Dr. Bassem Tarek Chaar, MD

To the people who are ill with cancer or have a loved one who has been diagnosed, I feel the need to tell you do not sign up with Dr. Chaar. This oncologist is the most insensitive doctor I have ever run across in all my years. My family and myself went into this ordeal blind and came out heartbroken on the lack of information and the constant pushing of something new without ever giving the family a prognosis. This doctor is the worst.

My advice would be before you choose Dr. Chaar as your primary oncologist to look into other oncologists before you make your final decision . This doctor LACKS compassion . My dad was diagnosed with a rare form of pancreatic cancer in 2018 and started recieving treatment from Dr. Chaar. My dad was already at stage 3 so he started chemo immediately. Dr. Chaar would talk about how "numbers are looking great","everything looking good" when it came to labs. But he didn't keep a close eye on my dad's cancer as I think he should. Scans tell you alot because you will be able to find out if the cancer has spread or not. However, it would be a long gap between scans just so my dad can continue chemo treatments. Just to find out the chemo did not work at all and the cancer kept spreading. Dr. Chaar got to the point in coming to the room not even speaking to me/ no eye contact but to my dad only like they were the only two in the room. (How unprofessional is that?) He didn't have compassion… when talking about how its spreading he was only concerned about getting him to try another round of chemo and had a "matter of fact" attitude about it. My stayed hopeful and went through rounds of chemo, 2 surgeries, and radiation. At the end my dad's cancer still progressed to stage 4. No one. Not even Dr. Chaar or the outpatient clinic Affiliated Oncologist was brave enough to say he was dying. We never heard it was "time to get affairs in order"and they never gave us a prognosis. First time hearing a prognois is when my dad was in the emergency room due to excessive pain and the doctors at the hospital told my family and I that we were looking at under a year for my dad. 3 weeks later after my dad was released from the hospital my dad passed away. Dr. Chaar/Affiliated Oncologist did not prepare us AT ALL. I didn't understand/ know how close to death he actually was and it happened so fast. I understand to not to destroy all hope but I think that there is an importance in helping patients and their families understand the reality of their situation so there is time to mentally process.

My advice would be before you choose Dr. Chaar as your primary oncologist to look into other oncologists before you make your final decision . This doctor LACKS compassion . My dad was diagnosed with a rare form of pancreatic cancer in 2018 and started recieving treatment from Dr. Chaar. My dad was already at stage 3 so he started chemo immediately. Dr. Chaar would talk about how "numbers are looking great","everything looking good" when it came to labs. But he didn't keep a close eye on my dad's cancer as I think he should. Scans tell you alot because you will be able to find out if the cancer has spread or not. However, it would be a long gap between scans just so my dad can continue chemo treatments. Just to find out the chemo did not work at all and the cancer kept spreading. Dr. Chaar got to the point in coming to the room not even speaking to me/ no eye contact but to my dad only like they were the only two in the room. (How unprofessional is that?) He didn't have compassion… when talking about how its spreading he was only concerned about getting him to try another round of chemo and had a "matter of fact" attitude about it. My stayed hopeful and went through rounds of chemo, 2 surgeries, and radiation. At the end my dad's cancer still progressed to stage 4. No one. Not even Dr. Chaar or the outpatient clinic Affiliated Oncologist was brave enough to say he was dying. We never heard it was "time to get affairs in order"and they never gave us a prognosis. First time hearing a prognois is when my dad was in the emergency room due to excessive pain and the doctors at the hospital told my family and I that we were looking at under a year for my dad. 3 weeks later after my dad was released from the hospital my dad passed away. Dr. Chaar/Affiliated Oncologist did not prepare us AT ALL. I didn't understand/ know how close to death he actually was and it happened so fast. I understand to not to destroy all hope but I think that there is an importance in helping patients and their families understand the reality of their situation so there is time to mentally process.

he treated me for non hodgkins lymphoma sedalia mo and im still alive more than 10yrs later and i do miss giving him a hard time thanks doc Jack holmes

Dr. Chaar is excellent at his craft. He is very understanding and listens. When I first met him, I was hospitalized at Christ Hospital it was 11:30 pm. We talked about my cancer for over 40 min. I just love him ??! Deborah Harris

So glad to have this competent doctor who collaborated with other doctors to provide the best treatment. The staff is wonderful and efficient. Love the entire practice.

If your looking for a Dr. with compassion, your looking at the wrong Dr. My cancer had spread because of an error on both, him and I. He also has become arrogant and believes he is always right. My cancer spread because I let Dr. Chaar handle my levothoroxine medication for my thyroid levels (I had thyroids removed because of cancer). My PCP Dr. was handling it, but for reasons I had to let her go. I was taking 300mcgs from my PCP…in 1 pill. Dr Chaar for some crazy reason had given me 150mcgs, was suppose to take 2 pills…I didn’t catch the change or believe anyone would give 2 pills instead of 1. So I had been doing this for AT LEAST 6 months. This is how I am 99% sure my cancer had grown and spread. Right away he wanted to switch my chemo pills right away (only 2 type of chemo pills for my type of cancer). He says he would submit reasons why they should approve this pill. And if they refused, he said he would resubmit it again…and if refused, he would go to the drug company and show… them why he believed I need this pill, and would than show proof to the insurance after another CT scan to get it approved if it stopped the spreading. He got it approved the first try. But my body cant handle this pill. I kept telling him before, that it makes sense that with my thyroid level that low for such a long time that it would spread like that…he just says no with his reason why. So I’m figuring, he’s the Dr., what can I do but agree. But I never believed his reason for switching. I talked to another Dr, about this and he said it is possible with the level being that low for so long it could spread. So after many months of trying to take this new pill, I tell him I’m not taking the chemo pills any more coz it makes it hard for me to breath, my stomach burns and my belly button bleeds. I told him I really want my other chemo pills back. He says that all I can do I ask the insurance. Wont fight like talked about getting me the other pills….”all I can do is ask”? I’ve had 2 arguments with him (there should never be any reason to argue with your Dr.), the last one was last week, and then he said “why don’t you find another Dr,”. I was trying to explain to him that were talking about my life…didn’t care. So my family and I walked out in such anger. This Dr. has no compassion. My appointment before this one he just blurts out that if I can’t handle these chemo pills that that only leave hospice for me. Are you F’ing joking…HOSPICE! Just start nailing the coffin shut why don’t ya. As I say, the man has no COMPASSION. He couldn’t even get my pain medication right. Something we agreed on at my last appointment. He just makes up rules as he needs to fit him. Think real hard before you see this Dr.

Dr. CHAAR, was my mother's Cancer Dr. . He worked on my mothers case for 7 years. He is one of the kindest, honest doctors I have ever known. During my moms cancer journey, he was always there for questions to be answered, and treated her as if she was his only patient, even though he had hundreds he was working with. No matter how many patients he was dealing with he would take the time to return a call when we had concerns. Sedalia is so lucky to have such a smart caring Dr. In its midst. Every person is an individual case and he studies and treats each patient individually and not put them a norm. Thank you Dr. Chaar! Even though my mother passed from cancer, you gave her a long quality life, and helped her with the process with your kindness, and personalization that you gave her.

I did not see Dr. Chaar in an office setting he was one of the doctor's assigned to my care at St. Louis University Hospital. I was stage IV Burkitt's Lymphoma and this was one of the most caring and compassionate men I have ever met. He took time with me and got to know me on a personal level. He even shared a little of his personal life with me. I love Dr. Chaar and think at one point under some drug offered to give him a ride on my motorcycle as well as offered to marry him if he ever had visa problems. By the way if you read this that offer still stands :). I've been in remission 8 years because of him and Dr. Kudva, my God bless you both!

Dr. Chaar and his entire staff are very, very caring. They do everything in their power to help the patients and their families feel comfortable.