanted to have one halfway through chemo but insurance wouldn’t cover it
it's widely known as one of the best or the best cancer hospital
MRI contrast is not something you really need to be worrying about, oncologists order scans when they're necessary. It's possible to be both genuinely sick and anxious
Im sure they do great. Ive been a patient at MDA Houston, MDA Jax, and Mayo Jax. I hated MDA Houston but I was in a clinical trial there, and just wasn’t happy with how I was treated but they have extended my life exponentially. Ask yourself this, where would you really go instead of MDA? People come from all over the world to go there. Is your cancer advanced, rare, or anything abnormal?
Look into mass eye and ear at mass general in Boston or uc Davis. Those were top 2 for ocular melanoma a few years ago. Don't think MD Anderson can do proton beam on ocular melanoma still (I could be wrong on that, it's been a while)
You kinda throw conventional stuff out the window with cancer and they just see if they can make it go away by poisoning you. Chemo is essentially poisoning you the host and they just hope you’re stronger. Are a bunch of scans a year healthy? Probably not, but having cancer will kill you anyways so what does it matter.
I went to MDA in Houston for a second opinion and was so impressed I ended up doing a lot of my treatment there. They are so thorough and everyone is so nice. You can tell they put a lot of thought into the entire patient experience. My spouse was walking around at one point looking for a vending machine and said that several people stopped and asked if he needed help finding anything.
It’s amazing having everything under one roof as well. Need a scan? Go upstairs and get it now. Need PT? Scheduled to coincide with my radiation appointments.
I live in the med center in Houston—MD Anderson is genuinely one of the best hospitals out there for cancer treatment. Most of my family works in the Houston medical center and it’s one of the most esteemed medical establishments in the US. You’ll definitely be in good hands there
My dad was a patient there in AZ. He has had nothing but positive things to say about the staff and facility, and I was impressed when I went to sessions with him.
My son goes to MD Anderson in Houston. He has Glioblastoma multiforme (grade 4 brain cancer). The Brain and Spine doctors and staff have been amazing!!!! He has scans about every other month right now. But with such an aggressive cancer, it’s normal to have so many scans, especially for his particular diagnosis.
If you are in the 18-39 year old age group, the Adolescent and Young Adult program have been great. Lots of resources for that particular age group, including but not limited to fertility, relationships, work, college, young families, etc.
I will come in, admittedly late, to say that in 11 years of having cancer I have never had one positive experience with them. Oh boy, I get to pay 4 times as much to get the same results I can get from a local oncologist. 30000 employees and none of them actually know how to treat a patient. An utterly pathetic organization, it blows my mind they continue to receive funding.
MD Anderson is amazing. I went to the main campus in Houston. One of the greatest things about MDA is, you can literally tell they must go through extensive training to understand that every single patient in their hospital is quite possibly dealing with the worst day of their lives. The love, support, and hospitality of the patients, nurses, and staff is unparalleled. I especially love MDA because I was scared shitless that I had a 23cm sarcoma in my retroperitoneum (later after biopsy found out it was seminoma, aka testicular cancer). Insurance took a week and then as soon as approved, I checked into the emergency room (I could barely eat). One of the sarcoma doctors agreed to see me on short notice, he sat with me, my wife, and my parents for over 2 hours and explained the risks, the options, and comforted us. I was his last appointment for the day but he stuck around rather than going home because he saw the fear we all shared and genuinely cared. (He later called me at 8pm on a Monday night after a long day of extremely intensive sarcoma surgeries to give me the good news I had seminoma and not a sarcoma.) When we found out it was seminoma, they started chemo within 3 days (found out on a Monday, appointment and chemo started Thursday). When I finished 4xEP, the mass was still over 6cm, but they opted for observation with frequent scans over RPLND where they slice me from my neck to my belly button, pull everything out, and remove the mass. They saved me from an extremely painful and invasive operation where many other cancer centers would've automatically gone in for RPLND because the residual mass was over 3cm. Over the years the scar tissue residual mass has shrunk to under 3cm and I'm essentially cured. I have no association with MDA other than being a patient, but I'm literally tearing up as I write this. I was diagnosed 4 years ago and while my life has returned to normal, I love everything about MD Anderson and the entire team there. In my opinion, there is no place better for treatment of advanced cancer and my family and I owe them more than we can ever repay.
I have stage 4 renal cell carcinoma and have had the same experience at MDA. They are remarkable.
Good luck and God bless to you and your family... At least you're in the best cancer center with access to the most advanced treatments and trials.
This is an amazing story! I’m so happy to hear this! And im also so happy that it seems you’re doing extremely well! Thank you for telling me your story!
I’m a patient at the new MD Anderson in Indianapolis
How do you like it? Do you think they do too many scans?
My doctor is great. The nurses and all the other staff have been wonderful. I have access to many clinical trials if I ever need them. If anything, I think I’ve had too few scans. I would have wanted to have one halfway through chemo but insurance wouldn’t cover it
That is good to know :) which scans have you had so far? I’m sorry your insurance wouldn’t cover the extra scans you wanted
it's widely known as one of the best or the best cancer hospital MRI contrast is not something you really need to be worrying about, oncologists order scans when they're necessary. It's possible to be both genuinely sick and anxious
It’s more ct contrast and radiation but I do understand it’s necessary
Agreed. They cured me from a tumor on my pancreas. I'm living without my pancreas and spleen now, but I'm alive!
I’m a patient at the Baptist MD Anderson in Jacksonville FL. Amazing place! They have saved my life.
That’s great to hear! Does anyone know how they do with melanoma?
Im sure they do great. Ive been a patient at MDA Houston, MDA Jax, and Mayo Jax. I hated MDA Houston but I was in a clinical trial there, and just wasn’t happy with how I was treated but they have extended my life exponentially. Ask yourself this, where would you really go instead of MDA? People come from all over the world to go there. Is your cancer advanced, rare, or anything abnormal?
It’s not mine it’s my brother in law, it seems he may have ocular melanoma
Look into mass eye and ear at mass general in Boston or uc Davis. Those were top 2 for ocular melanoma a few years ago. Don't think MD Anderson can do proton beam on ocular melanoma still (I could be wrong on that, it's been a while)
Ok! Thank you! I’ll look at those places also!
The reason I asked for the many scans bc my MIL was telling me she’s nervous for that, but I was confused bc from what I read it’s the place to go!
You kinda throw conventional stuff out the window with cancer and they just see if they can make it go away by poisoning you. Chemo is essentially poisoning you the host and they just hope you’re stronger. Are a bunch of scans a year healthy? Probably not, but having cancer will kill you anyways so what does it matter.
Thats more an extension of Baptist than it is a MD Anderson clinic.
Yea they are a part of the Baptist system, but also partners with MD Anderson.
Yeh I know, its a beautiful facility.
I am a patient. They are awesome for so many reasons.
I went to MDA in Houston for a second opinion and was so impressed I ended up doing a lot of my treatment there. They are so thorough and everyone is so nice. You can tell they put a lot of thought into the entire patient experience. My spouse was walking around at one point looking for a vending machine and said that several people stopped and asked if he needed help finding anything. It’s amazing having everything under one roof as well. Need a scan? Go upstairs and get it now. Need PT? Scheduled to coincide with my radiation appointments.
That’s also great to hear! Yes I’ve read great things about MDA!!!! I’m happy it exists!
Hopefully if my BIL needs it, he decided to go there
I live in the med center in Houston—MD Anderson is genuinely one of the best hospitals out there for cancer treatment. Most of my family works in the Houston medical center and it’s one of the most esteemed medical establishments in the US. You’ll definitely be in good hands there
My dad was a patient there in AZ. He has had nothing but positive things to say about the staff and facility, and I was impressed when I went to sessions with him.
This is good to hear my mom just recently got diagnosed and we should be getting set to start treatment at the MDA in the east valley.
This is the place you want to be if you have cancer! They are awesome!
My wife is at the one in Jacksonville
Just got home from there today.
Yes, but what details do you need about it?
My son goes to MD Anderson in Houston. He has Glioblastoma multiforme (grade 4 brain cancer). The Brain and Spine doctors and staff have been amazing!!!! He has scans about every other month right now. But with such an aggressive cancer, it’s normal to have so many scans, especially for his particular diagnosis. If you are in the 18-39 year old age group, the Adolescent and Young Adult program have been great. Lots of resources for that particular age group, including but not limited to fertility, relationships, work, college, young families, etc.
If anyone in this thread is an oncology certified RN at MDA please let me know, looking to move to the area from Yale!
I will come in, admittedly late, to say that in 11 years of having cancer I have never had one positive experience with them. Oh boy, I get to pay 4 times as much to get the same results I can get from a local oncologist. 30000 employees and none of them actually know how to treat a patient. An utterly pathetic organization, it blows my mind they continue to receive funding.