How to Find a Doctor or Treatment Facility @ cancer.gov
The National Cancer Institute's fact sheet, How to Find a Doctor or Treatment Facility if You Have Cancer, offers helpful suggestions for finding: 1) an oncologist (a doctor who treats cancer), 2) a facility where cancer patients can receive treatment, and 3) a second opinion. Included is a list of questions to help you decide whether a particular doctor is appropriate for your needs. If you will need surgery, there is a list of questions to ask the surgeons you are considering for your care. A separate list of questions can help you evaluate which treatment facilities are best suited to your needs. There are resources for finding a treatment facility if you live overseas, as well as information and resources about how to get a second opinion about your diagnosis and treatment plan.
Selecting an Oncologist (Cancer Doctor) @ cancer.net
Cancer.Net, the American Society of Clinical Oncology's Web site for patients, provides helpful information about selecting an oncologist in one easy-to-read section. Descriptions of the different kinds of oncologists -- such as medical, surgical, and radiation -- are concise and comprehensive. You can also find information about seeking a second opinion. Finally, you may search their Find an Oncologist Database by name, organization, location, specialty, and/or board certification. Note: some oncological specialties in the database might not be familiar to patients until their specific type of cancer is diagnosed.
