This information explains what to expect during your treatment at any of MSK’s DTUs. These units treat people who are in clinical trials. At some treatment sites, the DTU is part of the general infusion unit.
What to know before your DTU visit
Taking research medicine
If you take oral research medicine (medicine you swallow), always bring your study medicine with you. Do not take it until your treating nurse tells you to.
Fasting before taking medicine
Based on your study protocol, you may need to fast before or after you get oral drugs, or both. Talk with your healthcare provider or DTU nurse before eating.
Collecting samples
You will have a general lab visit before you see your care team. This is to clear you for treatment. Your care team will tell you if you need to fast before your lab visit.
If you have an intravenous (IV) central IV line, such as a PICC or Mediport®, a nurse will collect your blood samples. If you do not have a central IV line, the lab staff will use a needle prick to collect the samples. They will also take your vitals, height, and weight before treatment. This is to make sure they’re all in a safe range for treatment.
You may need to give a urine (pee) sample before your treatment. Ask your care team if they need a urine sample before you go to the restroom.
Then, your care team will see you to clear you for treatment.
What to expect when you’re cleared for treatment
Your treatment can last from a few hours to all day.
Pharmacists and nurses with special training will check your treatment. They will make sure it’s the same one that your healthcare provider ordered for you.
The pharmacy staff will get your treatment ready for you. Some study treatments take longer to get ready than others. Waiting times will not be the same for everyone.
If you get IV research drugs, they can take 2 hours on average to make and bring to the unit. Your care team will tell you how long this will take for your treatment. The pharmacy cannot make research medicines before your visit, unlike regular treatments. Talk with your nurse for updates about your drug.
There are some oral research medicines that may not be ready when you arrive. These medicines are handled the same way as IV research drugs, so they take longer.
Medicine delays
Sometimes there are delays. This is because of things such as the supply of the drug, communication with the trial’s sponsor, and protocol registration.
There may be delays in getting your treatment ready. If this happens, it is possible we may have to change your appointment to another day. This is to make sure you have the safest care possible.
What to expect during your treatment
Once your nurse is ready for you, the Care Coordinator will bring you to your room in the infusion unit.
Many staff members will ask you to say and spell your name and birth date. This is for your safety. People with the same or similar names may be having treatment on the same day.
Before your treatment, your nurse will ask about your symptoms. They will talk with you about your treatment for that day. This is a good time to ask questions you may have.
Nurses with special training in clinical trials will take care of you during your treatment. A different nurse may give you treatment at each visit. This will help to shorten your wait time. All the nurses on site will know about your treatment.
Your treatment can last between 15 minutes and 12 hours depending on which clinical trial you are in.
IV access
Your care team will collect research blood samples at different times during your stay. This will depend on which clinical trial you are in.
You will often need 2 IV access lines. One line is to give you IV drugs. The other is to collect blood samples. We do this to keep any trace of the drug from mixing with your research blood samples.
If you have central line access, such as a PICC or Mediport®, we may need more IV access. This depends on which type of line you have. If you’re taking an oral drug, your care team most often will only need one IV access. They will use this IV line throughout the day.
You may need to give a urine (pee) sample during your treatment. Ask your care team if they need a urine sample before you go to the restroom.
Other tests
You may need many electrocardiogram (ECG) tests, depending on the clinical trial. Your care team must clear these tests before you start treatment and before you leave. Sometimes, your care team will ask you to have more ECGs for your safety.
For some studies, your care team must observe (watch) you for signs of adverse (bad) drug reactions. This is for your safety. You may need to stay in the DTU after your treatment so they can watch you. How long you’ll need to stay depends on which clinical trial you are in.
What to expect after your treatment
Before you leave the treatment area, your nurse will go over any instructions about your treatment. Ask your nurse any questions you have.
Schedule your next appointment with the Care Coordinator at the checkout desk in the waiting area. Sometimes we may already have scheduled your future appointments. Your appointment time may change as it gets closer to the date of your visit.
Some sites have outpatient pharmacies where you can get medicine prescribed to you for home. Ask your nurse if you should pick them up here or at your local pharmacy.
At home
If you get IV treatment, a nurse will call to see how you’re feeling. They’ll call 1 to 3 days after your first treatment.
Call 911 if you have bad symptoms, such as trouble breathing or chest pain.
If you have any urgent questions or unexpected symptoms, call your healthcare provider’s office. You can also go to the Urgent Care Center (UCC). Read About the Urgent Care Center at Memorial Sloan Kettering to learn more.
If you live outside of New York City, your healthcare provider may tell you to go to your local hospital.
About DTU treatment suites at MSK
MSK Manhattan sites
David H. Koch Center
Hours
Monday through Friday from to
Location
11th Floor (K11) Pod 5
530 East 74th Street
New York, NY 10021
You may get treatment in the general chemotherapy treatment unit at some times during your treatment cycle. This is located on the 15th floor (K15). Each private room has a TV, reclining chair, and a small couch for your guests.
The unit has a station with water, coffee, and tea. There is a lounge with books to read. There is also a gift shop and retail pharmacy at this location.
There is a cafeteria on the 6th floor. You can bring food with you to your appointment. We cannot reheat any meals.
MSK Rockefeller Outpatient Pavilion
Hours
Monday through Friday from to
Location
160 East 53rd Street at 3rd Avenue
New York, NY 10022
Some of your appointments may start in the lab. Others may only be in the infusion unit. Your treatment will be on the 4th floor. You will be in a private room with a TV and a reclining chair. Some rooms have beds for people who have all-day treatments.
You can bring food with you to your treatment. We cannot reheat any meals.
Evelyn H. Lauder Breast Center at MSK (BAIC)
Hours
Monday through Friday from to
Location
3rd floor
300 East 66th Street at Second Avenue
New York, NY 10065
Your lab and treatment appointment will only be in the infusion unit. Each private room has a TV, reclining chair, and extra chairs for your guests.
You can bring food with you to your treatment. We cannot reheat any meals.
Sidney Kimmel Center for Prostate and Urologic Cancers
Hours
Monday through Friday from to
Location
1st floor
353 East 68th Street (between 68th and 69th Streets)
New York, NY 10065
Your treatment will be in semiprivate rooms (pods). Each pod has a TV and a chair for your visitor. There are a few private rooms with beds reserved for patients with specific treatments.
The unit has a station with water, coffee, and tea. You can bring food with you to your treatment. We cannot reheat any meals.
MSK Regional sites
Basking Ridge
Hours
Monday through Friday from to
Location
136 Mountainview Boulevard
Basking Ridge, NJ 07920
Some of your appointments may start in the lab. Others may only be in the infusion unit. There are semiprivate rooms (pods) for our infusion treatments. Each pod has a TV and a chair for a visitor. There is a retail pharmacy at this location.
We have a kiosk with food to buy anytime during your visit and light refreshments in the unit. You can bring food with you to your appointment. We cannot reheat any meals.
Bergen
Hours
Monday through Friday from to
Location
225 Summit Avenue
Montvale, NJ 07645
Your treatment will be in a private room in the infusion unit. Each room has a TV, reclining chair, and a small couch for guests. There is a retail pharmacy at this location.
There is a small cafe with a selection of breakfast items, sandwiches, and snacks. You can bring food with you to your appointment. We cannot reheat any meals.
Commack
Hours
Monday through Friday from to
Saturday to
Location
650 Commack Road
Commack, NY 11725
Some of your appointments may start in the lab. Others may start in the infusion unit. Your treatment will be in a private room in the infusion unit. Each room has a TV, reclining chair, and chairs for your guests. There is a retail pharmacy at this location.
There are vending machines, and an area with snacks and drinks for purchase. You can bring food with you to your appointment. We cannot reheat any meals.
Monmouth
Hours
Monday through Saturday from to
Location
480 Red Hill Road
Middletown Township, NJ 07748
Your treatment will be in a private room in the infusion unit. Each room has a TV, reclining chair, and a small couch for guests. There is a retail pharmacy at this location.
There is a small cafe with a selection of breakfast items, sandwiches, and snacks. You can bring food with you to your appointment. We cannot reheat any meals.
Nassau
Hours
Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays from to
Wednesdays and Thursdays from to
Location
1101 Hempstead Turnpike
Uniondale, NY 11553
Some of your appointments may start in the lab. Others may only be in the infusion unit. Your treatment will be in a private room in the infusion unit. Each room has a TV, reclining chair, and a small couch for guests.
There is a cafe with food that you can buy any time during your visit. There are light refreshments in the unit. You can bring food with you to your appointment. We cannot reheat any meals.
Westchester
Hours
Monday through Saturday from to
Location
500 Westchester Avenue
West Harrison, NY 10604
Some of your appointments may start in the lab. Others may start in the infusion unit. Your treatment will be in a private room in the infusion unit. Each room has a TV, reclining chair, a TV, and chairs for your guests. There is a retail pharmacy at this location.
There is a small café with drinks and food items. You can bring food with you to your appointment. We cannot reheat any meals.