UNM Cancer Center Review

Has the latest and best treatments in the world. Beautiful, caring people and environment.

It's important to you, to understand what the U.S. government National Cancer Institute Comprehensive Cancer Center designation that UNM Cancer Center has, it's important you understand what that means. After a rigorous, meticulous review of UNM Cancer Center, by a panel of internationally renown experts in cancer treatment and research, they found UNM excels at these to such a degree of expertise and perfection, that it is ONLY one of about 47 cancer treatment places in ALL the USA where patients can get such highly expert treatment and care.

Have cancer? Wish you can get treatment at a Sloan Kettering, or an MD Anderson? You can. Right here at home in New Mexico. It's the only place you can get such designated expert care in New Mexico. If any place else in NM could give this verified, designated high level of treatment and care, they would be advertising THEIR NCI Comprehensive Cancer Center status. Another important thing . . . Name Licensing. Donald Trump figured out businesses would pay him, license his name, to put his name on their hotels. He has no financial risk of his business going bankrupt if any of those hotels fail financially. Some other famous cancer centers are doing that too. Other cancer doctors or hospitals, are licensing the name of other famous cancer centers, to attract patients by using those names- just like other business people license the Trump name and put that on a sign and business cards, for their businesses.

UNM Comprehensive Cancer Center is the real deal, not a Donald Trump-style licensing scheme.

Sadly, there is poor communication between departments, so you have to call several times to get lab and/or radiology orders. Although we have not experienced long waits, our oncologist allots 15 minutes for an appointment and rushes in, is often terse and dismissive, even disrespectful. If we call with a question, we have to speak to an operator, then a triage nurse, then an office nurse, and then wait for a doctor response, which we may, or may not, receive. I fear for my husband and although we would find it physically and financially difficult, may have to relocate to get better and more personalized care.

They are an amazing group of people. Dr.Dayeo is my grandmothers doctor and she is absolutely wonderful. From the start in 2012 my grandmother was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer in her left breast. Dr. Dayeo did not give her an option to wallow about it. She said she was going to get it now and set her a date. I appreciate her so much for doing what she did. Sadly it came back even worse and she is still doing her gosh dang best to keep it at bay.

I have had and continue to have an extraordinary care relationship with my cancer team. I have been diagnosed with malignant melanoma Stage IIIb and I am humbled by their in-house medical coverage which allows me to not stress the finances while returning to health.

Dr Rajput and his PA Fay Pepin are godsends to my world. Their care, speediness of action and appointment scheduling with all that needed to be done had me cancer free within 30 days. Now starts the follow ups and clinical trials. In what could be a terrifying experience, I found compassion, attention to detail and the ability to find and use laughter thru it all.

I would recommend this amazing facility and their staff and students to anyone and everyone!!

In deep gratitude,
Lisa Gawlas

Where to go to get forgotten about and die of cancer. Cant get a refill of my tamoxifen and the doctor keeps being unavailable for when I book appointments even six months ahead of time. All they care about is money and they do not care about, treat you like cattle. I had stage 2 cancer, and a double mastectomy in Texas. I miss Texas Oncology, this place is the worst. So now without medication I'm probably going to die of cancer. I should have died three years ago and saved my family copay. Thank you UNM for pushing be past my breaking point!!!!

Come here and be prepared to wait. We've often shown up on-time or early for an appointment and waited 30+ minutes past the appointment time, even at 7am. What used to take 3 hours at another clinic now takes 7 hours at UNM cancer center. The staff are incredibly inefficient and SLOW. The service is very impersonal; Instead, the staff appear to rely on their fancy computer system and coded wrist bands to tell them /what/ you are and /what/ you need, not /who/ you are and how they can /care/ for you. We've been called to come in, then the front desk had no record that we were supposed to be there. You'll get routed to different desks on different floors and wait at least 15 minutes upon each move. The quality of treatment seems to be comparable to what you would receive at other centers.

Great doctors and nurses, but crappy, inefficient systems. Arrived today at 8:55 for a doctors appt. Finally saw him at 10:33! Therefore, arrived on chemo floor at 11:00 for my scheduled 10:00 treatment. Called in to my chair by 11:15, which is unusually fast. By the time my meds are ready, it will be 12:00. I'll be lucky to leave by 3:30. So, 6.5 hrs out of my day. My wife had to miss a whole day of work. Shouldn't be surprised: Chemo ward now handles 80 patients/day, up from 55 when I started 4.5 years ago. Same number of chemo chairs as then, so someone can't do math.

Yet UNMCC closes at 5 and is not open weekends...it's clearly about the staff's convenience, not the convenience of us working stiffs, who have to take time off of work to accommodate their schedules. Not very patient friendly.

Finally, Wifi isn't usable. 4 years ago, you could watch a movie on it. Now, you can barely load an email.

I used to recommend this place to everyone. Now I don't. Have written to Director more than once. She always gets a flunky to promise they are working on it, but nothing ever changes. So now I'm going public.

Consider other options before you bring a loved one here. There are other cancer centers in ABQ...visit every one and compare how you are treated at each. Interview patients from each to see how long it takes them to see a doc or get treatment.

Again, nothing against the nurses...they are great!

Having to receive treatment here over the past year for Follicular Lymphoma, I have to say this place is a joke. The nursing staff is the only saving grace. The doctor I was dealt with, ignored everything I said, and was basically made to feel that my reactions to chemo were all in my head. This place is incapable of keeping any appointment. This is by far the worst run cancer center I have ever visited. When I brought this up, I was told by my doctor, this is the way it is learn to deal with it. To tell you the truth I despised every time I had a treatment there, it caused more stress in my life than having cancer did.

Kindest and most understanding doctors and nurses. If you can love a cancer center this is the one. I can't imagine better care.

My Mom's oncologist Ursa Brown-Glaberman, MD kinda want too do a shout-out and thank her and the UNM Cancer Center for all the amazing care they gave too my Mom, not once did my Mom get treated like just another patient, everyone working there knew her by name, and that bedside manner means so much. I am thankful for the treatment that has made it possible to still have her here with me. To the pharmacist, receptionist nurse's everyone who has a part at the Cancer Center I thank all of you

I developed breast cancer in 2013, had surgery, chemo, radiation and continue to have aftercare with this center. I have had nothing but great treatment and great doctors, I know everyone has a different experience but this is one of the leading research cancer centers besides Stanford in California and UNM is always finding new ways to help their patients. Don't give up on this cancer clinic, if you are not having a good experience with one doctor, get another one. As for time spent waiting to be seen, yes, they are usually always behind, never expect to be seen on time, schedule your appointments so that your day is dedicated to the clinic only. When I go there I know it is an all day process or most of the day anyway. Good luck to all of you who are going through this time in your life.

I haven't even been seen yet for having possible cancer and I get a rude employee. I called to see if my referral was sent over and right away was told yes and they have 5 days to reach out to me. It was said with a tone in her voice also. Come on now, I didn't call to be pushy and I didn't call for fun. I called cause another UNM employee in a different part of hospital stated I should call and make sure everything was sent over this way I can make appointment. I'm very unhappy with this place and I haven't even walked in the door yet. If you don't want to work for UNM just quit, other people are probably waiting in line to have a job, especially right now.

this is without a doubt the most poorly run cancer center i have been to. it is impossible to get through to the doctors. it is impossible to access the patient portal. follow up appointments are not conveyed to the patient. there appears to be no physician or assistant to see the patient when the primary physician is making "rounds" at the hospital. so there fore the patient must wait longer than necessary for follow up care. this is absolutely unacceptable in an institution claiming to be "first rate". perhaps for a second world country. my question is this WHY DON'T THEY HAVE A DECENT ADMINISTRATOR WHO CAN SET UP A SYSTEM THAT BENEFITS PATIENTS AND DOCTORS? WHY ISN'T THE PATIENT PORTAL AVAILABLE? THERE ARE PLENTY OF EXAMPLES OF HOSPITALS THAT WORK EFFICIENTLY AND WELL.

Love the way they treat the people who come here to get treated. With kindness and respect.

Quality care from excellent oncologist. Both myself and now my Mom were in need of professional oncologist and Dr Mueller and Dr Brown have been true life savers. Beautiful environment to receive care. Please consider this facility for your oncology needs.... it truly is the most important choice to make.

Doctors are great but you will wait forever for your scheduled appt. If you have a 9 appt they will be a hour late and they wonder why the patient blood pressure is so high

Nice building, below average oncology staff. If your pain, misery and suffering are unbearable, these fine folks will be the first to tell you all your pain is non cancer related, thus they are off the hook for treating a suffering cancer patient. The MD's don't even discuss somethings with patient. I found items out by going in and reading patient notes. Nasty doctor's. UNM Oncologist's are just plain delusional, don't know how those overpaid md's sleep at night. So I finish at 0200 since my non cancer related pain is keeping me awake. Wish my cancer would end this suffering soon. Cancer Victim of UNM cancer center.
Update:
Another sleepless night, thank you mister CANCER. Sure wish there was a Professional cancer center here in new mexico. Truly wish my cancer would take my final breath, the suffering that goes with cancer is terrible. Even worse when you can't get treatment. You want your UNM Oncologist help but they are just unwilling to help a suffering patient. UNM cancer helpers. Stay away from UNM cancer

This was the most horrible experience I have ever had. I felt like I went to a car dealership and dealt with a used care salesman. I came to seek a 2nd opinion ONLY on my first visit. After repeating information numerous times, which they already had, I was sent upstairs. That's when the NIGHTMARE began. After walking down a long hall way for "vital signs" only, the another long trip to exam room, to find a "fellow" doctor there to grill me for over an hour. Then in and out like a car salesman, she attempted to ask more ? and discuss with doctor information not in my presence. Once the Doctor showed up, she gave me her "scoop", mostly focused not on me but her "clinical trial". The madness begins....immediately I am approached about being a part of "her" trial and appts were being made by the "fellow" doctor. It was 3:30 PM and the clinic closes at 5 on Friday afternoon. I had 3 appts made that afternoon, one of which was at another location. A presentation by a "clinical trial" nurse with a 60 page document for me to read (duh) and to make a 3-5 year commitment. This was followed up by one more nurse regarding my obstructive bowel surgery done March 26 in California.
My friend and I left overwhelmed. My health insurance would not be activated until June 1, leaving me fully responsible for ALL the expenses incurred until insurance approval. Then they went after my "personal assets". Only to exhaust my resources and fund the stupid clinical trial.
Totally disgusted with the whole experience and would NEVER recommended this place to anyone. A nightmare in the making with total disregard for my emotional, mental and physical well being .

I received only a consult and female exam and will be responsible for ONLY THOSE SERVICES .UNHAPPY WITH ENTIRE EXPERIENCE.

Told to be here at 9:30 and still waited 2 in a half hours just to have a consultation... Appointment was set for 10 am 11:30 still waiting for the doctor. However the staff is very friendly.

The doctors and nurses who administer ECT treatments are very friendly and professional at all they do! Also, the nurses at the TriCore Lab are very sweet. I don't do well with needles.

All the staff are very attentive and helpful, the facility is very clean; Dr. Andres Mendez- Hernandez, take the time to listen and answer questions, Thank you

Everyone working here is so nice, friendly and patient. Dr. Naiara Barbosa was recommended very highly and was my doctor for my Mohs surgery for my basal cell cancer on my nose. She was professional, very knowledgeable and very easy to talk to. Her priority was my comfort and the thoroughness of my procedure. Dr. Barbosa and her staff were so nice it felt like family was with me the whole time. I recommend Dr. Naiara Barbosa and her staff highly!

Everyone is always behind and no one communicates anything. They told us we could wait in the lobby until the doctor was caught up. He was an hour and a half behind when we got here and now they say two hours. But they did not allow us to wait in the lobby! Instead we are stuck in a tiny exam room and the two hours behind is fast approaching. To force a terminally ill patient to go through this is unconscionable. They could at least try to help the patients be as comfortable as possible while they wait. And it would have been nice to get hooked up to oxygen in the room instead of leaving him on his travel oxygen because we don t want to run out on the way home.

Giving a big thank you to Neda Hashemi she has been one of the best cancer doctors to have for testicular cancer she pushed me so much to fight this cancer and to go home everyday to my daughter. And the staff are really amazing and care for you. Once again thank you for all ur support that u show to ur patients .

I was so pleased with my experience here. We met with Doctor Yilmaz and he was personable and I informative. I would highly recommend him and the center.

There is no sense of urgency. Dr orders tests and you have to follow up repeatedly to get them done. The support staff is more worried about breaks than patient care. I have work with Unm cancer going on three years. The dr has made me wait 31/2 hrs then did a no show. Have rescheduled apts after apts. if this is the best NM has to offer you all should be ashamed.

They have taken care of all my needs, assisting me and my family every step of the way.

Lovelace could not treat, was refereed here. Ended up with an awesome team and was able to start treatment quickly! Wonderful caring staff and great follow up!

I am receiving excellent care. The staff are kind friendly and ready to help you.

An amazing place, kind, thoughtful and knowledgeable.

Very good clinic I'm cured greases to eyos and goodbye