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When you seek cancer treatment, you want to find the best care possible. Choosing a doctor and treatment facility is one of the most important decisions you will make.
Some people choose a doctor first and follow this doctor to their hospital or center while others may choose a cancer center first.
As you look for a doctor or a hospital, keep in mind that these are your choices to make. Make sure that you are comfortable with your decisions. Finding a doctor and a hospital that you like and that meet your needs will help you get the best care possible.
Think about what type of doctor and what type of care will work best for you. Before choosing, meet with a few doctors to see how you get along. You want to choose a doctor you feel comfortable with.
Some questions you might ask or consider include:
If you have health insurance, you should also ask if the doctor accepts your plan.
You may already have a primary care doctor. Now you need another doctor who specializes in cancer treatment. This doctor is called an oncologist.
There are many different types of cancer doctors. Often, these doctors work together as a team, so you will likely work with more than one doctor during the time of your treatment.
Medical oncologist. This doctor is an expert in treating cancer. This is the person you may see most often. As part of your cancer care team, your oncologist will help plan, direct, and coordinate your treatment with other doctors, and manage your overall care. This will be the doctor that prescribes chemotherapy if needed.
Surgical oncologist. This doctor is a surgeon with special training in treating cancer. This type of surgeon does biopsies and can also remove tumors and cancerous tissue. Not all cancers require a specialized surgeon.
Radiation oncologist. This is a doctor who specializes in treating cancer with radiation therapy.
Radiologist. This is a doctor who will be performing and interpreting different types of x-rays and imaging studies.
You also may work with doctors who:
Other important members of the cancer care team include:
A good place to start is to ask the doctor who diagnosed you. Also make sure to ask what type of cancer you have and what type of doctor you should see. You need this information so you know what type of cancer doctor you should work with. It is a good idea to ask for the names of 2 to 3 doctors, so you can find the person you feel most comfortable with.
Along with asking your doctor:
You can also check online. The organizations below have searchable databases of cancer doctors. You can search by location and specialty. You can also see if the doctor is board certified.
You will also need to choose a hospital or facility for your cancer treatment. Depending on your treatment plan, you may be admitted to the hospital or get care in a clinic or outpatient facility.
Make sure the hospitals you are considering have experience treating the type of cancer you have. Your local hospital may be fine for more common cancers. But if you have a rare cancer, you may need to choose a hospital that specializes in your cancer. In rare cases, you may need to travel to a cancer center that specializes in your cancer for treatment.
To find a hospital or facility that will meet your needs:
When choosing a hospital, find out if it takes your health insurance. Other questions you may want to ask include:
American Cancer Society website. Where to find cancer care. www.cancer.org/treatment/treatments-and-side-effects/choosing-your-treatment-team/where-to-find-cancer-care.html. Updated September 17, 2021. Accessed June 6, 2022.
ASCO Cancer.net website. Choosing a cancer treatment center. www.cancer.net/navigating-cancer-care/managing-your-care/choosing-cancer-treatment-center. Updated January 2019. Accessed June 6, 2022.
National Cancer Institute website. Finding cancer care. www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/managing-care/finding-cancer-care. Updated February 1, 2024. Accessed April 22, 2024.
