Is Cancer Treatment from an NCI-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center Really Better?

Broadly, yes, NCI-designated centers offer better treatment outcomes. According to a population-based study, five-year survival rates for patients who start their treatment at NCI-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers are 30-70% higher than patients who start treatment at a non-NCI comprehensive cancer treatment facility. Survival rates vary by cancer type, but NCI Comprehensive Cancer Centers like Moffitt are more likely to publish their cancer outcomes so patients can make that informed decision.

The reality is there are many factors that can play into your individual choice on where to receive cancer treatment. Distance to travel, insurance and personal experience can all impact your decision. However, there are a few scenarios where patients should strongly consider choosing an NCI-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center first for the best possible cancer outcomes.

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When Should You Definitely Choose an NCI-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center? 

1. Surgery as a Treatment Component

Surgery is often part of the treatment plan for many cancer types. Surgical outcomes at top-ranked cancer hospitals are shown to be higher than at affiliated hospitals, with the top-ranked hospitals having significantly lower 90-day and 3-year mortality rates.

Specialty hospitals develop a unique expertise in cancer surgeries simply because they do more of them than anyone else. Not only does practice-make-perfect, but they also recruit the best surgeons and work to develop new techniques and instruments that make surgery even safer for future cancer patients.

2. Family History of Cancer Mortality

If you have a first-degree relative who didn’t survive their cancer, especially if you have the same kind of cancer they had, you should choose NCI-Designated CCC. If your relative did not survive their cancer it could mean their body did not respond to conventional treatment pathways due to factors like genetic mutations, tumor microenvironment, drug resistance mechanisms, or lack of treatment options. If you have the same genetic mutations, you may require a more individualized treatment plan that takes your genes into consideration for the best outcomes.

This is where an NCI-Designated CCC is superior in the types and complexity of treatment protocols they can offer to cancer patients. Those protocols can include clinical trials or newly FDA-approved treatments that other facilities would not have access to.

3. Advanced or Aggressive Cancer

If your cancer has metastasized or your initial diagnosis is for a particularly aggressive form of cancer, seeking treatment at a facility that operates at the highest level will usually be your best option for a better outcome.

There are many ways that NCI-Designated CCC physicians work together to create superior outcomes. At Moffitt, multidisciplinary teams of oncologists, surgeons, radiation oncologists, and specialists meet at a weekly tumor board within each clinic to discuss cases, share successes, present ideas and collaborate on how to provide the best care for individual patients. These meetings provide valuable insight and open lines of communication for all providers.

4. Diagnosis at a Young Age

Cancer typically affects older adults, though cancer rates are rising in adults under 50. Specialty cancer centers like Moffitt are more likely to have programs that offer unique support for the youngest adults like the Adolescent & Young Adult program (AYA).  Moffitt’s AYA cancer program serves patients aged 15 to 39, offering specialized medical and psychosocial care to meet their unique needs.

High volume treatment centers who see a lot of young patients are also more likely to offer fertility preservation options for women and men who hope to pursue starting a family after treatment.

NCI-Designated CCC are also more likely to offer services that benefit patients and caregivers who are still working. Early morning and evening hours for infusions and radiology, Wi-Fi-connections, private infusion rooms, and specialty pharmacy delivery services are all conveniences Moffitt offers to help you keep living your active life while undergoing cancer treatment. 

5. Rare Cancer Diagnosis

High-volume, specialty cancer centers have the most experience with the rarest cancer types. Providers at comprehensive cancer centers are encouraged to develop narrow expertise in a particular cancer type and to conduct and publish studies, sharing knowledge with future generations of oncologists. They work with researchers and industry partners to develop new treatments like gene therapy for the rarest cancers.

Before you make a final decision on where to be treated for cancer, ask your oncologist how many cases like yours that they’ve treated. A high-volume comprehensive cancer center is more likely to have experience treating your rare cancer and may offer patient and family services that can connect you with support groups and survivors of the same cancer type.

Choosing a cancer center with the right expertise is critical for improving your treatment outcomes, especially for complex or rare cancers. NCI-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers like Moffitt offer access to cutting-edge treatments and specialized care that can make a difference in survival rates. If you're ready to take the next step in your cancer care, contact Moffitt Cancer Center today.