Calling all Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK) patients

menright
menright Member Posts: 256 Member
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
I will soon become a regular visitor to NYC and the MSK facility.

I hope to have liver resection surgery and a HAI pump installed. This will require a 5-7 day hospital stay and visiting every 2 weeks for pump maintenance. I live in northern Connecticut. (3hrs drive)

I would love to hear any comments and advice about the logistics of visiting. Anyone take a train into NYC? Which station is closest to MSK? Is there a better day or time during the week to avoid traffic? I sat in traffic yesterday for 2-hrs at 7pm.

Isn't there free hotel accommodations for family members during surgery?

Wait time AFTER your appointment time have already been excessive. Any strategies to avoid wait times? + or - 30 minutes I can deal with, but so far it has been hours and then you get the bums rush from the doctor because they are so busy.

Now, how about the good side of NYC? I will plan to visit Central park in the summer! Maybe see a broadway show! Time square is a short walk from MSK! Anything else I should get excited about?????

Soon to be big city boy!

Mike

Comments

  • abrub
    abrub Member Posts: 2,174 Member
    #2
    MSKCC Logistics
    Train station: Grand Central Terminal

    Subway closest to clinic: 51st & Lex (#6 local from Grand Central) 68th & Lex -(#6 Local) for hospital.

    Question: what insurance do you have? If it is a United HealthCare Plan, find out about "Cancer Resource Services" which may cover your transportation and hotel in NYC for you and caregiver if you are over 100 miles from MSK.

    No free hotels, but there are recommended ones; with discounts - see the MSKCC website for information about those.

    I'll be in for surgery (5 nights) on June 21. We have family in the area, so my husband will stay at my brother's, if not in my room with me on a fold-out (I hope to have a private room.)

    Try to avoid rush hour - either get into NYC for an 8:00am appointment, or aim for 10:30 or later. Ideally, don't head home between 4-6:30. However, if you are traveling on MetroNorth to GCT, it will be easier, just crowded. Summers - Friday afternoons are all bad times. (I'm choosing to be discharged on Saturday)

    As for waiting for appointments as MSK - long waits are the norm. Bring a book.

    There's a lovely French restaurant about a block from the 53rd St. clinic - Le Mangeoire. David and I eat there often.

    Time Square is not such a short walk - it's west side, and the clinic is east side. However, there are lots of museums, half-price tickets to shows (TKTS in Time Square) Lots of good stuff to do, if you will be feeling good after your appointments. Or go in for the day, take a late afternoon appointment, have dinner whenever you are done, and go home!

    I'll ask my husband about things to do for your family while you're in the hospital. There are plenty of places to eat and wander nearby. There is a patient activity lounge on the 15th floor, open to patients and family, with lots of activities to do - crafts, concerts, things going on. (My husband just gave a concert there 2 weeks ago, and will be performing again while I'm an inpatient - he's been scheduled for 3pm on June 23.)

    When are you going in?

    My next appt at the clinic is Tuesday at 2 (my pre-op)
  • PhillieG
    PhillieG Member Posts: 4,866 Member
    #3
    Congrats Mike!
    I live about 50 miles outside of NYC, I get there using the GWB. I ALWAYS make appointments first thing in the morning. I arrive around 7:30. If I'm seeing the Boss Lady, that appointment is usually 8:30 or so. I rarely wait long to see her or to get chemo. If I'm not seeing her, it usually take them about 1 or 1 1/2 hours for them to mix up the chemo.

    I ALWAYS park on the West side at a garage on Westend (11th Ave) and 66th street. If you get in before 10 am, it's $12 for the day. I take the #57 bus at the corner and it brings me to 57th and Lexington, a short walk to SK from there. Many times I will walk there through Central Park. It takes about 30 minutes or so. It's a great walk early in the morning. If it's too hot coming back I'll hop on the bus.

    I don't know anything about accommodations though. Did you check their website?

    Sounds like you have a plan, that's great. Maybe I will see you there...
    -phil
  • pluckey
    pluckey Member Posts: 484 Member
    #4
    I was there for about three
    I was there for about three weeks in March.
    Accomodations: Contact The Miracle House(google it) they have apartments you can stay at for $50/night. 2 people to a room, 3 room apartments. So you would have roomates. Kitchen etc..I can't say enough about Miracle House. It is opposite end of town from MSK but we bought bus passes and bussed it back and forth, easy peasy

    So, while I was in the hospital my husband was at the aprtment. I was required to stay in NYC one week post op..so then I was at the apartment.

    Who is your surgeon? I had Dr. Fong

    Good Luck!!!!

    Peggy
  • menright
    menright Member Posts: 256 Member
    #5
    pluckey said:

    I was there for about three
    I was there for about three weeks in March.
    Accomodations: Contact The Miracle House(google it) they have apartments you can stay at for $50/night. 2 people to a room, 3 room apartments. So you would have roomates. Kitchen etc..I can't say enough about Miracle House. It is opposite end of town from MSK but we bought bus passes and bussed it back and forth, easy peasy

    So, while I was in the hospital my husband was at the aprtment. I was required to stay in NYC one week post op..so then I was at the apartment.

    Who is your surgeon? I had Dr. Fong

    Good Luck!!!!

    Peggy

    Surgeon?
    Dear Peggy:

    Thanks for the great info. My surgeon is Dr. Jarnigan and my oncologist will now be Dr. Kemeny.

    I am now just waiting for the surgery date. It is funny that the news of yesterday that liver surgery can be done turns out to be good news. What a backwards world we live in.

    Thanks,

    Mike
  • PhillieG
    PhillieG Member Posts: 4,866 Member
    #6
    menright said:

    Surgeon?
    Dear Peggy:

    Thanks for the great info. My surgeon is Dr. Jarnigan and my oncologist will now be Dr. Kemeny.

    I am now just waiting for the surgery date. It is funny that the news of yesterday that liver surgery can be done turns out to be good news. What a backwards world we live in.

    Thanks,

    Mike

    HI JK
    Doctors Jarnigan and Kemeny were my team as I'm sure I've said before.
    I just wanted to write HIJK in a row...
    You are in VERY good hands, this September it will be 6 years since they both worked on me. It's great that the liver is the only organ that regenerates.
    Lucky us in many ways.
    -p
  • ADKer
    ADKer Member Posts: 147
    #7
    Sloan Kettering
    I drive from upstate NY, so I usually take 87 and the FDR to the Bristol Garage, which has a discounted parking rate of $18 for Sloan Kettering patients (you must have your parking ticket stamped at the 53rd street facility). There is a shuttle bus from the parking garage or it is about a 3 block walk. I don't know what to suggest about the waiting. In part, it is because they are thorough and it sometimes takes a while to coordinate everything that a patient needs. When that is the cause, you just deal with it. Other times, the delay is just due to the large institution. They do tend to get more backed up later in the day but you might be able to avoid a hotel by having a mid-day or afternoon appointment.

    I believe that the MSKCC social workers can help you if you need discounted or free accomodations.

    While there are a few other comparable cancer centers, I believe they are also very busy and have comparable waits. I just know that I would likely not be here but for the excellent medical care that I have received at Sloan Kettering.

    Edited to add: At some point, it may be possible for you to have some of your chemo done at home if you locate a local oncologist willing to work with Sloan Kettering. I have a local oncologist who is good enough not to have false pride that would prevent him from working with my MSKCC oncologist. The treatment orders are faxed from MSKCC to the local oncologist and I am able to do some chemos locally and avoid the long, tiring trip to NYC.

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