Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center New York - Main Hospital - New York, New York

N. F.

Hands down the nation’s best for what my family was battling and I wish we had made the very, very long trip out here sooner. Dr. Athanasian, Dr. Tap, all of the nurses and the concierge team were really fabulous. There is a gift shop with good prices, the cafeteria food was healthy/yummy/affordable. Kids under 12 are not allowed in the recovery unit so make alt childcare plans. Obviously I highly recommend this hospital. Also love that the other best oncologists/surgeons in the nation also said this and place was the best.

Courtney Henley

No idea what these bad reviews are about because I have been treated with the best care I have ever had at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Dr Alice Wei and Dr Judge are ROCKSTARS in the type of cancer I had. I am very proactive in my own care, so some of the issues mentioned appear to be from people, who did not properly advocate, for themselves or their loved ones.

I was seen and diagnosed immediately and had surgery within a couple weeks. I was placed in a beautiful VIP suite and looked after 24-7 by a bevy of fun and kind nurses, PT people, and maintenance folks.

Because I tested positive for Covid after surgery, I was there a week so had tons of great nurses and physical therapists except for one recovery room nurse named Camille — who lied about me not wanting any painkillers (I just didn't want any highly addictive ones!) — and Tara, the last nurse in my room, who tried to rush me out of the room by taking my clothes and throwing them on a chair while I was in the shower.

Since coming home, I have had phone calls almost daily checking on my recovery and whenever I ask a question in the portal, it is answered instantly with either a phone call or email back.

There are some changes I would make. First, there was an incident where Dr. Wei outright lied to me when I requested a routine scan that is usually done prior to surgery for the type of tumor I had. She inexplicably claimed that the scan was too expensive and that MSKCC did not do them. This was just odd since neither thing was true. That made me a bit nervous at first. However, she saved my life, so I feel so grateful that I found her. Secondly, people need more than 2 days in the hospital after surgery. I was in so much pain there is no way I could've gone home in 2 days, which I would've had to do if I had not had Covid. Also, the pain meds need to be timed with the physical therapy visits so that the patient can actually do the walks/exercises that are required. My PTs kept coming so late that my meds had worn off. Then, I couldn't do the walks. And finally, the drain bags need to be smaller. It makes no sense for patients to have to wear a 600ml drain bag if they are only outputting 20-40ml. Having a smaller bag would be much more convenient for patients, who have to wear a drain for a long time. And finally, patients need a realistic estimate of how long recovery from surgery can be. I was told I would be ok in 2 weeks. But it was 4 months with 6 hospital stays due to complications. I kept returning to work then having to be out again. If I had had a realistic notion of how complicated the recovery could be, I would've just taken the full time off on disability to heal.

That said, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center is the gold standard and I am so glad I chose to heal with them. Like anything health-oriented, you need to do your homework and advocate for yourself.

There is nothing scarier than cancer, NOTHING! So if you live in NYC, make sure you come here. Because it is the best.

jessica gutierrez

I cannot express enough gratitude for the incredible care I received at Memorial Sloan Kettering during my stay. From the very beginning, every single nurse and nurse assistant treated me with such love and compassion, truly stepping in as a mom or dad figure during such a vulnerable time. After undergoing cancer tumor removal surgery, I was entirely at their mercy for all tasks, and they were nothing short of amazing.

Special thanks to Chanho Kwak and Jasmine Nelson, who went above and beyond in every way. Their kindness, professionalism, lively spirits, and gentle care made me feel safe and blessed. I also want to highlight the incredible nurse assistants who worked tirelessly to ensure my comfort and recovery. Every single one of the team members—Anne Simon, Ricky Garcia-Toca, Jinanne Taha, Leigh Sillen, Yael Schecter, Sarah Zians, Allison Nall, and Miriam Siddie—played a vital role in my recovery.

The MSK team of nurses and nurse assistants is truly God-sent, and I will never forget their dedication and compassion. They made an incredibly challenging journey bearable, and for that, I will be forever grateful. If you or a loved one are going through something similar, rest assured you are in the best possible hands at MSK

Anastasia Maria Zavitsanou

I underwent brain surgery for a meningioma in August 2024. I cannot praise Dr. Moss, his team and MSKCC enough for a successful surgery and a fantastic experience.

The level of histological and genetic testing, and the speed at which it is conducted, is truly remarkable. While such efficiency is expected at a place like MSKCC, it’s not the standard at many other hospitals, even in NYC.

The operating room was equipped with cutting-edge technology and the latest features.

The nurses in the intensive care unit and on the general ward were exceptional and incredibly kind. They went out of their way to make me feel comfortable and at ease, consistently bringing smiles and jokes, no matter the time of day.

The food was excellent and always delivered promptly. My mango smoothies remain a delightful memory from my stay.

Overall, it was easily the best hospital experience I have ever had.

Victoria P

I always knew that if I got cancer, and was living in NYC, I wanted to be treated at MSK. They're supposed to be a world-class cancer center. Aren't they?

The very first thing MSK asks you to do when you sign on with them is fill out a lengthy questionnaire. The second question is “what name do you prefer to be called”. To date (over 3 years, now) not one person has called me by the name I filled in on that form. I do not believe that anyone has actually read the form. I have come to realize that MSK asks you to fill out endless questionnaires but never actually reads any of them. Like the most recent one I completed where I expressed in no uncertain terms how disgusted I was with my reconstructed breasts.

I opted to have both breasts amputated at the same time. Thankfully, the cancer had not spread to the nodes, and I was spared chemo and radiation. What I wasn’t spared was facing a delayed reconstruction. Needless to say, I didn’t take that news very well and spent the night alone in my hospital room screaming and crying. Knowing that I had no one with me for the surgery, not one staff member came in to hold my hand or even spare a comforting word. Where were “the caregivers who make the difference in the darkest hours”? I guess it was their day off.

A couple of days after I was released, a nurse from my plastic surgeon’s office called to check on me. When I told her how I reacted when I saw the horror that was left of my breasts. How I sobbed on the floor of my bathroom for hours then covered my mirrors. She laughed aloud as if what I’d just told her was the funniest thing she’d ever heard. Some weeks later when I told her to leave my exam room and never come near me again (a request I’ve had to make more than once), she gave me one of those pseudo-apologies - “I’m sorry if you felt …”. How about “I’m sorry I didn’t fully appreciate the depth of your emotional distress, and act more compassionately.”

I could go on:
- the psychiatrist (Matthew Doolittle) who didn’t return my sobbing voicemail for three weekdays;
- the first oncologist (Elaine Walsh) who refused to answer my questions about my pathology results, prognosis or the bone-destroying drugs she wanted to prescribe;
- the second oncologist (Nancy Sklarin) who has rescheduled 2 out of 5 or 6 appointments; or
- the plastic surgeon (Babak Mehrara) who leaves his patients to rot in an exam room for 30 minutes to 2 hours past their appointment time with no one managing their expectations of when he might grace them with his presence and no apology for keeping them waiting.

"Being the best for you." Is this “Being the best” for me? All the commercials and smart ad agency taglines in the world do not make your staff actually caring or compassionate. Treat your patients like clients. Shoot, just treat us like human beings and not like diseases. Our cancer needs to be cured, but we need to be cared for and respected. Do better. Be Better!

Varghese Thomas

My wife had to go to the main MSK Hospital because she couldn't keep her food down. She is a stage 4 GI cancer patient. I felt so safe bringing her to a place with the reputation of MSK and their skilled doctors and cutting edge facilities.

She first came to urgent care and waited for more than 10hrs for the proper diagnostics and care. When she finally got admitted, she was put in an old room that had to shared with another patient. They were separated by a curtain and also share a bathroom.

This was just the beginning of a nightmare 4 week stay at this hell hole. Due to plumbing issues, there was NO running water, no ice chips, she had to brush her teeth using bottled water and cups at her bedside.

Her health got progressively worse. Her doctors just talk at her rather than patiently explaining things. It was a complicated situation made worse by terrible care. It was so bad that I had to complain to a social worker and also the patient representatives. That worked temporarily but the doctors reverted back to their old ways.

Nearing week 4 and my wife getting weaker every day, our family confronted the doctors more forcefully. They tried to BS us again saying the steps they were taking were right but we were not having it. We also have family in the medical field so they couldn't BS anymore. To make a long story short, we forced them to discharge her via a medical transport so we can take her home.

The above is the shorten version. This is worst hospital I've ever been to. Worst care my wife has ever received. She came out much worse than she went in.

Be very careful about going to the MSK urgent care and being admitted to the main hospital. Don't let the doctors treat your loved one like a statistic. Stand up for their care if something doesn't feel right.

Marge Landis

Unethical - Stay Away!

MSK executives are riding on its reputation as a major cancer center to profiteer off of cancer patients. Think twice before seeking a second opinion from MSK!

If you are looking for a clinical trial - you can’t even find out if there is a trial that applies to you and has an opening without first having an in-person appointment with them.

Then the pre-registration process is a useless waste of your precious time. We tried repeatedly to upload the insurance card to no avail. On the day of the appointment there was no one to scan the insurance card, no form to write the card information, and no person taking down the card information.

There was no way to print or transfer my latest CT report to them - and they said they couldn’t upload my scan images without having that report.

On the day of the appointment they gave me a form to sign to transfer my biopsy slides AFTER they had already sent away for and received my slides! I did not authorize them to do that! The form could be easily forged - there was no required initial next to the box to tick to authorize transfer of biopsy slides. Apparently they gather patient’s slides to sell the data to AI companies.

Next came the bills. There was a $1,000 bill for a CT scan I never had with them! If they are charging me for a reread of my CT images - I never authorized that! If I get a bill for a reread of my biopsy slides I say we class action sue them - who’s with me?!?!

Deirdre mcfarland

Thank you to everyone including non family/friends and my Heavenly family/friends ? for all your thoughts & prayers! My quick recovery from the surgery all my Doctors were highly pleased! ?. Sure it's still going to be a long road to a full recovery, but the first and most important step of recovery is done and I'm now back at home to continue. I also want to thank all the MSK team for their incredible care, caring , understanding & compassionate attitudes as well! God Bless me & God Bless everyone! Amen!!
#BeatCancerTogether