Carcinoma in Situ of the Urinary Bladder

high volume hospital or closer to home?

18 years 2 weeks ago #346 by Cynthia
Replied by Cynthia on topic high volume hospital or closer to home?
Hello,
I am sorry to hear of your fathers troubles. I live about three hours from Boston and have had all of my treatment there. I usually stay at the Holiday Inn Select and it is on site of the MGH they have a hospital rate of 139.00 a night you have to call them direct to get it you can not make the reservation over the internet or the 800 number.  Marilyn Brier is the Oncology Social Worker there that handles a lot of the Urological stuff. She works with the group you saw  I would imagine Dr. Shipley and Kaufman as they do the bladder sparing. Her number is 617-726-5841. She has a good grasp on the situation there if someone is coming in from out of town. And can help you with hotels in the area that offer hospital rates and shuttles and the such that are cheaper than the Holiday Inn. As Wendy says after the surgery you can have them work with a local Urologist.
If I can be of any help please email me directly.

Cynthia

Cynthia Kinsella
T2 g3 CIS 8/04
Clinical Trial
Chemotherapy & Radiation 10/04-12/04
Chemotherapy 3/05-5/05
BCG 9/05-1-06
RC w/umbilical Indiana pouch 5/06
Left Nephrectomy 1/09
President American Bladder Cancer Society

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

18 years 2 weeks ago #342 by g_and_e
Replied by g_and_e on topic high volume hospital or closer to home?
Check with your insurance too.... my insurance (united healthcare) covers all travel, food, and lodging at Mass Gen (we live in MN, but they will pay to send you to one of 19 'quality cancer centers' [Their terminology: Mayo Clinic is not considered a 'quality' center, likely due to not wanting to participate in discounting the surgery and treatments]), up to $10,000 for the cancer treatment and follow-up. It's not under the standard insurance, you have to ask for the "United Resource Network". You can stay in boston for several days afterward, possibly even up to the first surgical follow-up.

as for where, You'll want to go somewhere that has the volume the staff that have seen all the variations and complications for quick analysis and treatment during the surgical episode.

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

18 years 1 month ago #219 by wendy
Replied by wendy on topic high volume hospital or closer to home?
Hi, even though it sounds like a big pain, it makes a lot of sense to get this kind of surgery at a great place like Mass. General. Follow ups can be done locally, the doctors from Boston can consult with the uros closer to home.

Everyone heals at their own speed but your father would most likely appreciate the help after coming home if he lives alone.

All the best to you both.
Wendy

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

18 years 1 month ago #215 by beijingjj
high volume hospital or closer to home? was created by beijingjj
My father has recently been diagnosed with bladder cancer. It's stage 2 or 3 and grade 3 (highly invasive). We took him to Massachussets General Hospital to see if he would be a candidate for their bladder-sparing protocol but he is not due to him having hydronephrosis. Radical cystectomy is now recommended.

He can have the cystectomy done at Mass General, which is about a 6 hour drive away, or at a local hospital (about 45 minutes away). The local urologist performs 15-20 cystectomies per year. I do not yet have the number performed annually by the surgeon in Boston, but the hospital there in general left me with a very good impression, and the doctor in particular.

Here is the dilemma we are now facing. If we do the surgery in Boston, how difficult will follow-ups be, and what if there are complications after coming home? Will a 6 hour car ride be unbearable for him after he is released?

Have others on this list faced this dilemma and what have you decided?

Thanks for any advice. We don't have much time left to decide.

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

Moderators: Cynthiaeddieksara.anne