I was confused - so I looked this up. This is not the same as "Cancer Centers of America" - if you follow the link, you can search either in your state, or by institution name to see if the hospital is an NCI Cancer Center.
https://cissecure.nci.nih.gov/factsh...spx?FSType=1.2
National Cancer Institute (NCI) designated Cancer Centers are recognized for their scientific excellence and extensive resources focused on cancer and cancer-related problems.
The Cancer Centers are a major source of discovery of the nature of cancer and of the development of more effective approaches to cancer prevention, diagnosis, and therapy. They also deliver medical advances to patients and their families, educate health-care professionals and the public, and reach out to underserved populations. They may be freestanding organizations, a center within an academic institution, or part of a consortium of institutions.
NCI-designation is voluntary and is awarded via a grant using a peer-review process. All NCI-designated cancer centers receive substantial financial support from NCI grants and are reevaluated each time their cancer center support grant comes up for renewal (generally every 3 to 5 years). The NCI recognizes two types of centers: Cancer Centers and Comprehensive Cancer Centers, based on the type of grant received. In terms of patient care, there is no difference in the quality of care they each provide.
For more information on NCI-designated Cancer Centers, go to the Cancer Centers Program on the Internet at: http://cancercenters.cancer.gov
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Dx 8/06 Age 43 Stage IIIA multifocal throughout breast, largest tumor 5 cm, grade 3, comedo, ER+PR+HER+++
Neoadjuvant A/C 4X Dose Dense
11/06 Bilateral Mastectomy (no choice on the right, my choice on the left)
Taxol+Herceptin weekly x12, continuing with Herceptin, finished one year in 12/07
33 Rads
Femara for 5+ years, staying on (started with Arimidex, switched after about a month, much happier)
Abnormal brain MRI shows no cancer, but "extensive white matter diease" - unknown cause
BRCA negative - lots of cancer in my family
survivor of thyroid cancer
also have Crohn's disease
CT and bone scan say NED as of 5/13
dx with severe cardiomyopathy 5/12 (likely due to chemo and Herceptin), ejection fraction in low 20's, now up to 40, went to 50, latest read 12/13 is back down to 35
1/13 Acute pancreatitis - are you kidding me?
9/13 started Humira for Crohn's. starting to have some energy again
B12 and Vit D both needed supplementation
Cataracts in both eyes noted 6/12 - surgery in the next 2-4 years?
4/14 Kidney stones/blockage/infection - related to Crohn's Disease
5/14 My aunt passed away - she was diagnosed after I was with Stage I - not Her2+, then Stage 4 for about one year
6/14 Scans - still NED, thank God. However, broken rib (I didn't notice) lots of bone degeneration osteopenia/osteoporosis. I also still have cardiomyopathy secondary to chemo.
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