Most hospitals have at least some cancer treatment staff and resources. Your first instinct, then, may be to seek cancer treatment at your local hospital or at a hospital you are used to visiting for other purposes. However, there are some very real reasons you may want to reconsider this approach and instead seek treatment at a focused cancer center — a place that specifically treats and manages only cancer patients. Here are some of those reasons.
1. You can get the opinions of multiple doctors
At a general hospital, there may be one oncologist on staff. At a cancer treatment center, on the other hand, there will be multiple oncologists on staff. Some may even specialize in the particular cancer that you have. This allows you to get several different opinions as to what your diagnosis is, how far along your cancer really is, and what the best treatment approach is. Cancer is complicated, so it's always a good idea to get multiple opinions — and a cancer treatment center allows you to get those multiple opinions in one place.
2. You may get to choose between several different approaches
At a cancer treatment center, you have access to a wider variety of treatments. For example, there may be a doctor on staff who specializes in immunotherapy and another who is an expert in a specific type of chemo. Your doctors will have a lot of guidance to offer when it comes to determining which treatment is best for you, but you'll also get to contribute to the decision. Having a choice makes you feel more empowered about your cancer treatment approach, and this positive, empowered attitude will serve you well in your fight against this unfortunate disease.
3. You'll have better access to supplemental and complementary treatments
Most hospitals offer standard cancer treatments to some degree, but if you want complementary treatments — like acupuncture, dietary therapy, and massage — you will have to go elsewhere. Who wants to drive around the multiple appointments and offices while battling cancer?
At a cancer treatment center, you can typically get these complimentary treatments all under the same roof. Your doctor will work with you to determine which ones will be the most useful and may even be able to persuade your insurance company to cover complementary treatments that would not otherwise cover.
Cancer treatment centers are the best place to seek care for cancer. If there is one near you, then it's worth visiting. In fact, many patients are willing to travel to seek care at one of these centers.
For more information, contact a local cancer center.
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