From specialized expertise to access to clinical trials, here’s what to consider when choosing a cancer center.
A cancer diagnosis can make everything feel urgent. While treatment often begins quickly, taking a little time to understand your options can help you make one of the most important decisions you’ll face: where to receive your care.
“It’s completely understandable to feel overwhelmed,” said Dr. Kristen Ciombor, a medical oncologist at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center. “But finding the right care team from the beginning can make a meaningful difference throughout your treatment.”
Choosing the right cancer center isn’t just about location. It’s about finding specialists with expertise in your specific type of cancer, access to the latest treatments and clinical trials, and a team that works together to develop a personalized treatment plan.
Here are four things to consider when comparing cancer centers.
1. Choose a team with expertise in your type of cancer.
Not all cancers are treated the same way, and not every oncologist specializes in every type of cancer.
Ciombor encourages patients to seek care from physicians who focus on their specific diagnosis, particularly at one of the nation’s National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers.
These centers have undergone rigorous peer review and are recognized for excellence in cancer research, patient care and clinical trials.
“There are many excellent community practice physicians, but they can’t be experts in every type of cancer,” Ciombor said. “Physicians who practice at NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers can subspecialize and stay up to date on the latest treatment recommendations in very specific areas.”
2. Ask about access to clinical trials.
Clinical trials give patients access to promising new therapies while helping researchers advance the future of cancer care.
Not every patient will need a clinical trial, but it’s important to choose a cancer center where they’re available if they’re the right option for your diagnosis.
A comprehensive cancer center should be able to discuss whether a clinical trial fits into your treatment plan and help you understand all of your options.
3. Look for a collaborative approach.
The best cancer care doesn’t happen in isolation.
A strong care team includes medical oncologists, surgeons, radiation oncologists, nurses, pharmacists, genetic counselors, dietitians, social workers and many other specialists working together on your behalf.
That collaboration often extends beyond a single institution.
If receiving part of your treatment closer to home makes sense, your cancer specialists can often coordinate care with your local physicians while continuing to guide your overall treatment plan.
“Our goal is to make sure every patient receives the care that’s best for them,” Ciombor said. “Sometimes that means receiving specialized care at a comprehensive cancer center while partnering with physicians in the patient’s hometown.”
4. Don’t be afraid to ask questions.
Your relationship with your care team matters.
You should feel comfortable asking questions, discussing your treatment options and understanding why a particular approach is being recommended.
Remember that you are an important member of your cancer care team.
Finding physicians you trust — and who take the time to listen and answer your questions — can help you feel more confident throughout your treatment journey.
Questions to ask when choosing a cancer center
As you compare your options, consider asking:
- Do I feel comfortable asking questions and making decisions with this care team?
- Does this center regularly treat my specific type of cancer?
- Is it designated by the National Cancer Institute as a Comprehensive Cancer Center?
- Will I have access to clinical trials if I need them?
- Does the care team work closely with specialists across multiple disciplines?
- If I live far away, can my treatment be coordinated with my local physicians?
Making Cancer Care Personal
The expert team at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center provides the right diagnosis, the right treatment, at the right time, tailored to each patient. As a NCI Comprehensive Cancer Center, the highest ranking by the world’s leading authority on cancer, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center is the only one in Tennessee that conducts research and cares for adults and children with cancer, combining advanced research, technology and techniques, and personalized, compassionate care.
