UT Southwestern

[Rando21]

Anyone have any experience with UT Southwestern in Dallas? Anyone know how it compares to other cancer facilities? I am considering a move closer to family and it looks like UT Southwestern might be the most likely facility I would visit.

[lankisterguy Volunteer]

Hi Rando21,

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I have no direct knowledge of Dallas or their cancer centers.

The CLL Society has this list of patient nominated CLL experts : cllsociety.org/toolbox/cll-...

And these two doctors are listed in Dallas:

Robert Collins, Jr, MD, University of Texas Southwestern, Dallas

Christopher Maisel, MD, Texas Oncology-Baylor Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center, Dallas

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A different list from Tom Henry of CLL Pharmacist has these listed

Awan Farrukh Simmons Cancer Center - UTSW USA Dallas TX utswmed.org/doctors/farrukh...

Barve Minal Presbyterian Hospital - Texas Oncology USA Dallas TX texasoncology.com/doctors/m...

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Len

[Rando21 in reply to lankisterguy]

Thanks for the resources and response.

[J1015 in reply to lankisterguy]

Dr Awan Farrukh is excellent! I live south of San Antonio and when researching specialists, he was one of my first choices. The only reason I ended up going with Dr Wierda at M D Anderson is because Houston is closer than Dallas. I have heard him speak many times onPatient Power. He’s very knowledgeable and well respected.

[Rando21 in reply to J1015]

Thanks for the recommendation

[Bill1288]

Rando21: I live in the Dallas area. I moved from Florida to be close to family. I go to UT Southwestern and am a patient of Dr. Awan. He is excellent and I wholly recommend him. I was first diagnosed with CLL in 2014 in Florida and moved to Texas in 2017. I started seeing Dr. Awan in 2019. He came to our local CLL group meeting and one of our members recommended him. The best thing I ever did for my CLL treatment. Dr. Awan has made the difference in my quality of life. I know he will take great care of you if you decide to move and see him. He is excellent!!! Bill1288

[Bill1288]

Rando21: We also have a great CLL group in the Dallas area and currently meet by zoom monthly. Again I totally recommend Dr. Awan .

Bill1288

[Rando21 in reply to Bill1288]

Thanks for the info. I hadn’t even looked into CLL groups yet and I will keep in mind Dr Awan.

[rbg4410]

I’m a patient of Dr Awan at UT Southwestern in Dallas. He is fabulous. In depth knowledge of CLL and very responsive to questions. Best quality is that he cares deeply about his patients. I switched from Texas Oncology doc because I wanted depth of CLL expertise and UT Southwestern/Dr Awan certainly has that.

[Rando21 in reply to rbg4410]

Thanks for the Info. How is the scheduling for appointments? Like can you usually get in in a week or is it several months out?

[rbg4410 in reply to Rando21]

I’ve never had issues with appt scheduling, although they’ve always been at least 1 month out. Now my appts are every 3 months, so they are scheduled 3 months in advance. I’ve never had to schedule one in a week, so no experience on shorter scheduling……Also, I’m in the Alliance Trial and many of my appointments have been online which works great. UT Southwestern uses MyChart app, so scheduling/communication is very easy.

[GLB55]

Hi there Rando, I see Dr Collins at UTSW since 2014 and could not be more pleased. He is very attentive, responsive, answers all your questions, and has a great friendly demeanor. The staff is also very accommodating. Overall my experiences during treatments, visits, labs, etc have been great from the front door to the back door. They also have satellite locations around town like Richardson and soon to be Frisco that add convenience for some appointments that don't require seeing the Dr. They are on the cutting edge of research just like MD Anderson and are tied at the hip to MD Anderson. You can't go wrong with UTSW.

Also, just for clarification the blood cancer center @UTSW does also go by the name Simmons Cancer Center @ UTSW....same building/same place

Gary

[Rando21 in reply to GLB55]

Thanks for the info sounds like a good place. I think I had seen Simmons Cancer Center and wondered.

[Health50]

Dr Awan is phenomenal, I was a patient of his when he was at The Ohio States James Cancer Center. I highly recommend him

[KneeHurts]

Hello,

I have Waldenstrom's disease, another form of blood cancer that is different than CLL, but still, I believe my experience might be helpful.

I was only live in Dallas for a relatively short period of time and because I was on watchful waiting, and we in mid pandemic, I only went to UT Southwestern once.

My experience was okay, but not great. The doctor that I saw told me how he would be likely to treat me if my diseased progressed. Nothing he told me was incorrect, but he never discussed the potential for me to participate in a clinical trial.

My guess is that if you want competent, but not leading-edge care for your CLL UT Southwestern will probably be okay. On the other hand, mdanderson.org/ might be a better choice for you if you want more progressive care.

Also, you might be able to do both. For example, MD Anderson might be able to give you a leading-edge roadmap for your care, and you might only have to go MD Anderson yearly. Other visits could be made to UT Southwestern.

This is a pretty big decision. You were wise to post the question. Now, please take the time to consider your options. The treatment choices you make now might impact you for the rest of your life.

Good luck.

[Rando21 in reply to KneeHurts]

Thanks and your definitely right MD Anderson and UTSW. I will keep that in mind.