Cancer Treatment Centers Of America

Most of the readers of this blog have probably seen television ads run by Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA). They state unambiguously that this organization has better outcomes for patients with aggressive and late stage cancers than other oncology practices and other specialized cancer centers.

The “New” Prostate Cancer InfoLink has long been concerned by the way in which CTCA markets its capabilities to people who are faced with the emotionally, clinically, and financially devastating consequences of aggressive and late stage forms of cancer. We would also note that we have no information to suggest that CTCA has any special expertise in the management of patients with advanced forms of prostate cancer.

We do, however, now know a little more about how CTCA appears to go about manipulating patients and manipulating data to justify its marketing claims, thanks to special report by Sharon Begley and Robin Respaut that you can read on the Reuters web site: “Behind a cancer-treatment firm’s rosy survival claims.” We recommend this article to the attention of all our readers, and especially to those with aggressive and advanced forms of prostate cancer who may have been lured into thinking that CTCA offers knowledge and capabilities that other centers do not.

There is little doubt that if you are affluent or have a “Cadillac” health insurance plan, CTCA offers “high touch” care that may make you feel good about how you are being looked after. However, there is little evidence that anything else that is happening meets superior standards, and someone is certainly paying through the nose for your care if you go there — but not if you are a Medicare, let alone a Medicaid, patient.

Just a little Information the Great CTCA.

That's why I go to MD Anderson cancer center