What a difference a doctor makes!

Ok, so let me ask…. are any of you married to your doctor?   .   .   .   .   .  I thought not. So I will tell you, you don’t have to stay with a doctor you are not comfortable with. When vulnerable, we tend to accept what we are given and don’t think about any changes. There’s already too much going on to focus on that. But sometimes you must, if the feeling is strong enough that your patient/doctor relationship is out of whack. Case in point, today I went to an appointment with a new medical oncologist. I thought long and hard about this because it is never fun changing. But your relationship with your oncologist is a lifetime relationship. Once you’ve been given the “C-Card” you need to be on alert. To me, this relationship is an important one. What I had was a doctor who I felt rushed me and didn’t discuss things fully with me. I didn’t feel a connection. But today after seeing my new oncologist, I had robust discussion about my family history and how that might play into my case. I know more scientific facts about classes of medications and their impact. We talked about genetic testing, when it is warranted and what it may show us. I had a doctor who engaged with me and listened.  When I left the appointment with additional follow-up for some of the things we discussed, I almost wanted to cry. I had made the right decision. My message to each of you is to really look at who is providing your care. Don’t settle. You need to engage in determining your path to recovery. I did and I’m glad.