MD Anderson Cancer Center — Attraction in Houston

MD Anderson is touted as one of the best hospitals in cancer care. However, our experience is to the contrary. My husband died at MD Anderson due to negligence from his medical team, inaccurate diagnosis, delays in patient care and general lack of responsiveness and mistreatment. He had radical Cystectomy in Nov 2023 and we were informed that the surgery went very well and all cancer was removed. He use to go quarterly for CT scan to monitor his condition. On his 4th session in 04 Oct 2024, the CT scan showed a small mass. The CT scan results were posted on 11 Oct 2024. A biopsy was to be scheduled but we were not getting any response from the Dr's office, despite repeated calls and messages on my chart. The PA said he has no control over scheduling biopsies. Finally the biopsy was scheduled for 21 Oct 2024. We saw the results of the biopsy on 'my chart' which stated that the mass was growing near the sigmoid colon and the analysis was inconclusive because the sample was not correctly taken. No one from the doctors office called to explain the results. We sent messages every day on my chart and called many times to find out path forward. We wanted to know if another biopsy was needed but received no attention from Dr. Kamat's office (MDA claims that they respond to all messaged within 48 hrs - that never happened). On October 29, Robert Ramage, the PA, responded that no cancer was detected. We asked if we need another biopsy. He said , 'if you want one, you can get it done'. A strange response from the medical team. They should be the one telling us what to do. We asked to see the doctor. He gave an appointment for 19 Nov 2024. We begged for an earlier appointment but they refused. They also did not schedule a repeat biopsy. My husband started having extreme pressure in his colon. We called again and sent messages on my chart to the doctor. Robert Ramage said that it has nothing to do with them and we should schedule to see a GI doctor. On 02 Nov (Saturday) , my husband started having fever so I took him to the emergency room at MDA. The CT scan showed that the mass had grown and was exerting pressure on the colon. We iterated our whole ordeal to them and asked if we could have a repeat biopsy. Finally the biopsy was done on 04 Nov and followed by a petscan on 08 Nov. The results of biopsy and petscan were posted on 'my chart' on 12 Nov but no one from the doctors office called to explain them. We kept sending messages that we need to understand results and path forward but there was no response. Finally, we saw Dr. Kamat on 19 Nov. It was confirmed that the mass was cancerous and was exerting extreme pressure on his colon. I begged him to have an oncologist see my husband immediately and not wait till 05 Dec. We were finally allowed to see Dr. Gao on evening of 19 Nov. He told us that immediate treatment was required and that it has already been delayed too long. My husband received his first immunotherapy on 25 Nov. and first chemotherapy on 27 Nov. On Sunday 01 Dec he had swelling in his knees so we took him to MDA emergency again. My husband again mentioned that he had extreme pressure on his colon. The ER doctor ordered an enema. I told the doctor that it was not a regular constipation issue. It is the tumor/inflamation that is causing the pressure but they did not listen. Enema was given 0n 02 Dec morning (Monday) which resulted in huge increase in size of his stomach (like 7 month pregnant) because the fluid could not be discharged. So they had to do emergency colostomy on him to relieve that pressure on Monday afternoon. The doctor informed us that the surgery supposedly went well. On Tuesday morning, 03 Dec, around 8 am they asked him to get up and sit on the chair. As he stood up he collapsed. Code was called but MERIT team did not show up until 10 minutes after he collapsed. As a result, he died due to a clot going to his lung. No blood thinners were given to prevent clot formation. MD Anderson is responsible for my husbands death due to their negligence, delays and pathetic care...

Feb 2018: If you are not doing chemotherapy the doctors try to convince you to do it and lose interest in you once you decide not too. Also, don’t believe in their integrated medicine department. As soon as Dr. Liu finds out your not doing chemo she sends you straight to ER. The whole system is linked to lure you in so you become an inpatient. As soon as we arrived ER, the nurse says “would you like chemo”? Like it’s a hot selling candy bar. They make their money from chemo. Don’t fall for it. Even if chemo works out for you, the cancer usually comes back and much more aggressive. There are many other ways. Read up on natural cancer cures. Chemo is not a natural substance. It’s a chemical that has no relation to the human body and over 90 percent of doctors will never take chemo themselves.

We are dealing with stage IV cancer without chemo, radiation, or any of those things. And not because of insurance. They would cover it %100 if we wanted it. Like I said it’s all linked. Why do you think insurance doesn’t cover natural or holistic cancer cures? One answer, there’s not enough money to be made from it. It’s a real thing and it’s all about who and what you know. Look into the history behind how chemo started and you will be shocked.

We couldn’t even get MD Anderson to review her last CT scan and compare it to the most recent one. My wife spent 6 nights in your hospital and we asked everyday for them to do the comparison so we know if things are getting better or worse. None of the doctors cared to do it. But they would jump at the first opportunity to load my wife up on IV bags full of chemical infused fluids that would slowly kill her.

My wife couldn't even get the right sized hospital gown to wear while she stayed at this hospital. They said all they carried at the time was xtra large. That’s what the nurse claimed anyway. And the nurse insisted that she wear it even though she only weighed 90 pounds at the time. She could of just let her wear her pajamas. They are making millions of dollars from injecting people with chemo and can't afford a gown?! Unbelievable. The nurse also claimed they only had one size of NG tube and insisted that it’s the only size that works. It hardly could fit into her nose and it was very painful each day she had that tube. My wife is an experienced RN with 20 years of experience and she was the charge nurse. It's not a one size fits all when it comes to NG tubes. And even the smaller tubes get the job done when decompressing someone that hasn’t eaten for days. The name of the nurse was Ms. Hong. She was terrible and so were the doctors. I don’t believe it’s just one or two people to avoid at this hospital. It’s the central concept. Most of the doctors who came by the room expressed how much they didn't recommend our natural method of treatment. Well, IT WORKS. And thank god we didn't listen to them. There's no way my wife would be alive today if we fell into the trap of chemo. Besides, why would we do chemo when it's only been proven to extend the lives of those with her condition by only a couple of months. Makes more sense to make an attempt to cure it through natural means. Which turned out to be a great choice.

They don’t care if your cancer is going away or not. Most cancer patients do not die from the cancer. It’s from the chemo itself. This hospital has never earned the right to draw a line through the word “Cancer” on their logo.

Update May 2018: It has been 10 months since my wife was diagnosed with stage IV cancer. We have surpassed the life expectancy provided by several different doctors. We are still keeping it all natural and doing better than we were before. She is slowly gaining back strength, eating more, and in less pain. It’s all about healing your body from what comes from the earth in its natural state, keeping a positive mind, and praying to god. Don’t poison your body with chemo. God...

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (colloquially MD Anderson) is one of the original three comprehensive cancer centers in the United States. It is both a degree-granting academic institution, and a cancer treatment and research center located at the Texas Medical Center in Houston. MD Anderson was created by an act of the Texas Legislature in 1941, making it a part of The University of Texas System and was established by the National Cancer Act of 1971. Today it is one of 45 Comprehensive Cancer Centers designated by the National Cancer Institute. The cancer center provided care for about 127,000 patients in Fiscal Year 2014 and employs more than 20,000 people. It is affiliated with The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and Baylor College of Medicine. MD Anderson has an endowment of $486 million as of November 30, 2014.In 2017, it has been ranked #1 for cancer care in USA by the U.S. News and World Report.

The cancer center is named after Monroe Dunaway Anderson, a banker and cotton trader from Jackson, Tennessee. He was a member of a business partnership with his brother-in-law Will Clayton. Their company became the largest cotton company in the world. Anderson feared that in the event of one of the partners' deaths, the company would lose a large amount of money to estate tax and be forced to dissolve. To avoid this, Anderson created the MD Anderson Foundation with an initial sum of $300,000. In 1939 after Anderson's death, the foundation received $19 million. In 1941 the Texas Legislature had appropriated $500,000 to build a cancer hospital and research center. The Anderson Foundation agreed to match funds with the state if the hospital were located in Houston in the Texas Medical Center (another project of the Anderson Foundation) and named after Anderson. Using surplus World War II Army barracks, the hospital operated for 10 years from a converted residence and 46 beds leased in a Houston hospital before moving to its current location in 1954. The institution became the subject of controversy in 2005, when it leased the use of its name to private investors who intended to promote a particular therapeutic approach, proton therapy. An article in the Houston Chronicle suggested that the arrangement between the Center and the investors might skew incentives, providing M.D. Anderson with non-medical reasons to "send as many patients as possible into the program. MD Anderson is focused on research on causes, treatments, and prevention of cancer, with the stated mission of "Making Cancer History." In FY 2014, about 8,000 patients participated in therapeutic clinical research exploring novel treatments, making it the largest program of its kind in the United States. Being part of The University of Texas System, MD Anderson Cancer Center is managed under a nonprofit structure; however, for-profit agreements have caused some to question the motives of the center. MD Anderson enjoys university status by providing fellowship, internship and residency opportunities to Ph.D.s and medical professionals. The institution offers master's degrees and Ph.D.s to students enrolled in The University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, which it operates with UT Health Science Center at Houston. Areas of study include: immunology, cancer biology, genes and development, molecular carcinogenesis, medical physics, biomathematics and biostatistics, experimental therapeutics, and virology and gene therapy. Through its School of Health Professions, the cancer center also offers bachelor's degrees in nine allied health fields, including clinical laboratory science, cytogenetic technology, cytotechnology, diagnostic imaging, histotechnology, medical dosimetry, molecular genetic technology and radiation therapy. The school also offers a master of science in diagnostic...