Cancer treatment centers of America?

[Rich66]

A roommate mentioned them as being top notch. Aren't they controversial?

Also mentioned "heat therapies" in Germany. Thoughts?

[Lani]

available which have been shown to be effective even with metastatic disease

Look at all the ladies here who are 4,6,8 even 11 years out from Stage IV diagnosis

It makes sense to avail yourself/your mother of all the treatments which have proven to be effective before spending precious time/money on those without a proven track-record.

Where is your mother located? I believe Joe started a section on this website where people list their WONDERFUL oncologists and I am sure if you asked, many would happily recommend theirs.

Some have specialized just in her2+ breast cancer eg, Drs. Slamon and Pegram, other ran the herceptin No. American trials, eg Edith Perez, many here have oncologists they believe to have excellent judgement and a humane outlook.

I can say that at all the breast cancer meetings I attended in the last 4 or yearslast (and I attended 7 MAJOR meetings during the last year including the annual AACR, ASCO, ERA of Hope, and others) that I have never heard a speaker give a presentation about breast cancer or seen a poster exhibited by someone about breast cancer from that group of hospitals . So if they are doing something special and wonderful, they sure aren't sharing it with their colleagues/the scientific community(or am I missing something?)

[hutchibk]

I agree Lani - now that you mention it, I haven't ever seen posters or presentations from them either. Hmmmm...

[chrisy]

CTCA - Is controversial, they are mainly known for their emphasis on (in the words of their commercials) "treating the whole person". That is not a bad thing; they seek to be a truly integrative system combining western medicine with integrative therapies around nutrition, mind body, etc. Which can certainly be helpful.

That said, they are NOT known for cutting edge research. I think they do limited studies but not really new medical approaches. So you would, in my opinion, not go there to get the latest medical treatments. They are not a research facility or a comprehensive cancer center.

I have actually heard of the heat therapy work done in Germany, and have heard anecdotal stories that it can be effective. I actually know a person who has done this I think. It is not a considered a proven therapy - I'm not sure it is even a standard in Germany. The source of that information was a fairly "out there" alternative medicine group. So it may turn out that that will someday be THE treatment, but it is not currently a widely accepted approach.

I think your mom's Her2 status is still possibly in question; that may determine if the therapies that target her2 will be good options. But it sounds like Xeloda has been offered as an option - which would be a reasonable choice. I disagree that that is the "only"option which is what you said her doctor said.

You do need to make decisions soon, and it seems that the priority would be to first get your mom stable and get the cancer under control. While continuing to seek other answers.