The Farber Center for Radiation Oncology

The Farber Center for Radiation Oncology (now called the Lower Manhattan Cancer Center part of New York-​Presbyterian/​Weill Cornell Medical Center) is unlike any medical facility that I have ever been to.
When I first called to make an appointment, I spoke with Vivian, who was so friendly for a moment I forgot that I was calling a medical office. Dr. Farber later explained to me that when he was putting together the clinic, he was more concerned about the quality of the people that he was hiring and less concerned about the specific background and experience that they had. He said he could train the right people about protocol and procedures but couldn’t train someone to be understanding, nice, compassionate, and caring. He felt that these qualities were very important in assembling the right staff, and in my opinion he was exactly right.
Upon my arrival for my first visit, Jessica greeted me with a friendly smile as if she had known me for years. What a pleasant surprise. The staff (Vivian, Francis, Jessica, Amy, Lindsey, Kim, Dave and Manna) was equally friendly and helpful. Even though prostate cancer is not usually as frightening as other cancers, it still is cancer and has the associated fears that cancer brings up.
As an industrial designer, I was impressed by the thoughtfulness and care that went into the building of the center. Beginning with the entry, the center starts its friendliness. There is a tile work on the steps starts with the presentation… to the side there is a gentle ramp for those who can’t comfortably handle the steps. Once inside, the greeting area is very spacious with comfortable non-​hospital type seating with a beautiful fireplace accented with rocks (more on the rocks later). The bathrooms are appointed with contemporary fixtures and lighting… again not hospital like. The changing rooms are spacious and comfortable. Instead of horrible paper gowns, or uncomfortable «hospital type gowns», they use terry cloth gowns and socks embroidered with the Farber logo… nice touch.
Each time I met with Dr. Farber, I never had the feeling that he was rushing to get me out. He would spend as much time with me as needed. He is warm, compassionate, and affable and he has found a happy staff that completely reflects these values.
At the end of my treatment, I was given a rock and a glitter magic marker and asked write something on the rock and place it in the fireplace, which is full of other rocks signed by others who also had completed the same treatment… I was now a member of the family. As another reviewer said «I arrived there, a patient and will leave there, a friend.» I absolutely agree. While I won’t miss the radiation, I will miss the people.
Even though the center is truly equipped with absolute state of the art equipment, its real strength comes from the staff led by Dr. Farber. This is the place to go to feel comfortable about the treatment not because the facility is so wonderful but because the staff is. This is really the place to go to.

I’m writing to express my dissatisfaction with the medical care provided by Dr. Len Farber. In fact, I’ve only once before written a Unilocal review and that was when I was so impressed by an oral surgeon, I was moved to write about it. In this case, Dr. Farber’s neglect borders on malpractice and I want to make sure other people avoid using him or at least know what to expect.
It became clear to me after my first weekly check-​up that I could not trust Dr. Farber to answer questions about my health. I told him I was having consistent stomach problems since radiation began and he quickly dismissed that as unrelated to radiation (more on this to follow). Then I mentioned that the shooting pains in my treated breast were growing stronger and more frequent, which I assumed was normal but just thought I was supposed to let him know all the side effects I was experiencing. In response, he asked me what position I was being treated in (an off-​putting question coming from my radiation oncologist) and when I told him I was on my back he said the pain I was feeling was in my muscles from my arms being over my head. I knew this was not true and I went back to his office after I got dressed to explain that the pains were not muscle related and I asked if he suggested this as a probable cause because shooting pains in my treated breast are not common. He said, «No, what you’re feeling is your breast healing and you could continue to feel your breast healing for months after treatment ends.» So he followed up one lie with another and I realized that it was a total waste of time to ask him about my health because he is not in the practice of answering questions honestly or with any medical integrity whatsoever. I also realized that he was not attentive or concerned about my health or well-​being.
Another issue of concern was that I sent him two emails, at the suggestion of his staff, asking if it was okay to take a day off from radiation and he never responded, once again showing a general lack of concern for my medical care. It was definitely the correct email address because when I sent an email complaining about his (lack of) medical care, he replied (once again dismissively) that same night. He also neglected to call me back when I called to let him know that I was discontinuing radiation after three weeks of treatment rather than finishing the full six week course. I was told that he would call me back to discuss my decision but instead I received a call from a nurse because apparently, he couldn’t take a minute to reach out to me himself, something any doctor who cared at all about his patients would do.
Most disconcerting perhaps, was when I picked up my radiation reports, I discovered several things which could indicate malpractice. In the weekly progress notes, there are two specific categories listed beyond vital signs changes and those are «skin reactions» and «GI reactions». How could my stomach problems be unrelated to radiation if GI reactions are so common they’re just one of two reactions listed on the weekly reports?!? And why does the report say after week one, «the patient is experiencing no gastrointestinal reactions» when in fact, I raised this as an issue and in week two it says «mild» when he had no idea because all he said was that my GI issues were unrelated and never asked any questions about the extent of my symptoms. Nor did he look at my skin for any changes.
Also, according to the weekly progress notes, apparently my vitals were supposed to be checked each week and never were.
I will say that the rest of the staff at the center are very nice and warm and the center itself is pleasant, clean, and conveniently located but ultimately, it became clear that I was not in the care of a responsible doctor who followed good practices and I would strongly caution anyone who is considering working with him.

Today was my last day of radiation treatment and I was genuinely sad to leave Dr. Farber and his staff. Dr, Farber has built a first class facility with a truly superior first class exceptional staff. I arrived there 4 months ago scared about my future. I left there today after 8 weeks of radiation treatments fully confident that my future is much brighter than it looked back then thanks to all the new friends I have met at the Center (Dr. Farber, Dr. Smith, Vivian, Francis, Jessica, Amy, Lindsey, Kim, Dave, Manna, Jess, etc.), staff as well as other patients. The Center environment is skillfully set up and managed so it is easy to help ease your emotional burden during this difficult time by talking to others. I would highly recommend the Center to any one needing cancer radiation treatments. I will miss everything about the Center (especially the staff) EXCEPT for the 32oz. water (I had to drink before each session) and the anal balloon!!! Many thanks to all my new friends for getting me through this so easily!!!