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Medical circumstances are hard for both family members and patients. Ensuring you and your loved one have the proper care is a top priority, especially in the face of a cancer diagnosis.
Choosing the right cancer treatment hospital is vital. If you’re seeking a cancer treatment facility for a loved one or yourself, we compiled this list of some of the best cancer centers in the United States.
What Is Cancer Treatment Care?
Cancer treatment involves a combination of special medications, surgeries, and other therapies to shrink or stop cancer cells from spreading to other areas of the body. The ultimate goal of cancer care is to enhance the patient’s quality of life.
Treatment methods depend on various factors, like the type and stage of cancer and the patient’s general health. A patient may receive one treatment or a combination, depending on their circumstance. Some cancer treatment options are:
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation therapy
- Surgery
- Bone marrow transplantation
- Hormone therapy
- Radiofrequency ablation
- Cryoablation
While there is still no cure for cancer, a patient may achieve complete remission, in which there are no more detectable cancer cells. Patients who are in remission will often undergo regular testing to monitor for signs of the cancer returning.
Considerations When Choosing a Top Rated Cancer Treatment Facility
Finding a quality cancer care hospital for you or a loved one is a pivotal decision. Here are some essential considerations when selecting a treatment facility.
1. Proximity
How close is the center to your home or office? How far are you willing to travel? If the hospital is far from your home, does it provide accommodations for you and your family members? Is it close to hotels, airports, and restaurants?
These are all important points to consider during the process. Cancer treatment often requires multiple visits a week, but the closest facility does not always translate to the best choice.
2. Credentials
Try to find a cancer center with the accreditations to support its quality of care. Some examples include:
- National Cancer Institute (NCI)
- National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers
- Commission on Cancer (COC)
- American College of Radiology (ACR)
- American College of Surgeons (ACS)
- The Joint Commission
3. Quality Ratings
Several private and government organizations use Medicare data to generate quality ratings for different treatments, including cancer. Consider browsing highly rated cancer hospitals on websites like Healthgrades.com and Medicare.gov.
4. Offered Treatments
Determine the level of experience a center has in treating your specific cancer. As a rule of thumb, the more a center has administered a treatment, the better the patient results. Find out what types of treatment facilities the hospital has and who is part of the care team.
What Are The Top Cancer Treatment Centers?
Now that we have covered some key factors for selecting a cancer hospital, here are a few of the nation’s top hospitals for cancer treatment care.
1. MD Anderson Cancer Center
In July 2023, the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, was named the country’s top cancer hospital by U.S. News & World Report. Affiliated with the University of Texas, it’s the largest cancer center in the U.S. and one of the nation’s three original comprehensive cancer centers.
MD Anderson cares for over 174,000 patients annually. Its integrated programs aim to advance cancer discovery, prevention, and research.
2. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Founded as the New York Cancer Hospital in 1884, Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK) is a research institution and cancer treatment center in Manhattan. The NCI-designated center also has multiple campuses in New Jersey. It treats hundreds of cancer types annually. The U.S. News & World Report has ranked MSK in the top two cancer hospitals every year since 1990.
3. Mayo Clinic
The Mayo Clinic Cancer Center has campuses in Minnesota, Florida, and Arizona. Patients from around the globe visit the Mayo Clinic for comprehensive oncological treatment.
Mayo is one of the world’s most well-known hospitals due to its multi-centered cancer unit, NCI designation, and leading-edge care. Oncologists from the Mayo Clinic collaborate with experts in other departments to provide multidisciplinary cancer treatment.
4. UCLA Medical Center
The Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center is part of UCLA Health in Los Angeles, California. It has been on the list of NCI-certified treatment centers since 1976.
Jonsson has over 500 physicians and scientists performing research and providing high-quality care. It also has over 400 active clinical trials surrounding cancer treatment. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved 14 therapies developed in UCLA labs.
5. Cleveland Clinic
Each year, Cleveland Clinic Cancer Center in Ohio provides thousands of patients with world-class care. Its internationally recognized research efforts aim to gain a deeper understanding of cancer and enrich patients’ quality of life.
The NCI-designated center comprises over 700 physicians, technicians, nurses, and researchers. It offers access to a broad range of clinical trials and support programs for patients.
6. Hospitals of the University of Pennsylvania-Penn Presbyterian
The Penn Presbyterian Medical Center boasts an impressive track record of medical achievements. An NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center since 1973, it provides cutting-edge care including robotic-assisted and minimally invasive surgery.
The facility has over 600 active clinical trials and receives over 300,000 outpatient visits a year. It combines an array of specialties to give patients seamless, integrated care under one roof.
7. City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center
For over 10 years, the U.S. News & World Report has listed the City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center as one of the country’s best hospitals. This NCI-designated research facility and cancer treatment center boasts over 35 locations across Southern California. It specializes in colon, lung, prostate, and ovarian cancer treatment.
8. Northwestern Memorial Hospital
Located in the heart of downtown Chicago, Northwestern Memorial Hospital offers quality patient care for numerous cancer types. The center is affiliated with a variety of research sites and has 10 nationally ranked specialty areas. It also specializes in precision medicine and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
9. Johns Hopkins Hospital
Part of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center is dedicated to administering the highest-quality patient care.
The center has been NCI-designated since 1973. It has a multitude of medical experts and laboratory scientists, many of whom are nationally and internationally recognized as leaders in cancer research and treatment.
10. Mount Sinai Hospital
Mount Sinai Hospital in New York provides comprehensive, multidisciplinary cancer services. Its care incorporates the most recent research findings from Mount Sinai’s NCI-designated cancer center, the Tisch Cancer Institute. Mount Sinai has two centers that offer advanced hematology and oncology care:
- Dubin Breast Center at the Tisch Cancer Institute
- Derald H. Ruttenberg Treatment Center
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Do you or a family member need medical transportation to a cancer treatment care facility? Contact our team at AirCARE1 to get a quote for your travel today.
