Choices and Options

West Hills, Loma Linda, The City of Hope are my treatment center choices. My insurance has approved my treatment and now I know my out of pocket expenses and my coverage floors and ceilings. It is recommended that the facility select be relatively close to home. Treatments can range from 35 to 45 visits. Once everything is mapped on my first visit, I should be in and out within 30 mins. Since I have met my deductible for the year I am pushing for getting started in December. This should save me a few $$$. I have vetted all of the following treatment centers and they all are top rated and have pros and cons as does my treatment choices. So all I have to do is ponder the concerns listed below and make a decision soon being careful not to get analysis paralysis. The treatment will be IMRT or Proton Therapy. I ponder the following:

• West Hills close to home highly rated doctors and facility IMRT. New equipment state of the art. The staff seem user friendly. This is important given that we are all dealing with some very serious "stuff". This is not like going to the dentist. This is life!!
• Loma Linda Proton therapy a long drive from home and or office. These guys are very professional and attentive. Clearly there seem to be a lot folks out there with cancer issues and want this treatment. They are taking treatment appointments for mid to late March. Plus it will be 3 weeks before I can have a one on one counseling session. All of my chats have been by phone or e-mail. That's a little long for me and my plans, but we will see. It will take 45 treatments so that means 45 trips Monday through Friday. Sometimes you have to do what you have to do.
• The City Of Hope is not to far but far enough. These guys are new to my decision mix. COH is world renown and a very recognized brand. I started a conversation with them on Wednesday of last week. They want to review all of my information...scans, reports and such. That said I still need to have a sit down with them. I have had long data dump conversations with a nurse so now I wait for an appointment.