Need feedback please! Thoughts/experiences with Stanford and/or UCSF

jessmiester
jessmiester Member Posts: 5
in Head and Neck Cancer #1

My wife and I went to UCSF yesterday for a second opinion. Dr. Ryan came to the same conclusion and treatment plan as the Dr.'s at Stanford. 3 rounds of Cisplatin with daily radiation for 6-8 weeks. We are trying to make a decision as to which hospital to use. Would anyone care to share their experience, positive or negative, about either hospital? Initial impressions are not always accurate, especially when dealing with the emotions attached to such a terrifying disease, so some long term insight would be greatly appreciated.

 

Thank you,

 

Damon, Jessmiester's (Jessica) Husband

Comments

  • louhou13
    louhou13 Member Posts: 46
    #2
    Hello, my understanding is

    Hello, my understanding is both hospitals offer great care and the protocols offered you seem standard operating procedure. I've been treated at Stanford twice for 2 different cancers and received good care. With a recent recurrence I went to MD Anderson in Houston for 2nd opinion and really liked their approach and willingness to adapt to my specific situation. I also liked and appreciated their honest explanation of probable and possible side effects of treatment. Maybe you could send file to them for 3rd opinion or fly out there if financially feasible. If you treat at Stanford I would insist on an open, honest discussion. 

  • donfoo
    donfoo Member Posts: 1,773 Member
    #3
    Choosing gold coins

    Very nice to have the same recommendation. You are very fortunate to have such a choice: both are top rated facilities. My opinion is the level of care is the same. Other factors might be distance to treatment center, doctor offices, hospital, efficiency of the daily procedure, general comfort you get from staff, linked or same support systems.

    It is quite normal to be making extra trips for services beyond the daily treatment, so look at location of the other places you may be going to during/after rads. Most seem to get in/out pretty quickly but you don't want to be getting backed up on a regular basis. It is a tough treatment so getting along with the staff is welcome and also they have many tips and ideas gleened from the many patients they see. Having the various facilites of your providers using the same systems is really nice as you don't have to shuttle reports, documents, and tests around; they can just call all of it up with a few keystrokes.

    Don

  • phrannie51
    phrannie51 Member Posts: 4,716
    #4
    I'm thinking like DonFoo...

    one....how fortunate they both said the same thing on treatment, and didn't send you home trying to pick which treatment you'd "prefer"....like any of them are easy, but it'd be HELL trying to chose between treatments. Both hospitals are great facilities.....so distance plays a part of your decision.....and a big one....where did you feel most comfortable?   Did any of the Drs. strike you as particularily compassionate and caring....if that's equal, how is the housing near the hospital....some hospitals have medical rates nearby, or even free housing near by....

    Thing is, with two great hospitals that agree on treatment, you can make your decision based on the "human" part of you....the things that mean comfort, distance, etc.....you could even draw straws Laughing.

    p

  • KTeacher
    KTeacher Member Posts: 1,103 Member
    #5
    Both are good

    I happen to be a Stanford fan.  That is where I have had my surgeries.  Things that you will have to deal with:  Construction at Stanford!  A friend of mine went to UCSF, I was raised in the city but do not like to drive in the city.  My friend had to drive all over SF for blood work and another location for treatment.  Personally, I couldn't deal with the traffic in SF.  Have you looked into getting chemo and radiation closer to home?  I had radiation locally and the third go around with cancer I also had chemo locally.

  • jessmiester
    jessmiester Member Posts: 5
    #6
    KTeacher said:

    Both are good

    I happen to be a Stanford fan.  That is where I have had my surgeries.  Things that you will have to deal with:  Construction at Stanford!  A friend of mine went to UCSF, I was raised in the city but do not like to drive in the city.  My friend had to drive all over SF for blood work and another location for treatment.  Personally, I couldn't deal with the traffic in SF.  Have you looked into getting chemo and radiation closer to home?  I had radiation locally and the third go around with cancer I also had chemo locally.

    Choices

    Hi All-

     

    Thanks for the replies. Your thoughts pretty much echo my plan with my wife. I asked her to think only about her comfort and comfort level with each place, then we can work out the other details. She seems to be pretty much down the middle with her human feelings, she likes personalities at both places. Ultimately I think Stanford has a more comforting locale.

    We went to Stanford yesterday as well to have a follow up with Dr. Pinto and some of his staff. I asked again about treatment closer to home, and was told by everyone I spoke to that we would be better off having treatment at Stanford. It will be hard, but I have most of the details worked out.

     

    We actually do have a treatment option that I was going to start another post for. It is a Phase III trial with either cisplatin or cetaximub. From doing some research if appears that patients are well taken care of during trials but we are worried about not going with the current accepted, proven standard. The study is available at both places.

     

    KTeacher- congratualtions on meeting NED. I am really looking forward to that day for my wife.

     

    Damon

  • phrannie51
    phrannie51 Member Posts: 4,716
    #7
    jessmiester said:

    Choices

    Hi All-

     

    Thanks for the replies. Your thoughts pretty much echo my plan with my wife. I asked her to think only about her comfort and comfort level with each place, then we can work out the other details. She seems to be pretty much down the middle with her human feelings, she likes personalities at both places. Ultimately I think Stanford has a more comforting locale.

    We went to Stanford yesterday as well to have a follow up with Dr. Pinto and some of his staff. I asked again about treatment closer to home, and was told by everyone I spoke to that we would be better off having treatment at Stanford. It will be hard, but I have most of the details worked out.

     

    We actually do have a treatment option that I was going to start another post for. It is a Phase III trial with either cisplatin or cetaximub. From doing some research if appears that patients are well taken care of during trials but we are worried about not going with the current accepted, proven standard. The study is available at both places.

     

    KTeacher- congratualtions on meeting NED. I am really looking forward to that day for my wife.

     

    Damon

    My opinion....

    you're right on the money for choosing a proven standard....leave trials for those who have no options....who are in a recurrance, or for some other reason cannot do the standard treatment.

    p

  • D Lewis
    D Lewis Member Posts: 1,581 Member
    #8
    jessmiester said:

    Choices

    Hi All-

     

    Thanks for the replies. Your thoughts pretty much echo my plan with my wife. I asked her to think only about her comfort and comfort level with each place, then we can work out the other details. She seems to be pretty much down the middle with her human feelings, she likes personalities at both places. Ultimately I think Stanford has a more comforting locale.

    We went to Stanford yesterday as well to have a follow up with Dr. Pinto and some of his staff. I asked again about treatment closer to home, and was told by everyone I spoke to that we would be better off having treatment at Stanford. It will be hard, but I have most of the details worked out.

     

    We actually do have a treatment option that I was going to start another post for. It is a Phase III trial with either cisplatin or cetaximub. From doing some research if appears that patients are well taken care of during trials but we are worried about not going with the current accepted, proven standard. The study is available at both places.

     

    KTeacher- congratualtions on meeting NED. I am really looking forward to that day for my wife.

     

    Damon

    Good experiences at Stanford

    I see Doctor Kaplan at Stanford, and I am very pleased with my treatment and followup. One note about the construction - if you drive directly to the Cancer Center, there is free Valet Parking at the door, so you don't need to drive all over the campus and walk a long distance.

    Deb

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