Listen to the Cancer.Net Podcast: Choosing a Cancer Treatment Facility, adapted from this feature.

Cancer is a disease that requires specialized treatment, so it is important to find a treatment center that meets your specific needs.

Finding the right oncologist

Doctors who specialize in treating cancer are called oncologists. The first step in seeking care is finding an oncologist who has experience treating the type of cancer that has been diagnosed.

People who have been diagnosed with a cancer that typically occurs in children and adolescents, including some types of brain tumors, leukemia, osteosarcoma, and Ewing's sarcoma, should contact a pediatric oncologist (a doctor who treats children with cancer). Contact a medical oncologist for cancers that are more common in adults, such as breast cancer, colon cancer, and melanoma. You may want to collect the names of several oncologists, since you should consider getting a second or possibly a third opinion before starting treatment.

There are a number of ways to find oncologists who treat a specific type of cancer. Your primary care physician may be able to recommend an oncologist, or your insurance company can provide a list of oncologists. You may decide to choose an oncologist who has treated a family member or friend. Your local hospital may offer a list of specialists in your area. In addition, several national groups' websites can provide the names of oncologists in your area.

• The Find an Oncologist Database on Cancer.Net from the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). This database offers a listing of ASCO's member oncologists that you can search by name, institution, location, specialty and/or board certifications.
  
  
• The American Board of Medical Specialties lists doctors by location and specialty.
  
  
• The American Medical Association provides its Physician Select database of doctors and their specialties.
  
  
• The American College of Surgeons (312-202-5000) lists its members by name, location, and specialty.
  
  
• The Children's Oncology Group lists member hospitals by state, so you can determine if a hospital near you has pediatric oncology specialists.

It is important that you are comfortable with your choice of oncologist because this doctor will be part of every aspect of your overall care. For more information, visit Cancer.Net's section on Choosing a Doctor.

Finding the right treatment center

Once you've chosen an oncologist, the next step to getting the best possible medical care is to select your treatment center. Discuss possible treatment centers with your oncologist after deciding upon your treatment plan, which may include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or other treatments. The staff of the chosen treatment facility (such as nurses, social workers, and technicians) will become part of your health-care team, which will be led by your oncologist. Therefore, patients should carefully consider which treatment facility best meets their needs.

You may need to choose a facility where your oncologist practices. Or, you may be limited to choosing among those centers that participate in your insurance program. Even within those parameters, however, you may have a variety of facilities to consider. Here are some factors to explore before making your choice.

• How much experience does the facility have in treating your type of cancer, and how successful has it been with those treatments?
  
  
• How convenient is the facility's location to your home or office?
  
  
• What support services does the facility offer? Will you have access to social workers, dietitians, and other members of an expanded health-care team?
  
  
• Does the facility offer clinical trials?
  
  
• If you'll be traveling a long distance to get treatment, or if friends or family members are coming to be with you during treatment, is the facility close to airports, hotels, and restaurants?

National Cancer Institute Cancer Centers

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) supports cancer research and patient care through its Cancer Center Program. As of 2006, there are 60 NCI-designated cancer centers. These centers, which all meet rigorous standards, are classified into two categories:

Cancer Centers. Cancer Centers integrate research activities across three major areas: laboratory research, clinical research, and population-based research. Many of these centers also provide care and services for patients with cancer.

Comprehensive Cancer Centers. In addition to the same activities conducted by Cancer Centers, Comprehensive Cancer Centers also have extensive community outreach and education programs.

In addition, there are NCI Cooperative Groups, which are large networks of researchers, doctors, and health-care professionals at public and private institutions that conduct multi-center, large-scale, phase III cancer clinical trials across the country. For a complete list of NCI-designated cancer centers and cooperative groups, visit Cancer.Net's Library.

These national organizations offer their individual accreditations of treatment centers:

The American College of Surgeons. Through its Commission on Cancer, this group has designated about 1,400 cancer programs as Approved Cancer Programs. This means the designated treatment centers offer a range of services, including diagnostic, treatment, rehabilitation, and support services. The standards also promote multidisciplinary cooperation among oncologists and other specialists at the treatment centers.

The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. This group evaluates general health-care programs. It offers "Quality Check" performance reports (www.qualitycheck.org) for the more than 15,000 programs and organizations it has accredited in the United States. Accredited programs have met the commission’s standards for the quality and safety of patient care.

Additional resources

National Cancer Institute (NCI): How to Find a Doctor or Treatment Facility If You Have Cancer

NCI: Your Health Care Team: Your Doctor Is Only the Beginning

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services's Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality: Your Guide to Choosing Quality Health Care

More Information

The Oncology Team

Seeking a Second Opinion