You’ve probably seen the sign driving down Centennial Boulevard. It’s huge. It’s white. It carries the weight of a name—MD Anderson—that basically sounds like the "Final Boss" of cancer treatment. But if you’re standing in a South Jersey kitchen holding a fresh diagnosis, you don't care about branding. You want to know if the MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper Voorhees is just a satellite office with a fancy logo or if it actually brings that Houston-level "big gun" medicine to our backyard.
Honestly, the partnership between Cooper University Health Care and MD Anderson (which started back in 2013) isn't just marketing fluff. It’s a literal pipeline. They use the same treatment protocols here as they do in Texas. If you’re being treated in Voorhees, you’re technically in the same system that gets ranked #1 in the nation year after year.
But let’s get into the weeds of what happens when you actually walk through the doors at 900 Centennial Blvd.
Why the Voorhees Location is Different
Most people think they have to go to the main hub in Camden for the "real" treatment. That’s a mistake. While the Camden building is a $100 million flagship, the Voorhees site is designed for the reality of cancer: the grueling, day-to-day appointments that make you hate your car.
Voorhees is where the rubber meets the road for medical oncology and radiation oncology.
It’s about convenience without the "convenience store" level of care. You’ve got experts like Dr. Jonathan Pan and Dr. Rama Sudhindra right there. These aren't just general practitioners who dabble in oncology; they are specialists who live and breathe specific cancer types. You aren't just a "breast cancer patient" or a "lung cancer patient." You’re someone who needs a very specific molecular profile analyzed.
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The multidisciplinary thing is real
At a lot of hospitals, you see your surgeon on Monday, your oncologist on Thursday, and your radiation guy whenever he has a slot. It’s a mess. You end up being the messenger, carrying your own charts and trying to explain what the last doctor said.
At MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper Voorhees, they do this "multidisciplinary" thing where the team actually talks to each other. Sometimes they meet in the same room to hash out your case. It sounds simple, but in the world of American healthcare, it’s practically a miracle.
The Tech: It’s Not Just About Big Machines
Everyone brags about their machines. "We have a new X-ray!" Cool. But in Voorhees, the focus is heavily on precision radiation.
Take the MR-Linac, for example. While the specific MR-Linac hub is nearby in Mount Laurel, the Voorhees location acts as a critical entry point for these advanced protocols. Radiation is scary because it’s basically controlled burning. You want it to hit the tumor, not your healthy tissue. The tech they use here tracks your tumor in real-time. If you breathe and your tumor moves three millimeters, the machine knows.
- Targeted Therapy: Instead of "carpet bombing" your body with chemo, they use drugs that seek out specific genetic markers.
- Clinical Trials: This is the big one. Because of the MD Anderson link, patients in Voorhees get access to trials that aren't available at your local community hospital. We’re talking about drugs that won’t be "standard" for another five years.
- Infusion Suite: It’s not a dark basement. The infusion area is designed to be... well, as not-depressing as possible.
The "Human" Problems: Wait Times and Coordination
Look, no place is perfect. If you read the Reddit threads or talk to people in the waiting room, you’ll hear the same gripes you hear at any top-tier center.
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It’s busy.
Because it’s a "Center of Excellence," everyone wants in. This can lead to some bureaucratic headaches. You might feel like a number for a second when you’re dealing with the front desk or trying to get a biopsy scheduled. Some patients have noted that communication can get dropped if you don't have a "navigator" (a staff member whose whole job is to hold your hand through the process).
Pro tip: Ask for a Patient Navigator immediately. They are the "secret sauce" of the Cooper system. They handle the scheduling nightmares so you don't have to.
What Cancers Do They Specialize In?
You can go there for almost anything, but the Voorhees and Camden teams are particularly known for:
- The Janet Knowles Breast Cancer Center: One of the most robust programs in the region.
- Gastrointestinal Cancer: Think colon, pancreas, and liver.
- Hematologic Cancers: Leukemias and lymphomas.
- Head and Neck: They have a dedicated team for this, which is rare for a suburban office.
If you have a "standard" cancer, you’ll get world-class care. If you have a rare, "one-in-a-million" situation, this is where you go because they can phone a friend in Houston who has seen it ten times this month.
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Is It Worth the Drive?
If you live in Cherry Hill, Marlton, or Medford, it’s a no-brainer. But what if you’re further out?
Honestly, for a second opinion? Yes. Always. Even if you don't get your treatment there, having an MD Anderson at Cooper doctor look at your scans is worth the peace of mind. They might see a clinical trial opportunity your local doctor missed.
The Voorhees location is at 900 Centennial Blvd, Voorhees, NJ 08043.
The phone number is 855.MDA.COOPER.
Making the Most of Your Visit
Don't just show up and let them "do" medicine to you. You have to be an active participant.
- Bring your records on a disc. Yes, it's 2026, and we still use discs or digital portals. Don't assume the systems "talk" to each other.
- Write down three questions. Not ten. Three. You’ll forget the rest anyway.
- Bring a "second set of ears." Whether it's a spouse or a friend, you will miss 50% of what the doctor says because your brain is in "fight or flight" mode.
- Check your insurance. Cooper takes most major plans, but MD Anderson protocols can sometimes trigger "out of network" flags for specific high-end tests. Verify it first.
Cancer is a marathon, not a sprint. The MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper Voorhees is basically like having a world-class coaching staff in your neighborhood. It's not always a smooth ride, and the parking lot can be a pain, but the medicine is as good as it gets in the Northeast.
If you’re ready to take the next step, your move is to call their Second Opinion Program. It’s the fastest way to get your case reviewed by the multidisciplinary team without committing to a full transfer of care. This gives you the Houston-level perspective while you decide what's best for your family.