This information explains what to expect during your treatment at the Evelyn H. Lauder Breast Center infusion suite. The Evelyn H. Lauder Breast Center is sometimes called the Breast and Imaging Center (BAIC).
About the Infusion Suite
The infusion suite (also called the chemo suite) is located in the Evelyn H. Lauder Breast Center. The address is:
Evelyn H. Lauder Breast Center
3rd Floor
300 East 66th Street (at Second Avenue)
New York, NY 10065
You’ll get your treatment in a private room. Each room has:
- A reclining chair where you will sit during your treatment.
- Extra chairs for your guests.
- A television and DVD player
- Wireless Internet (Wi-Fi)
Warm blankets and a pillow are available to make you more comfortable.
Length of Treatment Visit
Your treatment visit may last several hours.
- You may have your blood drawn to be sure that your blood counts are in a safe range for treatment.
- You may have an appointment with your doctor or nurse practitioner before your treatment.
- The pharmacy staff will get your treatment ready for you. Some medications and chemotherapy take longer to get ready than others, so waiting times are different for everyone.
- Specially trained pharmacists and nurses will check your chemotherapy to make sure it’s the right one that your healthcare provider ordered for you.
Treatment times are also different for everyone. Some treatments are short, and others can take several hours. If your treatment is longer or you’re getting treatments for a clinical trial, you may need to have your appointment in the morning to make sure there’s enough time to finish your treatment.
Getting Ready for Your Treatment
Follow the steps below to get ready for your treatment before coming in for your appointment.
- Arrive on time for your appointment.
- Dress comfortably.
- Eat a light meal before you come unless your healthcare provider gives you other instructions.
- Stay hydrated by drinking water or other drinks without caffeine.
- Pack some snacks or a light lunch to bring with you. There’s a refrigerator available to store cold food items.
- If you’re scalp cooling (a treatment that can prevent hair loss caused by some chemotherapy medications), make sure you’ve watched the scalp cooling video and practiced putting on the cap before you come for your chemotherapy appointment.
Developmental Treatment Unit (DTU)
This is the unit that cares for people in clinical trials. You may be in this unit if you’re part of a clinical trial.
If you’re in a clinical trial in the DTU, your visit times may be very specific, and you may need to fast. You may also have blood tests or EKGs (electrocardiogram tests that measure the electrical activity in your heart) during your treatment. Your healthcare provider will go over all these details with you before you come in for treatment.
When You Arrive at the Infusion Center
Before your infusion:
- If your healthcare provider told you that you need a fingerstick blood test (when your finger is pricked to get a small blood sample), go to the lab on the 1st floor before going to the 3rd floor for treatment.
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You may have an appointment with your healthcare provider before your treatment. Check the schedule that’s given to you, or in your patient portal (MyMSK) to see the time of your appointment in the infusion suite.
- There will be time between your appointment with your healthcare provider and your appointment in the infusion suite. This time is used to check your orders and prepare your medication. You may wait in the infusion suite (to avoid crowding in the waiting room) during this time.
- If you don’t have to see your healthcare provider, check in with the Care Coordinator at the reception desk in the lobby of the 3rd floor. You should check in no more than 15 minutes before your appointment time. You’ll be taken in for treatment based on your appointment time, not the time you arrived.
- While you wait for your appointment to begin is a good time to leave new prescriptions or request refills at the outpatient pharmacy, located next to the infusion unit. They’ll be ready when your treatment is finished.
- The Chemo Information Care Coordinator on the 3rd floor is available to answer your questions. If you leave the waiting room, leave your cell phone number with the Care Coordinator so the staff can reach you when your treatment is ready.
Getting Your Treatment
The Care Coordinator will bring you to your private room in the infusion suite, and let you know when your medications and chemotherapy are ready.
- You’ll be asked to state and spell your name and birth date many times. This is for your safety. People with the same or similar names may be having treatment on the same day you are.
- Specially trained nurses will take care of you during your treatment. To shorten your wait time, you may not be treated by the same nurse at each visit. But all the nurses will know about your treatment.
- Before your treatment, your nurse will ask about your symptoms and discuss your treatment for that day. This is a good time to ask questions you might have.
- To start your treatment, your nurse will put an intravenous (IV) line (a needle that goes into your vein to give you medication) in your arm. If you have an implanted port, such as a MediPort®, your nurse will access it with a special needle.
After Your Treatment
Before you leave the treatment area:
- Your nurse will go over any instructions related to your treatment. Ask your nurse any questions you have.
- Schedule your next appointment with the Care Coordinator at the checkout desk in the waiting area.
- Pick up your prescriptions or refills at our outpatient pharmacy, located next to the infusion suite.
At Home
- A nurse will call you 1 to 3 days after your first treatment to see how you’re feeling.
- If you have questions that can’t wait or any unexpected symptoms, call your healthcare provider’s office.
Other Services at the Evelyn H. Lauder Breast Center
Many support services are available to you at Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK) and the Evelyn H. Lauder Breast Center. Read the resources Breast and Imaging Center (BAIC) Support Services and MSK Support Services for more information about support services.
Some examples of services available at the Evelyn H. Lauder Breast Center are:
- Clinical dietitian-nutritionists can talk with you about your diet during chemotherapy. Talk with your nurse or Care Coordinator if you’d like to make an appointment with a clinical dietitian nutritionist at the Evelyn H. Lauder Breast Center.
- Social workers are available to meet with you privately at the Evelyn H. Lauder Breast Center. You can also join a support group or meet privately with a psychiatrist if needed.
- Online support groups are also available. You can learn more about these and view a schedule at www.mskcc.org/vp.
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A massage therapist is available in the infusion suite several days per week to give short massages and provide other services to help you relax during your treatment. Massages are free of charge.
- Integrative Medicine also offers appointments for acupuncture, mind and body therapies, and fitness sessions. You can learn more about their services at www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/diagnosis-treatment/symptom-management/integrative-medicine. To make an appointment, call 646-449-1010.
- A chaplain (spiritual counselor) is available to meet with you privately during your visit or to talk by phone.
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Other services and their locations are listed below.
- Library: 2nd floor
- Retail pharmacy: 3rd floor
