Ucla Westwood Oncology Hematology Clinic's Online Review Report Card

In 2014 I had Colo-Rectal Cancer and Dr. Rosove and the wonderful Nurses and staff assisted me in UCLA 100 Medical Plaza Suites 550 and 555 and in December 2015 a Follow up Colonoscopy and 'Clear Colon, no test for 5 years' thanks to UCLA Oncology. Then in 2017 I was diagnosed with Melanoma and and came under the care of Dr. Bartosz Chmielowski and his Nurse Practitioner, Grace, and the WONDERFUL Infusion Nurses: Bill, Jason, Julie, Angelica and Nancy and in May 2023 I finished my final infusion and it all began with Outpatient Surgery on my Chest in 2017 from a BIOPSY in Dermatology. The care and kindness was EXCEPTIONAL and UCLA Westwood Medical Oncology became my UCLA Family. As a Former DGSOM Faculty Assistant, UCLA Radiology, I have recently applied to work within Westwood Oncology in Patient Service to offer my wonderful UCLA Oncology experience and to thank Dr. Chmielowski and Staff for their care. Only UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center!

This is a 5 star review for Bartosz Chmielowski, MD. He provided expert guidance at a time when it was critical. He is caring and brilliant as well as well regarded by other sarcoma experts. We are very grateful for him and his office.

Los Angeles, Ca. Two years ago the Grim Reaper was my constant companion. I came here and was accepted by Dr. Bartosz Chmielowski and his amazing team to participate in a clinical trial. The first year was admittedly hard for me because it's a 70 mile drive to UCLA on the 405 which is about a two to three hour drive each way. I was getting biopsy's into my lung and other things involving getting poked. Ironically I put off getting yearly physicals because I was really busy and did not like needles. Now I've gotten poked enough that I have to ask myself "You really let this melanoma reach this advanced stage because you didn't want a blood test?" What an idiot. So the first year treatments were every two weeks, I was weak, depressed, and the treatments (Immunotherapy) was leaving me really tired for several days. Coughing up a lot of black crap and then one of the tumors burst through the side of my rib cage spewing black liquid. The first clinical trial ended because the extracted tissue from a biopsy would not grow in the lab so no vaccine could be made. So I started over on another trial getting infusions and daily pills. During the first year I met a guy who was in the waiting room who noted how thin I was. He had melanoma in many internal locations including his spine and was now in remission. This gave me hope. His complaint was he gained back all his weight mostly to his stomach. He advised me to watch my weight and try to stay skinny. The doctor and all the nurses and techs are always positive and no one talks about things like what stage you are in or how long you can expect to live. The nurses I have gotten to know are amazing. Administering chemotherapy and immunotherapy to hundreds of patients, some who they know will not make it. Yet they are cheerful and positive. The best IV installers are here in this group. Near the end of the first year a scan showed a few millimeters of shrinkage. I was then given a double dose every four weeks so I only do the drive once a month now. I get a scan every twelve weeks now and have had some shrinkage every time. Then I started getting hungry. My weight from when I was really sick was 150. Now I'm up to 190, most of it in the stomach. My face has filled out though so I look normal. My pre crisis weight was 200. I now have to watch what I'm eating and try to exercise as much as I am able. My energy is returning and I can take long hikes with my dog. I'm not in remission but I'm feeling pretty darn good. I hope to be able to dance again. I now have confidence that will happen. I am now grateful for every day among the living when I fully expected not to be here a couple of years to go. I must thank Dr. Chmielowsky and all the team including Grace, Alyssa, James, Jason, Bill, China, Pepper, and all the rest for extending my life. I'm really impressed and that's hard to do considering all the bad news, medically speaking, I had a few years ago. Yesterday's visit was good, all the appointments were on time. The pills have given me a side effect of an itchy rash but I'll accept that in order to continue this trial. The exit wound still oozes but less so, and at least that crap is coming out and not roving about in my body. The coughing has become manageable and is only aggravated if there is a brush fire in SoCal. Anyone being diagnosed with cancer, please be aware the treatments are now highly advanced and there is progress made continually. Be brave and hang in there.

I have been a patient of Dr. Gottfried Konecny for nearly six years. During that time, I have found him, his office staff, and the infusion center to be professional, kind, and attentive. I read the posted reviews and as to the negative reviews, I have never received such treatment. But, I can understand how long waits can happen. There have been times when my scheduled appointment took a quick five minutes. Other occasions, a complication had arisen and considerably more time with the doctor was required. I appreciated during those crisis times that I was not rushed. I credit Dr. Konecny and those who work with him for not only extending my life but also being attuned to keep as much quality of life as possible. In my opinion, it doesn't make sense to work so hard to maintain life if that life is only full of dread, drudgery, and discomfort. Dr. Konecny and his team have assisted me with that goal in a conscientious and compassionate manner.

So far not impressed. First oncology appointment - 2 hour wait once inside the exam room. Why even make an appointment? I could have watched a full length feature film plus credits! Really annoying. No one ever checked on us, never communicated. Just listened to the nurses chitchatting in office 550. In my next life I'm going to work in a Dr office. No one is in a hurry. No one works very hard. No one communicates. I'm seriously concerned about the care I'm going to receive.

The UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center should be stripped of its NCI designation. The physicians have offices in many locations now, they are too busy to check lab results and therefore my sister's cancer has advanced! Dr. Glaspy didn't bother to look at her lab tests six months ago and her PCP reran the tests last week and was horrified to see that her cancer marker had tripled!!! There is ZERO care coordination by the Nurse Practioner, Denise Oseguera, is incompetent. When asked if she was going to provide care coordination she directed my sister to ask her health plan for a care coordinator

UCLA is a horrible place for treatment for Cancer. They destroy hope and faith, and exhibit complete disregard for the time or distance patients have to travel. If you are late, expect to lose your appointment and get a bill. If you have an appointment, do not expect them to care how long they make you wait. If you have a choice, GO SOMEWHERE ELSE!!!!!

Dr Gary Shiller and all his staff are a great group of miracle workers! Thank you for saving my life! Keep up the great work ! Through faith all Gods work is possible

I was very disappointed with nearly every aspect of the cancer treatment I received at this institution. I had been told that UCLA was a teaching institution. However, I never realized that I would receive treatment from inexperienced students who were studying medicine and/or nursing. I caution anyone receiving treatment at this institution to refuse treatment by anyone who is a student or an inexperienced recent medical school graduate. In one instance, I knew more about my type of cancer than the inexperienced recent medical school graduate who was sent to examine me. Also, I was extremely disappointed with the treatment received from an experienced physician, Dr. Gary Schiller. He repeatedly pressured me to consent to a particular type of cancer treatment. I was very wary of him, because he reminded me of a used car salesperson who is trying to sell a defective car. Of course, I did not consent to the type of treatment he pressured me to try. I later found out that he was conducting research on this type of treatment and wanted to use me as a research subject. He was obviously far more interested in his research project than my health. I strongly recommend avoiding Dr. Gary Schiller and the UCLA Hematology/Oncology Center in Westwood.