You are here: Home Managing Your ... Breast Cancer Advanced Breast ... Choose The Best ...
Information about all aspects of finances affected by a serious health condition. Includes income sources such as work, investments, and private and government disability programs, and expenses such as medical bills, and how to deal with financial problems.
Information about all aspects of health care from choosing a doctor and treatment, staying safe in a hospital, to end of life care. Includes how to obtain, choose and maximize health insurance policies.
Answers to your practical questions such as how to travel safely despite your health condition, how to avoid getting infected by a pet, and what to say or not say to an insurance company.

Advanced Breast Cancer: Managing Your Medical Care: Diagnosis To Treatment Decision

Choose The Best Available Cancer Doctor (An Oncologist).

Next » « Previous

9/24

Doctors who specialize in the treatment of cancer are known as Oncologists (on -col-o-gists). 

The three primary types of oncologists are:

  • Surgical oncologists who specialize in the surgical removal of cancer tumors.
  • Medical oncologists who specialize in chemotherapy treatments.
  • Radiation oncologists who specialize in treating cancer with radiation.

Take time choosing the best cancer doctors available. Many people make the choice by the seat of their pants, often on the belief that a choice has to be made right away. In fact, there is generally time to gather facts and make a reasoned decision. 

The doctor who gave you your diagnosis can tell you how much time you have. It is not unusual to have at least three or four weeks after diagnosis to get treatment started.

Survivorship A to Z has a document noted in "To Learn More" about how to choose an oncologist, including how to locate potential candidates. As you will see, one of the factors to consider is the hospital he or she is affiliated with.

In addition to the standard questions, consider other aspects you may want in a doctor. For instance, some women still want an "omniscient" doctor to tell them what to do. Others prefer doctors who will discuss everything with them. And still others want a great deal of information but prefer to defer to the doctor for decision making. There is no right or wrong style. Do not feel guilty if your needs are not the same as those of your friend or neighbor. Remember, the key is what works best for you.

Interview several doctors until you find the one that is best suited to your individual needs.

If there are several doctors you like and you are having difficulty choosing among them, Survivorship A to Z provides an easy to use Evaluator in "To Learn More."

NOTES:

  • If you haven't already, this is a time to learn how to maximize your time with a doctor. Even if you are used to working with doctors, Survivorship A to Z information is likely to provide suggestions for making your limited time with a doctor more effective.
  • Look at the Survivorship A to Z article about how to get through waiting periods. In the current case, the techniques can be used while waiting for appointments to permit you to make your decision as an informed consumer.

Please share how this information is useful to you. 0 Comments

 

Post a Comment Have something to add to this topic? Contact Us.

Characters remaining:

  • Allowed markup: <a> <i> <b> <em> <u> <s> <strong> <code> <pre> <p>
    All other tags will be stripped.