Visiting the Block Centre in Chicago? Help!

[Winner123]

Hi All.

If anyone does not recognise my user, I'm Leo, my wife is currently battling stage 4 breast cancer, we are from the UK.

I'm looking at the possibility of coming to Chicago Illinois to get treatment at the Block centre in Skokie.

Does anyone live nearby? I'm currently looking at Airbnb s in Skokie but I'm a bit lost. Is Skokie big? Does it matter where?

I'm not even sure how long we'd need to be there initially? I'm hoping a month or two to see if Dr Keith Block and the team can get it under control, start to see some positives then we fly back and visit again when we need to? Sorry if that's vague, I just don't know yet.

Susie has just been taken off Abraxane and Atezulizumab as it wasn't working after 4 infusions and will start Cabectabine on Monday. They have now discovered lots of Mets in her brain, one 5cm so we really need to get on top of this and NOTHING we've done so far has, it just keeps progressing.

Maybe picking the username "winner" was a bit optimistic? 😔

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Leo, Susie, Albert and Edith Payne.

X

[Pbsoup]

I don’t know Skokie well, but have been there. It’s a suburb of Chicago. Fairly affluent. I’m sure anywhere is fine for the Airbnb.

Good luck with your wife’s treatment. I have heard good things about the Block center.

[Hidden]

Winner, I have a sister who lives in downtown Chicago. SKOKIE is about 15 minutes from there. Crime is very high all over the entire Chicago area. She said the safest area to stay in Skokie is the southeast area. Good and bad areas in Skokie though. (Because crime is all over the areas of Chicago-cant really get away from it) Just be careful and don't look like a "tourist"! Good luck with the care of your Susie at Block!! Marjorie

[Hidden]

Chicago is a great city. The folks there are why the expression “Midwest Nice” was coined.

I wish I could offer more specific advice. Good luck

[PJBinMI]

If you are going to fly to Chicago, the Northwestern Cancer Center and the University of Chicago Cancer Center are among the best in the US. I have not heard good things about the Block Center and it always raises huge "red flags" for me--lots of advertising and baloney, in my opinion. I don't know if U of Chicago is offering this for brain mets, as opposed to primary brain cancer, but a few years ago it was doing some very interesting trials using a portable (easily worn) radiation cap. If you like art galleries, the Chicago Institute of Art is a great place to visit.