Froedtert Clinical Cancer Center — Local services in Wauwatosa

It's been very distressing for me as a more complicated case. It seems that oncology can operate more effectively when patients are easy to care for and don't ask questions. I ask questions, I do research and I exercise my right to advocate for myself which includes not doing a treatment that can be very dangerous for my situation. I have been through over a dozen failed treatments for metastatic breast cancer over seven years. Things get overlooked all the time that I try to question but told that nothing is wrong. But when I'm suffering, in pain, major neuropathy, constant heart palps, a collapsed (untreated) lung, etc. etc. and all I'm offered is a whole array of pain meds that don't help and are very dangerous to be taking as an independent person who has to work and take care of themselves. Truly, I wish I was an easier case and can just show up saying "Yes, sir" and "Yes, ma'am" and not use my brain at all or advocate, but I have not long outlived my prognosis by doing that. After being so heavily treated, struggling hardcore with cancer treatment damages I'm told that the clinic administrator would never consider compassionate use therapies unless I first go back to the harshest, most destructive couple of chemos I have not yet done which are clearly contraindicated for my situation per the pharmaceutical prescribing info (I have reached out to these pharmaceutical companies and no way would they suggest I do a chemo like "red devil" given my issues). When an administrator would just take weeks and months to look at my paperwork (not me) and make some kind of bureaucratic decision on my healthcare needs without actually accessing my real needs, they have no concern or care for a patient's welfare whatsoever. Not only has the cancer care through Froedtert been so destructive on my health, but it has also been super destructive on my mental health to the point of suicidal ideations and major mental anguish. I'm actually now terrified of doctors and have nightmares of them killing me. I have to now see a psychologist for medical PTSD. I can appreciate how some doctors do work hard, but there is very little listening and getting their faces out of "the book" enough to clearly see what a patient's needs actually are. I'm so exhausted on every level. According to the policies at Froedtert, patients have the right to collaborate on their care and decide against treatments they are not comfortable with. I also understand that the doctor needs to advise the patient about their decisions, but NOT to the point of bullying them over and over and over again about the patient making that informed decision. My decision to not do an extremely harsh treatment is by contact with the pharmaceutical company and reading the physician printout on prescribing guidelines which makes it perfectly clear that I should not do a harsh chemo like "red devil" combo or taxotere at this point in my treatment. It's not my fault that earlier on in my treatment these treatments were never offered when they should have been. I don't need to take the brunt for medical incompetence now so that doctors can check all their boxes and feel personal satisfaction. I know that the administrator and doctors will go on with their lavish lifestyles and just chalk it up to the patient having cancer and it is what it is. I beg to differ, because you do have other tools like compassionate use to help patients ESPECIALLY when the patient has gone through enough cancer care hell and asked for it. I don't need a determination to be made based on just paperwork being shuffled around with major delays. I find it disgusting that my cares, concerns and welfare are not considered as a real person in need. It has saddened me to not even wanting to live any more if my fight has to be with the medical bureaucracy more so than the actual cancer. I'm not even going to get into other things like when they tried bullying me to "fry the whole brain" instead of using the cutting edge targeted treatment they try to...

I’m writing this review on behalf of my uncle Dewarren Jackson, he’s just been diagnosed with Voice Box Cancer… with that being said yall staff need to get yall stuff together!!!! I say that because we were just up here yesterday for his CHEMO appointment and then we went home. Next then you know, we get a call from some nurse asking us why we weren’t at his radiation appointment … same building… same floor… but different departments? That’s not confusing at all! sarcasm so we told her the truth: we were just up here! After his chemo appointment, the only thing the people at the front desk and even his nurses said to us “yall are all set. Have a great day. See you at his next chemo appointment.” Never did any of them say, “hey just so you are aware he has radiation too, same floor just down the hall” so how were we supposed to know he had to check in at two different desks? The nurse I spoke to yesterday (Caucasian) had an attitude when I explained this to her & her only response was “well that’s why I’m calling you now to get the appointment he missed rescheduled.” That’s not a good response!!! We could have made the appointment we didn’t know anything about it! Yall have the nerve to schedule this man Monday through Friday radiation, chemo on Mondays, swallow studies, imaging, etc in beteeen! Yall have some nerve getting slick with us when we already have so many appointments to keep up with!!! Then I asked her, “where are his radiation appointments listed? Because we have his MYCHART but I only see his regular appointments there and no radiation appointments.” This was her response “yeah we don’t put the radiation appointments on MYCHART so it’s less confusing” THATS COUNTERPRODUCTIVE! So how am I supposed to keep up with his appointments if they aren’t online??? So I have to check my chart and some print out yall gave him weeks ago when really I should just have one full schedule of all his appointments! Then, I called radiation earlier today because yall had him scheduled to visit 900 N. 92nd street for some type of exam on September 11th at 8:30 am then at 10 am he has to travel to 8800 west doyne for radiation. This is a lot (obviously) so I called the front desk to just reschedule the radiation, this lady (Caucasian) had the nerve to tell me “oh he should be able to make it… it’s at 10… his other appointments are at 8:30 am” I literally had to tell her “that’s only an hour and a half in between! We do NOT want to be pressed for time so no, he won’t be able to make it! Let’s reschedule” I should not have to explain that! First of all, yall just randomly schedule these appointments when YALL see fit! Never once did any of yall call us before setting these appointments to see if they align with our availability! Seems real inconsiderate and unprofessional. My uncle does NOT drive! His sister, my mother Deshawn had a stroke in 2021 she does not drive and I drive but don’t have a vehicle! So we use transportation services! Please keep this type of stuff in mind because we already are under a lot of stress because my uncle has been diagnosed with voice box cancer and he’s very hoarse so we have POA on file and we talk for him, and it would be nice if yall worked with us better…. I have no complaints about the care he’s receiving hence the 3 stars… just seems like no one here wants to...

I wish I could rate the Courage Clinic And Palliative Care with more than 1 Star. However this is My Moms Story... She is African American 66 Years Old With A Stage 4 Uterine Cancer Diagnosis. And Specifically These Doctors : Dr Hopp And Dr Stellmacher and NP Schneider thought that my moms cry out in pain (To Any And EVERYONE that would answer the phone for pain pills TYLENOL 3’s to be EXACT) was an factious claim... So they Collectively came up with she should take OVER THE COUNTER EXTRA STRENGTH TYLENOL. This Is the Most Absurd and Disturbing Dr. Order I have heard in my 46 years of Life!! Oh your dying of a terminal illness and your in an abundance of pain ... but we’re going to suggest you take some Tylenol that you can buy at the gas station for pain!!! I’m Angry and I wouldn’t treat my dog like this!! Let alone someone’s MOTHER!! Do not let these particular Doctors and Nurse Practitioner Play with your Loved Ones!! So I guess I will settle in for the 3 rd night of hearing my Mother Cry Tears All Night due to her Stomach Hurting. I’m Going to be finding a Different Practice to treat My Mom and making a complaint to the Board about these Shady practices of these...