My wife was diagnosed with Stage 1, Grade 3, triple-positive breast cancer, and we have been receiving treatment at Memorial Sloan Kettering for the past several months. We initially chose MSK because the cold cap treatment was covered by our insurance, and we expected the high level of care and coordination that a world-renowned cancer center is known for. Unfortunately, our experience has been extremely disappointing. The biggest issue is that the facility appears to be severely understaffed. It is not uncommon to arrive early for an appointment and then wait anywhere from two to four hours before being seen. Communication between the nursing staff, clerical staff, physicians, and schedulers has been poor, creating confusion and unnecessary stress for patients and their families. We travel from Manorville for these appointments, and the lack of organization has made an already difficult situation even harder. My wife has completed chemotherapy and now only receives Herceptin injections, yet we continue to experience excessive delays. On one occasion, we received a text message informing us that the office was running three hours behind schedule. My wife is a nurse and repeatedly had to advocate for her own care. Before one of her surgeries, she had to request basic preoperative lab work herself. Patients should not have to push for what they believe are standard evaluations, especially at a world-class cancer center. Several incidents seriously undermined our confidence in the quality of care being provided. My wife experienced symptoms concerning for a pulmonary embolism, yet it took approximately 36 hours to fully evaluate and rule it out. We were also left seeking outside diagnostic testing to evaluate potential heart-related complications rather than having those concerns proactively addressed. Following her port placement, retained stitches were left behind and had to be removed. During cold cap treatments, obtaining pain medication became a frustrating struggle rather than a routine discussion about patient comfort. One of the most concerning experiences involved my wife's laboratory results. She noticed significant changes in her lab values and expressed concern to the nursing staff. Those concerns were dismissed. Two days later, she was nearly septic from an infection that required medical attention. While not every complication can be prevented, concerns from actively treated cancer patients should never be casually dismissed. Communication regarding pathology, biopsy results, and treatment updates was equally disappointing. We were often left reviewing reports through the patient portal without a call or explanation from a provider. No patient should have to interpret complex medical findings on their own while undergoing cancer treatment. The only consistently positive part of our experience was the PCTs and nursing assistants. They appeared overworked and understaffed, yet they were often the kindest and most compassionate people we encountered. Unfortunately, our experience with many infusion nurses was very different. Nurses frequently entered the room, hung medications, and left without introducing themselves or explaining what medications were being administered or why. Patients deserve to understand the treatments they are receiving. We also became frustrated with what felt like a rigid, protocol-driven approach to treatment. Decisions appeared to be based almost exclusively on a single clinical trial, while other studies and treatment discussions raised by my wife were routinely dismissed. We expected a more personalized approach that considered her specific history, symptoms, treatment response, and concerns. To make matters worse, we were incorrectly billed approximately $12,000 due to an administrative error. While the issue was eventually corrected, it created significant and unnecessary stress during an already overwhelming time. What was most upsetting was the attitude of some of the staff. The nurse manager was extremely rude, and the charge nurse came across as cold, dismissive, and unapproachable. When patients are battling cancer, compassion and communication matter just as much as medical treatment. MSK may have an outstanding reputation, but our experience was marked by poor communication, excessive wait times, lack of coordination, billing errors, dismissive attitudes, and a disappointing lack of individualized care. Cancer patients and their families are already carrying an enormous burden. They deserve timely care, proactive communication, and confidence that their concerns are being taken seriously. Based on our experience, I wish I could give this place zero stars. read more

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Commack - Typical wait time. - Oncologist Near Me - Commack, New York

Too confusing- I am coming in for Radiation treatment for eight days and need to park my car without walking any great distance. There does not seem to be any on site parking. read more

Saved my life. Very professional. Treated in Commack Long Island and Koch Building in Manhattan. Both facilities are wonderful.

Here we go, So this review is going to be a bit long because there is a lot to say about this hospital. For all who don't know this is a cancer hospital. Yes, the big C. I have a positive review however there were some negatives along the way of this long journey. I'm glad to say I'm now cancer-free. Yippie. Let's start with the administrative office. There was a rep there by the name of Yolanda. She helped me in so many ways when I thought at one point I couldn't move forward she coached me & got me through it. May God be the glory. I have to give thanks to my breast doctor. Dr. Moo, my reconstruction surgeon Dr. Coriddi, my oncologist Dr. Brochway, and Meredith - the social worker. Amazing doctor through Radiation, chemo twice, and 6 surgeries. It's over. I'm free. I am here to see 50 years old. I'm celebrating life, optimistic, and moving forward. If you have family and friends that were diagnosed take them to Sloan Kettering. It's a great hospital. read more

The facility is run very ineffectually. Staff takes appoinmemts they should not be and keep sick people waiting in the waiting room for hours. The nurses seem experienced but the wait is mentally and physically exhausting. Administration def needs to do better for its patients. read more

A great organized place to get treated. A very dedicated staff from valet parking to the doctors. Always on time with very little waitiing.

Amazing place caring, professional drs and staff are amazing the pt comes first They are more then a facility or a business They listen to the patients try to accommodate when possible read more

RUN don't walk away from this place. Most chemo nurse's are rude, RN had to google where certain body parts are located. My Surgeon was rude, and most lie to your face. It's a money factory. Left there, went to Northwell in New Hyde Park. The most amazing place. Every person there is nicer than the next and truly want to help you. I felt like Sloan would pick and choose who they wanted to save to keep there numbers high. read more

At least as far as the chemo nurses and staff are concerned, these people are very nice at this location.

What can you say about the place that saves your life. Thankfully they take all the time needed with me as they do with everyone. You'll never get kicked out of the examination room regardless of how long you take. It's nice to know they don't worry about keeping a schedule but rather make sure each patient walks away understanding and informed. If you have to wait, it's because another patient is being seen. When you're being seen, someone else is waiting. Don't be the caregiver who complains about wait times. Just don't come, us patients don't need your negativity. We don't mind waiting to be seen, our life depends upon it. read more

I highly recommend Dr. Ildefonso Ismael Rodriguez as your hematology oncologist at MSK . Dr. Rodriguez demonstrates authentic concerns during my visits. He took his time to explain things and is open to answering questions. He is very compassionate, skillful, gentle, personable and knowledgeable. I'm very grateful to be treated by Dr. Rodriguez. read more

Most people complain because of wait time . My wife been on bi weekly chemo since 2013 , 4 years in Florida 2 in Sloan Commack . We know the difference . FL. Cancer hospital Moffitt was 60 miles away . Had to depend on private Cancer care close to home . When treated at private FL. Cancer center wife went 8-12 days a month ! Being treated at Sloan Commack we go 2 days a month . Same infusions. Private insurance milked insurance for last dime . Wife got no better . Packed all and came back to #1 Cancer Hospital & Staff Just the ability to have Manhatten Sloan within 1-2 hours is fabulous. The 5 women who were with my wife in Florida are now deceased. 3 of those people we going to move back but didn't. If you think Dr Li is bad you are naïve to Oncologists. 99.98% of world doesn't have the option to use them or not . So until you deal read more

This isn't the kind of review I like to write, I'd prefer to be writing about restaurants, but I've been coming here after switching my care over from a local doctor who removed my tumor but who was not a specialist nor specifically an oncologist. MSK is one of the top two hospitals in the country for cancer, so I just trust them because this is all they do, every day, and they can do almost everything onsite from radiation to CT scans to chemotherapy. Lots of wraparound and followup. It is easy to make an appointment, and the staff is very young and friendly. The location is in the center of LI, which should be convenient for many Long Islanders. They have valet parking for those who need some help. The building itself is very well-maintained, on nice grounds, very positive place. Downside is the wait time, it is easily more than an hour every time I've come. They take my insurance, which is Cigna. I can't speak to out-of-pocket costs, but everywhere else I've gone for cancer care has also been ridiculously expensive even with insurance. That's US healthscare system for you. read more

MSKCC is a Great Hospital , just needs a bit (a Lot) of better management at its satellite facilities. Long check in lines, long wait times for almost any procedure. Seems vastly short staffed to handle the volume of patients. Very difficult to get information, as waiting areas (except Radiology) are void of any attendants. Outside of being in the actual doctors office, there is a total lack of communication. read more

WHat a beautiful setting to encounter when the circumstances pose a challenge. Greeted and welcomed so warmly during the Head and Neck Cancer Screening day! read more

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Commack - Oncologist Near Me - Commack, New York

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I think a five star review is fair when a place continues to save your life over and over again. I have stage IV cancer and had terrible chronic pain. I would wake up in the morning and scream for my parents and they would take me to the hospital almost every day. This was until we met the doctors at Sloan. They came up with an idea of putting a pain pump into my body so I don't need to go on the hospital at all to get the meds. It runs in my system 24/7. This was life saving and if it wasn't for the pump, I wouldn't be here today. Thank you so much for everything you do from administer my chemo, to provide me with comfort during pain. I love this place. It is also VERY nice and updated inside also. That alway makes you feel better about a place also. read more

I have to say Sloan Kettering is a Cash Money Maker the front desk staff are very polite and cant wait to help you,Wonder why..But when i took my Mother their they took her in after already seeing 2 doctors that week who told me that Chemo Treatment was out of the question since she has lymphoma in the brain and it was the fast growing one and it would be to much for her,So i had to act quickly went to Sloan Kettering in Commack and that radiation was the only way to go.So this young lady doctor Reyngold came in and look at my Mother for 5 minutes and said i will be right back.Then comes in the room after 10 minutes and said she talk to another doctor who recommended Chemo treatment for my mother without even seeing her, i then ask to see the doctor to look at my mothers condition she turns around and said hes busy and i would have to make a appointment with him in the city i said that impossible look at her i had a hard time coming here from Smithtown so she said to make the appointment at Sloan Kettering the following week which i did and really not happy about it but had no choice,My Mother die 2 days before her appointment..!!!!This place is ALL ABOUT THE MONEY !!!! Son read more

When my stepfather was first diagnosed back in 2012, he was given 6 months by a few different medics. When we brought him to Memorial Sloan Kettering, the staff was beyond helpful. Every interaction we had with them was extremely warm and caring. Although he has recently passed away, we are so thankful for the time that Dr. Fiore and his staff were able to give us with him. Joan was hands down the best nurse we ever came across, always going out of her way to make sure my stepdad was cared for and constantly reaching out to us as his health declined. I write this review under unfortunate circumstances but I am beyond thankful for everything the staff here at Memorial Sloan Kettering Commack did while caring for my stepfather. read more

Cannot say enough about this center. The most respectful staff, immaculate, caring and compassionate.

No complaints, my Doc was amazing and stood by me during a surgery that was only supposed to be 2 hours and turned out to be 6... (surgery in Manhattan) I was always treated wit the utmost respect and dignity. read more

MSKCC owns and operates a really beautiful space close to the LIE with some immaculate, wind-swept and snow-covered grounds. The pristine interior includes a sleek fish tank and chic lighting, and the view out the back-facing windows is as calming as the quality of care you can expect to receive. read more

This place was a horror story and repeatedly let the same issues occur time after time! If a person collapses after treatment and they are aware of her low potassium levels causing the problem why was she not given an IV with KCl after chemo and before sending her home??? I guess it took too much longer and the chemo staff couldn't squeeze in as many patients. Far better for my cousin to leave after chemo and pass out at the post office one time or food store another, or suffer at home and calling and NEVER getting a call back and then showing up at cancer center in Commack feeling terrible and waiting for hours to get yet another IV with potassium chloride!!! The care was terrible and her oncologist stunk! yet she was told she must continue with her and receive terrible care. The last 6 months (at least) she had issues with esophagitis and GERD rendering her unable to eat or drink without pain and or vomiting, which played a big part in her dehydration/low potassium collapses. She never had a PET scan after her colectomy (2017 spring) and initial follow up chemo, and months later when suffering abdominal pain was sent for a CAT scan. The results were unsure and a follow up MRI was recommended, but Dr. never told my cousin that. Finally 9 months later as her discomfort increased an MRI was done and confirmed she had liver metastasis throughout the organ. Shame on that oncologist!! I have been a nurse for 40 years and she suffered worse then my patients did in the 70s and 80s, and she died sooner then my 2 cousins who had cancer mets to their livers twenty years ago!! She also suffered during death and did not have simple comfort measures put into action, probably because her oncologist was in China. She passed away on New Years Eve and I pray she's resting in peace, something she never had from this crappy hospital . Toward the end they were more interested in doing a study than anything to help her comfort level. Shame on Sloan and their resting on their laurels as a premiere cancer care center. Care is the last thing they gave, more like misery center!! read more

sloan is not the cancer center is used to be. i have been dealing with them for 3 years. they are a money making scheme and they do not care about their patients. when you get chemo the room is packed and they are over booking terribly and poor sick people are made to wait for 3 hours at a time. it is utterly disgusting. we even had to show studies of how other cancers centers administer the order of chemo. we found out later on it was easier and faster to give the way they were because one of the chemo's needed to be mixed longer. needless to say, since i was a squeeky wheel, the protocol has been changed. i am recording all these tiny mishaps and i urge you to do the same to protect yourself. as far as doctors, run if you get dr jia li !!! she has no compassion and treats you like you are just a statistic. there are so many other cancer centers on long island with much recent treatments. sloan has become a dinosaur and all for profit. look at the other reviews on yelp. beware!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! god bless you all. read more

I have to say this isn't any type of place you want to go too obviously. After that said my experience has been great. My ob/gyn Dr Jewel has been the best I could of asked for. Besides all she has done for me (saving my life) and the care that she has shown, she honestly cared about me and my health so much. Never hesitated to get the treatment I needed and pushed/rushed others to get genetic testing done ASAP for me. This place is super clean and very organized. My only bad for me is that the first time I had chemo they diagnosed my cancer as serus and treated it but it happened that the tumor was not only just serum but a combo of 2 different kinds, the treatment they chose was for just the serus cancer and 10 months later it returned and I had to have chemo again. I'm in remission now! Let's not forget doctors, radiologists are people too and mistakes unfortunately happen. This would be the only reason I didn't give it 5 stars. read more