Dr. Alberto Bessudo, MD

I will give him 2 stars because I think he is a nice person, but I think there were several times during my care where he or his office did not do the right thing. He did a very good job explaining things. I took notes, and he was open to questions and my asking him to repeat and spell words so I could look them up later if my notes were insufficient. He was always polite, courteous. He answered my many questions. He didn't mind repeating himself. However, it was obvious several times over that he had not read my files and was not really acquainted the specifics of my case. 1. I had colon cancer that completely blocked my colon, and it was through asking questions that I asked him if we should do a colonoscopy of my upper colon through my stoma since we were unable to examine it at the time of the cancer discovery. This really disturbed me and shook my confidence. I, a layman with no medical training, am suggesting my course of care, and his reaction was "Oh yeah. That's a… really good idea." 2. The surgeon who removed the colon cancer said at the time of the surgery that the colon had not leaked fecal matter; however while removing the tumor, fecal matter escaped. At this point, it is possible that bits of tumor could have escaped as well. In fact, two years later, I now have metastatic cancer even though my original tumor was N0 M0. My second surgeon pointed out to me that this leakage could cause metastasis and insisted I see Dr Bessudo immediately. I booked an appointment, and Dr Bessudo said I did not have cause for worry; however, if he had known that there was fecal matter in the abdominal cavity (which was in the surgical report he should have read), he would have given me a round of chemo. 3. I have not had cancer before and I do not know standards of care for cancer. Eight months in he told me he wanted to do more blood tests and another CT with no explanation, and it is my fault that I didn't think to ask why. I thought there was something wrong, so I went home and combed over months of blood test results, put them into a spreadsheet, and was trying to determine if there was a pattern of problems. I could see nothing alarming. On my next visit, three weeks later, he told me it was routine testing. 4. I have had many problems getting his office to forward records to other offices. Once it was so bad that I went to his office, picked up the records, and carried them to the building next door to the office of the other doctor who wanted the records. 5. The first time he spoke to me I was in the hospital recovering from surgery. I was doped to the gills, had very little sleep, and was in the midst of a very very deep sleep when he came into my hospital room, woke me up, and proceeded to give me my prognosis, which was very good, by the way, but I was so sleep-deprived that I have very little memory of the visit, so I didn't learn my prognosis for another couple of days from another doctor. 6. I was at a casual party and I met this lady who is studying to be a oncology nurse. She said some cancer doctors in the area have a very bad reputation, at least in the nursing medical community. Bessudo is one of them. He has a reputation for not being thorough. I do not usually make decisions based on hearsay except that I had witnessed it myself. There are always some patients who are dissatisfied, whose personality and needs and styles do not meld well with the doctor. I understand that and I read those reviews and I think about them, and I also look at the good reviews. If someone were to ask me if they should see Dr Bessudo I would tell them definitely not.

His office feels like a chop shop. He's difficult to understand and if you ask him to repeat something he is highly offended, gets upset with you then treats you poorly. :o(

I saw this provider while being hospitalized for a chemotherapy related complication. It was the luck I the draw that this is the oncologist the hospitalist called in on my case, as my regular oncogist is in a different area than the hospital I ended up in. I liked this doctor so much that I switched from my previous oncogist mid-way through treatment! He explains conditions, treatment options, ect very thouroughly. He is friendly and caring.