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Menendez, Alvaro, MD

Language

English, French, Spanish

Providing the best care to our patients and their companions requires communicating in a way everyone understands. Interpreter services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. All spoken languages are available, as well as American Sign Language (AS/L).


Specialties
Accepting New Patients
  • Medical Oncology – Board Certified
  • Hematology / Oncology

Areas of Expertise
Breast Cancer, Cancer Prevention, High Risk Patients

Hospitals and Organizations

  • Backus Hospital
  • Hartford HealthCare Medical Group
  • Hartford Hospital
  • Integrated Care Partners

Education

Medical School
Delgado University

Internship
Roger Williams Medical Center
Boston University School of Medicine

Residency
Roger Williams Medical Center
Boston University School of Medicine

Fellowship
Indiana University School of Medicine

Reviews

Verified Patient Reviews

5 out of 5 stars

I've trusted Dr Menendez since the first day we talked about my condition. He ensures I know what is going to happen. I appreciate him.

5 out of 5 stars

My oncologist is always thorough in his explanations and provides options and information that I can pursue on my own; also access to research and information regarding new possibilities

5 out of 5 stars

Dr Menendez always takes the time to listen to my concerns and explains everything professionally, yet in a manner that lets you know he cares.

5 out of 5 stars

Always pleasant and informative.

5 out of 5 stars

Dr. Is excellent in discussing care & further tests needed & when & makes sure any questions are answered satisfactorily. Superb!!!

5 out of 5 stars

I really liked Dr Menendez he explained everything in terms I understood. He took the time to answer all my questions and even gave me a tour of the chemo suite.

5 out of 5 stars

Every thing was good. Besides I up all night.

5 out of 5 stars

Dr. Allen is one of the finest, most caring doctors I've ever interacted with, I'm so grateful he is part of my care team.


Other Reviews from Around the Web

5 out of 5 stars

(Translated by Google) My Doctor, the best, very dedicated to his patients, may God always bless him. (Original) Mi Doctor,El mejor muy dedicado a sus pacientes que Dios lo bendiga siempre.

5 out of 5 stars

Cannot say enough good about Dr. Menendez. He listens and explains everything clearly. Answers all your questions. If something is not working he has a backup plan. If there are any issues he deals with them immediately. He helps me stay positive.

5 out of 5 stars

(Translated by Google) Dr. Alvaro Menendez is an excellent doctor. Very kind and attentive to his patients. He is a wonderful human being. God bless him 🙏 (Original) El doctor, Alvaro Menendez es un excelente doctor. Muy amable y al pendiente de sus pacien. Es excelente ser humano. Dios lo bendiga 🙏

5 out of 5 stars

Dr. Menendez is knowledgeable, explains things well and is a great listener. He is compassionate and makes you feel that you are important to him.

5 out of 5 stars

All the staff from the front desk to Dr. Mendez are not only professional but kind and willing to spend time with you no matter how busy they are. thank you

5 out of 5 stars

I switched doctors from Dr dost to Dr menendez who was excellent. He was thorough, kind, listened called in my prescription immediately. I would highly recommend him

5 out of 5 stars

He was my second oncologist. My first one didn’t listen to me and just put me on meds without testing. Dr Menendez listened, spent time explaining, did testing, and spent time answering my questions. I’m so relieved I finally found someone I can trust.

5 out of 5 stars

Dr Menendez is always attentive and caring. Has a quiet sense of humor

5 out of 5 stars

Dr. Menendez is a skilled, caring physician. The staff at the Helen & Harry Cancer Center is as well.

5 out of 5 stars

I am so grateful to the entire team who always treat me with so much care and professionalism… Dr. Alvaro Menendez is an angel in my life… always taking care of my case with care and dedication.

5 out of 5 stars

MUCH LOVE N MY WELL BEING.

1 out of 5 stars

I had 2 drs before seeing Dr. Alvaro Menendez. I liked Dr. Menendez at first. He was very attentive and explained everything really well. I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer in 2018. I had to have a double mastectomy. He came into my life after my chemo and radiation had ended as both of my 2 other Oncologist’s had retired. During the chemo treatment I was 1st getting Doxarubican and was supposed to have 4 treatments of it. My first chemo treatment I had congestive heart failure and ended up in the hospital for a week and a half. Then 2 weeks after giving me it, he gave it to me again and I ended up having congestive heart failure again and pneumonia. I was in the hospital another week and a half which was not Dr Menendez’s fault but he knew of my background. I had another 4 treatments of something else which I did ok on. So instead of giving me 8 treatments I only received 6. I would have thought they might have given me 6 treatments of the other chemo to make up for the 2 treatments of doxarubican I couldn’t have but I figured they knew what they were doing. So right after I as finished with my chemo and radiation I acquired Dr. Menendez as my Doctor. ( I should note that the reason I got the breast cancer was due to having Secondary Cancer from having Cobalt radiation in 1987 for Hodgkins Disease that was in my neck, under my arms and the between my lungs. I received 3rd degree burns on the back of my neck and in my armpits from the Cobalt radiation they gave me at that time. It was so bad that I never grew hair back again. Back then that was all they knew so I can’t really blame them.They kept me alive) For the 7 years that I was in Dr. Menendez’s care I went regularly to him and not once was I given a scan of my chest or under my arm where they took lymph nodes out. I would go in there and he’d give me a physical and do bloodwork. I asked him at about the 6 1/2 year mark, can you tell by the bloodwork if I get the cancer back again? He said yes. Well about 6 months later I was diagnosed with Metastatic Breast Cancer that spread to my bones, lungs and lymph nodes. I saw him one more time after that and I said to him, you said that you could find out by the bloodwork if I had gotten breast cancer again and you said yes. Well, after my treatment in 2018 was over I tried taking the 5 year pill your supposed to take and couldn’t take it because it made all my muscles hurt. He tried a few of them and they all did the same thing. So I couldn’t go on them.( I would think that would be more reason to get scanned often. ) He said to me, well that’s if you are on the 5 year pill. I said you never told me that. He said he did but he didn’t or I would have insisted he gave me a scan. If I didn’t insist he should have known to. I would not have cancer this bad if it wasn’t for him not doing any scans. So now I have to have chemo 3 times a month for the rest of my life and I will always have to live with cancer the rest of my life and they can’t tell me what my lifespan will be. They say it could be months or it could be years. I wish I would have done more research before I went under the care of Dr. Menendez.

5 out of 5 stars

I don't usually give reviews on doctors. But, I have to with Dr. Menendez. When I was going through this experience. He was the only doctor I felt heard me. He never ignored my symptoms. He told me exactly what was happening to me or he would run test to figure it out. He goes above an beyond to help you. He's an amazing, caring, considerate and attentive doctor. I would recommend him to anyone that has to go through this experience.

Bio

Dr. Alvaro Menendez is a hematologist and medical oncologist seeing patients at the Hartford HealthCare Cancer Centers at Hartford and Windham hospitals.

Board-certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine, he is a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology and American Society of Hematology. His areas of interest include breast oncology, integrative medicine and disparities and minority oncology. He has conducted research into the benefits of massage to combat cancer pain, hypogonadism after chemotherapy and the use of complementary and alternative medicine with conventional oncology treatment.

Dr. Menendez, who is fluent in Spanish and French, is a graduate of Universidad Dr. Jose Matias Delgado in El Salvador, and completed his internship and residency through Brown University at Roger Williams Medical Center. He also completed a fellowship in hematology and medical oncology at Indiana University School of Medicine.

News

Insurance

Aetna, Anthem, BCBS Medicare, CarePartners of Connecticut, Cigna Healthcare, Colonial Cooperative Care, Community Health Network of Connecticut, Inc., Connecticare, Connecticare Commercial, Connecticare Medicare, Corvel, Coventry, Essence Healthcare, Evercare, First Health Group Corp., Focus, Health Connecticut, Health Direct, Health New England, Healthy Connecticut, Northeast Health Direct, One Health Plan/ Great-West Healthcare, Oxford Health Plans, Prime Health Services, Private Health Care Systems, Inc., Senior Whole Health, United Healthcare, WellCare of Connecticut, Inc.

This information is subject to change at any time. Please check with your insurance provider before scheduling your appointment or receiving services to confirm they are a participating member of the Hartford HealthCare network.

Covered by Financial Assistance policy.

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