Frequently asked questions
What UC Davis Comprehensive Center offers that you might not find elsewhere
The UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center is part of UC Davis Health, one of five academic medical centers in the UC system. Its mission is not only to provide the best care possible, but to find new ways to prevent, detect, treat and, ultimately, cure this disease. When you choose UC Davis for your cancer care you get:
- State-of-the-art diagnosis and advanced treatment, including access to new therapies that may not be available elsewhere
- Professional clinicians with experience treating all types of cancers, including rare diagnoses
- A range of services for all your needs as a cancer patient, including counseling, pain management, rehabilitation and assistance in returning to life after cancer
- Treatment by a multidisciplinary team of professionals, including oncologists, nurses, social workers and dietitians
- Faculty physicians whose three-fold mission — taking care of patients, studying cancer and teaching young doctors — makes them leaders in their profession
Available options include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, biological therapy, immunotherapy or a combination of these, depending on the type and stage of cancer. Clinical trials (see below) offer additional choices to patients. Your particular therapy will be determined after you meet with the oncologist.
If you would like information about a specific treatment, please call the new patient referral office at 916-734-5959 or toll-free at 800-770-9261. We shall do our best to help you.
The UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center conducts adult and pediatric clinical trials on cancers both rare and common. Studies are conducted in cooperation with the American College of Surgeon's Oncology Group, Southwest Oncology Group, Radiation Therapy Oncology Group, Gynecologic Oncology Group, the Children's Oncology Group and the National Cancer Institute as well as with pharmaceutical companies.
The cancer center is also a member of the California Cancer Consortium, a group of researchers from UC Davis, the University of Southern California, the City of Hope National Medical Center, the University of Pittsburg and Penn State. This consortium is engaged in National Cancer Institute-sponsored clinical trials of novel cancer therapeutic agents, including clinical trials developed by our own UC Davis oncologists.
As the only facility in California’s Central Valley with the infrastructure to safely conduct highly complex early phase trials, the cancer center is the host location for the Sacramento Citywide Oncology Phase I Program, or SCOPE. SCOPE is an alliance of area oncologists with physician representatives from UC Davis, Sutter Health, Kaiser Permanente, Dignity Health and Sierra Hematology & Oncology, whose mission is to improve cancer care in the greater Sacramento community and beyond through widespread access to rigorous and efficient studies of new agents and treatments.
You can see what trials are available by visiting the clinical trials page.
UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center accepts a variety of private and public insurance plans. To find out if yours is accepted, please call our new patient referral office at 916-734-5959 or 800-770-9261.
The cancer center works with patients to make sure they are getting the full benefit of their health plan. Please remember that insurers have different requirements that need to be met before your appointment.
If your health plan will not pay for treatment, we suggest you ask your insurance company if it will pay for a second opinion or consultation at UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center. Consultation appointments are also available on your own expense.
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with cancer and you are worried about the costs associated with treatment, we have services that may help. Visit our cancer related financial concerns page for resources.
Approval may depend on where you live and the type of public assistance program. To be sure, call the health department of the county where you live or our New Patient Referral office at 916-734-5959 or 800-770-9261.
Most patients are referred by their physician; however, a physician's referral is not required. Patients may self-refer if their insurance plan allows that flexibility.
The cancer center encourages you to first visit our physician directory to search for a particular doctor by name. In addition, you can visit our specialties section to locate a doctor by a particular specialty. If you still need more information, contact us at 916-734-5959 or 800-770-9261.
A diagnosis of cancer creates anxiety and fear, which is why the cancer center will schedule your appointment as quickly as possible given your particular condition and the availability of our cancer specialists. As with any of your healthcare needs, cancer treatment often requires close coordination with your insurance company to obtain prior authorization. Every attempt will be made to expedite this process with your insurance company.
When making your appointment (depending upon individual situation), the new patient referral office will inform you about what you should mail and/or bring. They will also send you a new patient information packet.
You will also need to bring your health insurance identification card; a form from your referring physician (if applicable); the name, address and phone number of a person to be contacted in case of an emergency; and the name of the person financially responsible for your bill.
Once you arrive at the cancer center, a receptionist will greet you at the front desk and direct you to where you will need to go. If you are a new patient, please plan to arrive 30 minutes before your scheduled first visit.
Yes. If you need a wheelchair or an escort, talk to the receptionist at the information desk just inside the front entrance. Passengers can be dropped off at the main entrance of the cancer center, or you may park temporarily (parking is limited to 20 minutes) in the circle driveway while you get a wheelchair. For questions, call the information desk at 916-734-5959.
For information on accommodations near the UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center, click here.
Cancer treatment often requires surgery. If you need surgery, it will take place either in the UC Davis Health's outpatient surgery center or the Main Hospital. A team of nurses and surgery coordinators will work with you and your physician to help plan your surgery.
You can expect outstanding treatment and care at the surgery center and the Main Hospital. The depth of expertise and resources at UC Davis Health including our use of advanced medical technology, has enabled UC Davis Health to be one of U.S. News and World Report's top hospitals in the nation for 16 consecutive years.