Cancer care is a multi-faceted task, and a reputable treatment center is critical in obtaining the best service for your medical needs. Listed here are 5 top cancer treatment centers in America, in a traditional hospital setting. Not all centers are alike; some will have a higher level of expertise in certain cancer types than others; therefore, it is suggested to do as much research as you can to find the center that is highly-ranked in your specialty.

MD Anderson Cancer Center

First on the list is the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center , with a focus on the excellence of their people, research-driven patient care and science. With a mission to eliminate cancer in Texas, the nation, and the world, they are committed to their core values which include caring, integrity and knowledge. MD Anderson’s main campus can be found at the Texas Medical Center in Houston. They also retain a number of regional care centers in other states. MD Anderson’s noteworthy reputation includes the fact that for seven of the past nine years (including 2010), they ranked #1 in cancer care in the “America’s Best Hospitals” survey published by U.S. News and World Report.

Memorial Sloan-Kettering

Our next two listings will be found on the east coast, starting with Memorial Sloan-Kettering in New York. It is the oldest and largest cancer center founded in 1884. Adjacent to the hospital is the Sloan-Kettering Institute, a premier biomedical research institution. Sloan-Kettering is committed to development of community-based outpatient cancer treatment facilities which bring expert care closer to patients in the area. Their main campus is located on the upper east side of Manhattan, however their outpatient treatment centers can be found in several locations including Long Island, Westchester County and New Jersey.

Additionally, in 2004, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center set up a graduate school offering a PhD program in cancer biology to support ongoing cancer research and support for patients.

Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center (Johns Hopkins Hospital)

Our next listing, the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, is also referred to as John Hopkins Hospital and is located in Baltimore, Maryland. Hopkins utilizes some of the most innovative and advanced therapies in cancer research. At John Hopkins, the research scientists and clinicians work closely together to incorporate their findings into the clinical setting so the patients can benefit from the newest options available.

Hopkins also provides a variety of specialty programs for both adults and children coping with cancer as well as a comprehensive genetics service to help those at high risk for breast, ovarian, colon and other types of cancer. In addition, they provide a Cancer Counseling Center for patients and their families traveling from out of state.

University of Washington Medical Center (Seattle)

On the west coast we find the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle, Washington. Their clinics cover each type of cancer and focus on new approaches to cancer treatment and care through clinical trials and therapies. Patient care is handled using an alliance of three medical facilities, the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, UW Medicine and Seattle Children’s, which combine to form Seattle Cancer Care Alliance. Their goal is to provide access to leading-edge research trials for many types of cancer using a team approach to treatment.

Mayo Clinic Cancer Center

Our final listing, found in Rochester, Minnesota, is the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, which is considered one of the best in patient satisfaction. Mayo utilizes its three campuses in Arizona, Florida and Rochester to provide services to a diverse population. The center’s primary goal is to lessen the burden of cancer on society. Utilizing their philosophy to develop medicine as a cooperative effort between the clinician, the specialist and laboratory workers, Mayo readily translates information gained from their research programs into patient care. In other words, they strive to use new discoveries and information as quickly as possible to help as many cancer patients as possible.