Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Does anyone have any good or bad stories about Cancer Treatment Centers of America in Tulsa

Does anyone have any good or bad stories about Cancer Treatment Centers of America in Tulsa?
My dad has been diagnosed with cancer and is going to go there next week. A family friend is being very negative about CTCA and I feel that it is our best fighting chance to get rid of it. Please let me know if you have any information at all! Thanks so much!
Cancer - 5 Answers
 


Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
My mom went there, but she was in Stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer, so it was basically hopeless. We went to the one in IL. They were very attentive and caring. Because of the nature of her disease I do not think they could have saved her, but had we gotten her in there earlier I think she would have been happier throughout the process. I don;lt think they have miracle cures, but I do like there "whole body + mind" approach. Good Luck to your dad & your family.
2 :
I have brain cancer and I called CTCA and was referred to the treatment center in Tulsa. The ONLY thing they kept wanting to know was what type of insurance I had. When I told them I had Blue Cross/Blue Shield AND Medicare, their response was "I'm sorry, we are unable to help you, please call back if and when your insurance changes". When I proceeded to tell them that we were prepared to take out a loan and pay cash for my visit, they weren't interested. They said they only accept insurance and they don't accept BC/BS nor Medicare. They went on to say that if I was in dire need, then perhaps my husband should get a job with insurance they would accept!!!! When I asked to speak to a billing supervisor I was told that it was their policy and they even had the audacity to tell me to "have a nice day". I don't call what they said caring, attentive or anything other than cruel. You couldn't pay me to go there now. They are only interested in the money not the patient.
3 :
Good Luck to you and certainly for your dad. Have just started an investigation of this outfit so my knowledge is limited. My investigation shall be very thorough when completed. I must assume you have gotten past the upfront cash required by these people. It can be as little as $15000 or as much as $250000 on the barrelhead. It depends on the cancer type, location, history of therapy response, types of therapy employed, length of therapy etc. Sadly, it also depends on this COMPANY'S current fiscal condition. It's contracts for personnel. It's agreements with its' suppliers and contractors. The amount being paid by them to keep a substantial legal team under retainer. It's ever increasing expenditures in marketing (the TV advertising costs rise rapidly even with contractual lookahead agreements). As far as good versus not so good outcomes are concerned, in my initial requests for information I have been able to come to some conclusions, based again on a small sampling of respondents, which I found to be revelatory. Almost every "did make use of" patient or patients family and/or friends said they were very impressed with the initial contact(s) with CTCA representitives. The "employees" were totally sympathetic to both the patient and his/her family members and/or friends. Obviously this is splendid. With this diagnosis a positive and hopeful stance by the treating people is "just what the doctor ordered". And it was "what the doctor ordered" as well as the marketing team in their high level sales meeting(s). You must remember that this company is just that. A COMPANY. A PROFIT MAKING COMPANY. Nothing is done at any of their facilities that are purely altruistic. They have a Chairman of the Board, a CFO, a Board etc. As an incorporated entity they have a good many stockholders. All of these people want as much money paid to the company as can be had. Although it is possible that everyone involved is an angel on earth, recent public disclosures have shown that corporations have but one real incentive. A sad state of affairs! As far as positive ending treatments are concerned. Yes! They do have some succesful outcomes. As far as my beginning investigations are concerned, the success rates for all types of malignancy seem to be comparable to those of private and public hospitals and clinics around the United States. This includes those centers which descibe themselves as "Cancer Centers" both, again, public and private. Most, if not all, declarations of the type that infers that we are better because we concentrate on cancer (or diabetes or ??????) play word games with the public. The people who are dealing with these dreadful conditions are at a vulnerable point in life and these medical organisations know this all too well and use desperation to increase their bottom lines. The old chestnut "figures don't lie But lyers can figure" does apply more often than we would like to think it does. Bottom line here is...............if you listen with both ears..........if you ask reasonable questions and ask these questions of the doctors and other medical personnel who will be involved in the treament of your loved one......................if you are truly satisfied with those answers..............if you know what the contemplated treatments are going to cost the resposible party (they ALWAYS add up faster than one can possibly believe).....................if you go to the trouble of gathering comments, both pro and con, from the internet, trustworthy print media, friends, relatives and disinterested third parties, people who have been directly involved with the institution you are thinking of using (UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES PAY ANY ATTENTION TO ADVERTISEMENTS PRODUCED AND PAID FOR BY THE INSTITUTION YOU ARE CONTEMPLATING USING! REMEMBER WHY THEY ARE ADVERTISING. IT'S FOR THEIR WALLETS AND POCKETBOOKS. BEING CUTE, FUNNY, OVERTLY SENTIMENTAL, EVEN TUGGING AT YOUR PATRIOTISM (IT'S HAPPENED BEFORE AND WILL HAPPEN AGAIN) ARE ALL TRICKS USED BY PROFESSIONAL PITCHMEN AND WRITERS TO GET INTO YOUR BANK ACCOUNTS ETC. DON'T LET THEM DO IT. YOU ARE IN CHARGE! I must refer you to a lawsuit filed by the Federal Trade Commission in 1994. CTCA was sued for making false unsubstantiated medical claims about their success rates, the efficacy of certain treatments, the approach used by their first contacts employees and agents ie;by telephone, computer and face-to-face. There were some other accusations of wrongdoing against them. CTCA, to keep from publically admitting their guilt, agreed to the issuing of a Consent Decree by the U.S. Government which bars them in perpetuam, from making any claims they could not backup, publically or privately, and many other things. Currently they are using in both broadcast and print ads, claims that can at best, be described as purely anecdotal and guised in a wrapping of onesided wishful thinking. Though to my knowledge no lawsuit has been filed as yet, I have been informed that some officia
4 :
What type cancer has your dad been diagnosed with? One of the members of my brain tumor support group tried CTCA and felt they were totally a bad choice for treatment. I don't remember the details other than her recommending against it. Good luck.
5 :
CTCA are a for-profit organization. That being said,they offer a state-of -the art ,very comprehensive approach to cancer treatment.However,top-notch care is available in many medical centers, CTCA does not have the "edge" there. I believe they cater to, and focus on aspects of the healing precess not addressed by most hospitals.The senses, desires and emotions are included in the care process, they call it"patient empowerment medicine". Does the patient get what they pay for? I think it depends on the patient and his/her needs, some folks want a direct- "let's treat it and get on with it.." approach and some want a more holistic, all encompassing experiance...and are willing to pay the price.



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