Dr. Carmen Matei, MD

Had to change Doctors, she was supposed to go over PET /MRI results, coldly told me I had Stage four bone cancer, no empathy nothing.... Just mumbling to her computer that she had to order this test and that test. I was given 20 mins to go over these results, she never asked myself or my sister if we had any questions, I have had more time with a Doctor diagnosing a common cold than a life changing experience. As I had already looked at the MRI results it showed tumors on my skull so I was understandably nervous and upset about the potential appointment with her so I was crying the first thing out of her mouth was why are you crying...... Ummmm because I am scared. I left the office in a total whirlwind, more anxious than ever. I do not recommend this Doctor

Dr. Matei is a very wonderful doctor that truly cares for her patients. She is very straight forward no messing around. She knows how to help and she does help. She really listens and understands. Thank you Dr. Matei.

Initially I took comfort in Dr Matei's somewhat dispassionate care as I'm not one who wants my hand held, I don't need to coddled. But when a scan showed a lesion in my T7 vertebrae that wasn't clearly mets, wasn't clearly not, she became almost obsessed with more tests, more tests, more tests, despite the fact that I was currently still on the most brutal chemo regimen known to mankind.... At a point in my treatment where just seeing the hospital on my calendar or even just getting a blood draw, would make my stomach turn, she was still trying to send me for tests (always with some sort of contrast), and then having me come in to get the still inconclusive results. There was NO value in those tests in that moment--I had months of treatment left before we'd even think about next steps... I couldn't stand it anymore. For someone who was making me come in where a phone call would suffice, she managed to not see ME at all. Just awful.

Dr. Matei was the on-call physician when my father was in Penrose Hospital because he'd just found out that cancer was eating through his cervical vertebrae. Her way of telling him that he was dying consisted of repeating "You're a stage 4, it's terminal" over and over. Not "I'm sorry, but you have stage 4 cancer and it is terminal. Let's discuss options for comfort", nothing like that, just cold and short. There are ways to tell a person they are dying without cruelty, but not for Dr. Matei.

generally satisfied

She is a very bright and concerned doctor. We'd see her again in a heartbeat.

She is simply the best

she is amazing

A nurse referred me to Dr. Matei, saying her daughter felt she had received better care with Dr. Matei than at MD Anderson, she is so thorough. I am so grateful to have found her. She is not only well informed and thorough, but she takes her time with you and she really listens, which I think alone is worth its weight in gold. As one of the local doctors said to me, "Dr. Matei will always have your back." That is exactly how I feel about her. I adore Dr. Matei!

I first met Dr. Matei in 2007 while I was in the hospital recovering from a lobectomy. Although I had a wonderful oncologist at the time, Dr Matei was the Dr. on call that day and insisted on me getting a brain MRI. Unfortunately, it showed that my cancer had metastasized to the brain. Four years later, after my oncologist moved out of state, it was Dr. Matei that I chose to treat me and have been with her for the past 2 years. I will be forever grateful to her for the MRI she requested that day so frequent follow up/tests could be administered. I feel as though I owe my life to her and the wonderful care she has given me over these past few years. I would recommend anyone who wants a thorough, caring oncologist to visit Dr. Matei. She's the best!