Cathy Eng, MD

I've never written a negative review about a doctor before, but I have to because the care we have received has been shockingly poor. I've never experienced such a lack of genuine concern and care from a doctor. She was over two hours late to our appointment. When she entered the room, the first thing she said was, "Uh, I hate this room. It's freezing. This is the worst room." She sat down at her computer and asked a few questions we'd already answered multiple times. Her phone went off and she pulled it out and was looking at another patient's labs and told the resident and student in the room, "See look here. His white count is up." And they proceeded to discuss another patient's case in front of us. I understand the importance of educating residents....but after being 2 hours late to see us and not even introducing herself? To then choose to spend the time she's in our room looking at her phone and discussing another patient? This is obviously unprofessional. My husband was newly… diagnosed with rectal cancer and she is the medical oncologist, so I had a few questions about the chemo he would be getting. She immediately shut down my questions and said I could ask the surgical oncologist my questions. I said, "But you are the medical oncologist. You are the one who presribes the chemo. It seems you would be the one to answer these questions." She said, "No, you can ask the surgical oncologist." I was shocked. What was the point of this appointment if we couldn't get our most basic questions answered? I had a couple of very straightforward genetic type questions too. I had barely begun to ask my question when she interrupted and said, "I'm not a geneticist." I understand this, but surely a GI medical oncologist is capable of answering a basic genetics question. It was clear she had no desire to answer any questions whatsoever. We waited over two hours to literally not get a single question answered. She left the room after maybe 5 minutes. My husband and I looked at each other and were like, "What was the point of even having this appointment?" It was the most pointless and disappointing doctor appointment ever. Since then, every time we have had any question about his treatment, she is clearly irritated by them. It makes no sense. I mentioned her behavior to another person on staff when we had a follow up appointment once and she said, "Yeah, she's a researcher...she's not known for being good with people." Seriously?? Even others on staff immediately can speak to how incapable she is of communicating in a caring and competent way with patients? We are to the point where we are now looking for care somewhere else because we have met with her three times and every time is the same. She comes in the room frazzled and unaware. She expresses 0/10 empathy, compassion, and awareness. I don't care how intelligent she is if she has no people skills whatsoever. I hope this review is helpful to someone. Please find a different doctor. Please find someone who cares about your loved one and will be happy to answer any questions you have.

Absolutely the Best!

Dr. Cathy Eng is the best doctor I ever had. She always listen to my concerns and answers all my questions.

Dr Eng is a very knowledgeable and caring person. I feel she always has my case on her mind and always offers the best treatment she can find for me. I highly recommend her!!

Dr. Eng has been my oncologist for 6 years now and I am blessed to have her care.

Dr. Eng was alway kept her patients waiting by 1- 2 hours often stuck in the small exam rooms. She seemed bothered by questions and did not explain things. She was also incredibly rude and short. Please do yourself a favor and fund a different oncologist at MD Anderson.

If I could give her zero stars I would. She might be an e pert, but she is ruthless, bordering on aggressive in her behavior with us. She should stick to research.

Waited over 3 hours past appointment time for what was a 7 minute visit with an uncaring, insensitive primadonna who thinks she is above God. A total waste of time when I most needed answers and hope.

I certainly benefited from Dr. Eng's knowledge and management of my disease. But as others have noted, there's more to oncology than picking the right chemotherapy combination. There needs to be an emotional component as well. During my well-intentioned visits, Dr. Eng talked down to me, shamed me, and showed little interest in my well-being. Often, after waiting for three (3) hours, I'd see her for an unbelievably brief appointment. Had the right amount of time been taken, I would have avoided some unnecessary side effects from cancer treatments. More than one other doctor at MD Anderson expressed that opinion to me. In corresponding with her staff, I often found them disorganized and slow to respond.

Dr. Eng is very knowledgeable and straight-forward. She knows of the latest treatments, trials, and never speaks beyond her area of expertise. She manages expectations, which I think is a very important quality of an oncologist. I think at first patients can see her straight-forwardness as a lack of empathy or concern, but I really think she tries her best. It takes a strong person to have a job where she has to tell patients every day that as much as she wants, there is not much more she can do to help them. We have had mostly positive experiences (one negative), but at the end of the day know she fights very hard alongside her patients.