Topic: Fox Chase

My personal experience.

I found their approach ‘bookish'.....and I was told it is because FCCC is a learning institution on top of being a medical facility solely dedicated just to cancer. 

When you book for an appt, they will give you a list of path slide/documents/records/test results, etc that you need to furnish them with, I think, 3 days to a week before your consult date. 

If those reqs are not in, they will not see you (in short, appt cancelled).   By ‘they', I mean the team that will be assigned to you - which will be a med onc, a rad onc and I think the equivalent of a surgeon...plus a slew of interns, residents and even nurses. 

I thought for a while it was a one to one consult.  I was not told over the phone or when I came to the facility that morning, that there will be other medical professionals who will be with the doctors that they assigned me to.  Oh I remember, i was told that the med onc will have AN associate, not some - but AN (so 1 other doctor with her, no more than one).  But all the doctors who were assigned to me had a crew with her/him. 

All the doctors, not just the ones who saw me had a conference that same morning of my appt (which seems to be the norm for them each day),  I think to go over patient information, etc - while we (3 new patients)waited.  Kind of told me it was going to be a long morning.

While we were waiting, FCCC's resident social worker gave us a talk regarding other services/amenities available.  I felt that should have come later but I think that was to buy time for the "conference" to be done.  I knew that the SW talk was just an interim as when the conference was over, someone rushed the SW as the doctors were done and supposedly ready to see the patients - not true.  There was more wait in the rooms when we were finally allowed to go in. 

Now, while I am for giving everyone a chance to learn; I was not too happy to be made to wait because ..."Oh, we are still waiting for the nurse!".   My insurance/I did not pay to see a nurse for consultation on a serious matter as my diagnosis.  No offense to nurses, my brother and my sister are nurses but I think you know what I mean.

I was given specific times that I will see each doctor but those times boiled over.  I took time off from work, sent my documents in advance and I was still made to wait for someone who I was not told I was going to see.

Dr Goldstein was part of my team, too.

It might be different if I chose to have my treatments with them or if my diagnosis was different (was IDC, Stage 1) but again, my first experience with them was not too pleasant, in my opinion.

I am in Montgomery County; I have a very good, very pleasant medical oncologist.  I can give you the info if you want to speak/consult with him. 

You can btw, look up FCCC doctors from their website and read about them even before you get to see them in person.

Hi Carol,

I had my mast at Fox Chase, and pretty much went through the same meeting day that az8n wrote about. I was assigned Onc Dr Swaybe and a fellow named Dr Devlin. I did not like either one. Besides the whole first day run around, after my surgical report came back, I knew I was stage IIIC, but they neglected to tell me I was her2+. Just to make sure of the treatment plan they were offering, I had already had a second opinion at Memorial Sloan Kettering in NYC. There, my Onc, Dr. Gabrielle D'Andrea (love her) told me that I was her2+++. Anyway, I asked Dr Devlin why I was never told about this and his reply was that I didn't ask. Dr Swaybe backed him up, which was horrible. Then she told me that my cancer scared her and she had great concerns. In NY, they told me that could treat me and I was going to do great. So, open and shut case. This was before Herceptin was released to the general public. Fox Chase would only agree to a three-armed trial, 66% chance of getting Herceptin. Memorial guaranteed 100% of their her2+ patients would get Herceptin for a year. In my opinion, you would be close enough to either one to go...I'd suggest MSK based on my experience.

Good luck either way.

Kim

carol, i will find the name of the univ of pa onc.  i'm pretty sure i still have it.  i'll take a look.  maria

carol, the onc that was recommended to me is dr.kevin fox.  he is the administrator of the rena rowen breast center.  the appt.lline # is 1-800-789-7366.  good luck, maria

I can recommend Penn.  I went there for various surgeries and a had a consult with an onc who now longer practices there.  With rare exceptions, all of my experiences were good ones.

If you can afford it, why not make an appointment at Penn and at Fox Chase.  I like Penn because it is easily accessibly by public transportation.  Good luck with your decision.