Choosing Where to Receive Cancer Care in New Jersey: 5 Factors to Consider

People newly diagnosed with cancer have more options — and thus more hope — than ever before, thanks to a rapidly expanding array of drug therapies, surgical techniques and radiation interventions. But before consulting with a cancer specialist to decide which treatment strategy is best for them, patients must make a more fundamental decision: where to receive care. 

Two medical oncologists with Regional Cancer Care Associates LLC (RCCA), one of the nation’s largest networks of cancer specialists, recently discussed how they counsel patients and families who are weighing this important question. They identified five key factors to consider.

1. Access to the latest therapies and best approaches to treating cancer. Years ago, said Andrew Bernstein, DO, patients often had to travel to a major academic medical center in a large city to obtain newly approved therapies or to benefit from the most-effective treatment strategies. “That is no longer the case. Today patients have access to immunotherapies, targeted therapies, and other innovative treatments in the community setting,” noted Dr. Bernstein, a board-certified medical oncologist and hematologist who practices with RCCA in Riverdale. Additionally, said Rachel Levenbach, MD, oncologists’ use of evidence-based guidelines fosters a consistent and high-quality approach to cancer care nationwide, in both the community and academic settings. “Regardless of where oncologists practice, we’re assessing the same evidence and looking at the same guidelines, while using our skill and experience to individualize care based on each patient’s specific needs,” said Dr. Levenbach, a board-certified medical oncologist and hematologist who practices with RCCA in Moorestown.

2. Convenience and quality of life. Dr. Bernstein noted that family and friends often will urge a New Jersey resident newly diagnosed with cancer to seek care in New York City or Philadelphia. He said, “I understand that initial inclination to ‘go to the city,’ and I always encourage patients to investigate every option, ask every question, obtain additional medical opinions, and to make the choice that they decide is best for them. And, what I’ve seen time and again is that once people understand that they have access to the same therapies and care strategies in a community setting that they would receive in an academic medical center 50 miles or more away, they typically opt to be treated locally. In part, that’s because contending with getting out of Manhattan or Philadelphia at rush hour after a chemotherapy session or other treatment can be daunting compared to being 10 minutes away from home.”