The New Top Cancer Center Rankings: Behind The Numbers, What Patients Should Look For In Choosing Care

The 2024-2025 Best Hospitals for Cancer

• The U.S. News and World Report for the top 50 cancer centers in the country has been released, with University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center rolling in at number one, followed by Memorial Sloan Kettering in New York City, and Mayo Clinic, Rochester, New York, at number three.
• In order to rank the best cancer hospitals, U.S. News evaluated around 886 hospitals for treating cancer, looking into the following departments: lymphoma, leukemia, breast, prostate, uterine, ovarian, colon, kidney, melanoma, head and neck, along with orthopedic and pancreatic cancers.
• If your hospital didn’t make the cut, it doesn’t necessarily mean it is a bad choice. Even within these top cancer hospitals, there is no such thing as a perfectly-run department, and experts within these facilities will share how different things can vary program to program.
• However, some experts say when it comes to more specific treatments, like immunotherapy, it does matter for your overall survival. Bottom line, you can never go wrong with multiple opinions, even if your center is at the top of the list.

The annual list of best cancer hospital is out. While the hospital administrators tell us they pay attention to these things, what should patients know and what's really important to getting high quality care, the latest options, and a medical team that's going to ensure you get the best possible outcomes? The rankings are just a list put together by a magazine. Behind them are millions of patients, providers, critical standards, and daily decisions that add up. So experts we consult, always counsel to look behind and beyond the numbers.

How Do The Rankings Work

In order to rank the nation's best cancer hospitals, the people at U.S. News evaluated around 886 hospitals for treating cancer, looking into the following departments: lymphoma, leukemia, breast, prostate, uterine, ovarian, colon, kidney, melanoma, head and neck, along with orthopedic and pancreatic cancers. RELATED : Top 5 Cancer Centers Team Up after a $250 Million Contribution Incredible Family Behind One of the Largest Donations for Cancer Research Talks to SurvivorNet "MD Anderson is honored to again be No. 1 in the nation for cancer care in U.S. News and World Report’s 'Best Hospitals' ranking," an Instagram post read on Monday. "We are deeply grateful to all who have helped make this recognition possible: our teammates, trainees, students, donors, volunteers, advocates and the patients and families we are honored to serve." "Working together, we continue to move forward in our mission to end cancer." Since the survey began in 1990, MD Anderson has been listed one of the top two in the country for cancer care every year "and it has maintained the top ranking for the past 10 years," the MD Anderson website notes. Six-time cancer survivor Arthur Hamberger says the uniqueness of the institution is what makes him stay at MD Anderson. His experiences there throughout his complicated health journey even inspired him to become a radiation oncologist. And since he worked there for nearly a decade, Hamberger can truly attest to the level of care from an inside and outside perspective as both the doctor and the patient. There are "certain resources you can only find at MD Anderson," he wrote in a patient story . If your hospital didn't make the cut, it doesn't necessarily mean it is a bad choice. Even within these top cancer hospitals, there is no such thing as a perfectly-run department, and experts within these facilities will share how different things can be from program to program.

Multiple Opinions Still Matter

While earning top recognition for things like patient care, research and performance, it is important to realize that multiple opinions still matter, whether you are going to the number one hospital or a local, lesser-known center. If you feel there are other treatment options that are not being offered or you have additional questions regarding your cancer care that are not addressed, it is important to consider obtaining a second (or third, or fourth) opinion. RELATED : Community Cancer Centers & The Importance of Access To Care If you go to a cancer center that is not aware of your prior history and cancer information, it is important that you have detailed information regarding your cancer history and prior treatments, which can be obtained by asking your current healthcare team. How to Access More Expert Opinions on Your Treatment One of the other biggest favors you can do for yourself, in addition to diligently seeking out those other opinions, is to ask your doctor about genetic testing. No matter what facility you are visiting, the results will be the same. It is an important tool to use to know what things to look out for if you're higher risk and it can get doctors to pay quicker attention to your health concerns.

Community Hospitals vs. NCI-Designated Cancer Centers

When it comes to cancer care, going to a community hospital is not necessarily bad, but, of course, you want to make sure the doctor/facility is properly registered. Certifications do matter. And for a more straightforward cancer case, treatment will most likely be the same no matter where you go. While you will may have greater overall care and access to more programs and information at one of these top-ranking hospitals, it is important to know that going to an NCI-Designated Cancer Center is also a great option. There are 72 NCI-designated cancer centers around the country, funded by NCI "to deliver cutting-edge cancer treatments to patients." Most of the NCI-Designated Cancer Centers are affiliated with the university medical centers you see on the annual U.S. News List, but there are also several other "freestanding institutions" providing excellent care, but overall, opinions are mixed as far as whether or not these facilities improve outcome. RELATED : Head of Oncology at Pharma Giant AstraZeneca Says Closing The Education & Care Gap For Community Patients And Doctors Is Crucial "I don't think that there is data to show that treatment at NCI designated centers improves outcomes per se,” Dr. Derek Raghavan, President of Levine Cancer Institute in Charlotte, told SurvivorNet in a previous interview. Dr. Raghavan also noted that the type of patients seen at a major center may affect their mortality statistics. “It is hard to correct for referral patterns by which the sickest patients are seen in the best places, putting further strain on their outcomes measures,” he said. The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) , a nonprofit alliance of 33 leading cancer centers, also ranks top facilities devoted to patient care, research and education.

A Newer Study Says Higher-Volume and Academic Hospitals 'Tend to Have a Higher Survival Rate'

When it comes to specifically receiving immunotherapy treatment, newer research indicates that the facility may matter. Immunotherapy is a cancer treatment that triggers your immune system to search for and attack cancer cells, microscopic or more extensive tumors. A study published in January from Yale School of Medicine says when and where immunotherapy is administered to patients impacts a patient’s overall survival. Dr. Sajid Khan was the lead author of the study. He said that patients who receive this treatment in high-volume healthcare facilities tend to have a higher survival rate than those who receive immunotherapy at low-volume hospitals or non-academic healthcare facilities. “Low-volume and non-academic hospitals have worse survival for immunotherapy as a whole, plus are more likely to have patients immunotherapy initiated within the last 30 days of life,” Dr. Khan explained. Watch 'Breakthrough' About Nobel Prize Winner out of MD Anderson Jim Allison & The Invention Saving Millions of Lives He believes these facilities are “less resourced than high volume and academic hospitals,” which could be contributing factors to the poorer survival outcomes. Bottom line, the more you research and educate yourself with all the latest studies and rankings, along with talking to multiple providers, the better off you will be. Above all, you should feel comfortable with the treatment plan provided for you by your primary doctor and be well-informed about your options — and what you can expect along the way.