Can anyone recommend good radiation oncologists in NJ?

[Jac-genova]

Looking for a radiation oncologist in NJ - my mom has oligometastatic breast cancer (2 tumors in her bones - t2 and l4 regions on spine) and found out she might be candidate for radiation. Thank you

[AvidBooklover]

Do you have orthopedist recommended by your oncologist? I was seeing an orthopedist at Sloan in Middletown, but he moved to the NYC office full-time. You may be able to see who replaced him there. He recommended the radiation specialist that did my treatments. Or have your oncologist recommend someone at Sloan in NJ to do the radiation. Mine was done in NYC as at the time my office was there. Radiation is done both at Sloan in Middletown and in Basking Ridge....not sure if in Bergen, as well. Also, has your mom had a total bone scan, just as a baseline?

[Jac-genova in reply to AvidBooklover]

Did you have SBRT? A Dr. Huang told my mom today she has 2 approaches - conservative and then SBRT. Risks for SBRT are paralysis, nerve damage, & can damage the bone. We are both concerned but otherwise the tumor will just continue to eat at the bone

[AvidBooklover in reply to Jac-genova]

If I remember correctly, I had SBRT. It was to my hip. My bone there was already slightly fractured from the tumor...and I also have arthritis in that hip. I have stiffness now, but bottom line, the tumor has been arrested.

[kearnan in reply to Jac-genova]

Hi it's me again I mentioned to you earlier that I had turned down radiation when my breast cancer cells started making holes in my lower spine. It was then I was sent also to palliative care where the pain doctor started writing an rx for the pain (which was bad) but once I started taking the percocets, just as directed, I felt no pain whatsoever.

And then after my onco had suggested the five weeks of radiation five days per week and I had said no, I was doing fine just with the pain meds.

Well, the last two ct scans ago (I get them every three months). She told me one of the holes in my spine had closed up and that was a good sign for my spine.

So she would have had me go through radiation for something that I had refused and thus far, no more holes and one actually closed up. Maybe get a second opinion about whether or not the radiation is really necessary. This way you get can get another opinion and if the second opinion is the same, then you may feel better about your decision but in my case, I made the right decision for me. I think most doctors would not be offended and may expect you to try and get a second opinion. Keeping my fingers crossed that you and your Mom will come to a decision that is best for her.

[WordNerdSharron]

Don't know where in NJ you are located, but MD Anderson--Cooper in Camden has a top-notch group of physicians to address MBC. I wish I'd known about them earlier in my own treatment, but I'm glad I'm there now.