If your doctor is not interested in answering your questions or working with you to find answers to something that does not have an answer right now, find a new doctor. 

If you missed Cancer Truth Note: #349, check it out.

It is shockingly common how many cancer survivors change oncologists or other practitioners after cancer treatment. Especially when we have issues. I considered it after my allergic reaction and unacceptable responses. My oncologist and I can have open conversations and we can actually come to common ground. Even when that requires him to come a little more to my side than he might love. So far we are nearing the seven year post treatment mark and I am still doing ok. I am probably doing better than I would have if I stuck it out on a med that I was allergic to.

That was a hard conversation. We talked it through and he was able to understand the potential long term implications.

My husband and I have had a challenging medical road these past few years. He was seeing a rheumatologist who basically sent him for an MRI, said I don’t see anything here that interests me. I hear that you are in pain, but there is nothing I can do. You can come back if you want, but I don’t see the point. She didn’t even mention the actual results of the MRI which sent him down the path of a different specialist. When I asked about that part of the report she said, Oh you would see this kind of doctor. You could try that. If I had not asked she would not have provided that guidance. Completely unacceptable. 

For the past year, he has been seeing a rheumatologist who is curious and willing to figure out what is happening. Based on a recent recommendation from her, he got an answer. 

We do not need to live in pain. We need to find doctors who are willing to help when you don’t fit in the box. Because when it comes to cancer survivorship the box doesn’t even exist yet.

Are you navigating something post cancer treatment that you need help with?

Continue the conversation in the facebook group Surviving is JUST the Beginning or follow me on Instagram.