I’m on a bit of a rant this afternoon.
Twice this week I’ve had calls from friends who have asked for a translation. Their cancer doctors have spoken to them about their disease, but they’ve talked “around” the message. In fact, my friends have asked me what certain terms mean because these doctors couldn’t come to grips with speaking openly and in street language and not “medical speak.”
These calls have been filled with anxiety and tears. “Why can’t they just talk to us and tell us what’s going on?”
That is one question I can not answer.
So much of cancer world has changed. Thankfully, part of that has included straight talk from doctors to their patients. In many med schools now, young doctors are being schooled in how to talk to patients. Most family members and patients alike want to know the facts. The facts include the truth. They don’t want “code” words and medical book lingo to get in the way of an explanation and treatment plan.
The people I heard from are educated and although they are frightened because cancer has entered their lives, they are much more annoyed at how evasive their physicians have been when explaining test results and prognosis of their disease.
These particular doctors aren’t doing their patients any favors. The word CANCER has been introduced into their world. It’s time to speak clearly, so they can understand what comes next.
August 12, 2015 @ 5:56 am
I’m recently diagnosed with Appendiceal cancer- after weeks of hospitalization I was referred to an attending oncologist who was part of my medical team at the hospital.
Ensuing conversations with my doctor I realized she’s not familiar with treating this rare cancer.
Do you know anything about HIPEC surgery…?My Dr told me it’s ‘No big deal’.
I was flabbergasted when speaking with my nurse practitioner from LiveStrong and she explained some specifics about this procedure.
After hanging up I did my own research.
‘No big deal’?
It’s a very big deal.
I’m having this surgery in Miami next month.
When we were introducing ourselves I asked the Doc to be as upfront as possible with my son and me.
She is refreshingly honest- she knows that we need facts and had respected this mandate with us.
We are pragmatic people- armed with the truth we know we can move forward.
Keep changing the route… That leads to uncertain faith in the doctor’s ability.
Part of our responsibility is to learn as much as we can about our cancer & the treatments available.
Learn how to speak with your doctor.
°°°°°
I highly recommend everybody to read “Own Your Cancer” by Dr Peter Edelstein. I’m still reading this book and thank God it was gifted to me early on while I was still reeling from this diagnosis.
All the best!
July 22, 2015 @ 4:18 pm
Thx for being there to offer support and an explanation. Sad to hear that their docs are not schooled in being honest and maybe blunt without eliminating all HOPE. They should become educated as best they can in their specific type of cancer, treatments available, what the Stages mean, what the tests do or provide, advantages and disadvantages of various treatments plus doing nothing. I’ve had 2 friends with melanoma who decided to do nothing and live at peace with their decisions.
Some people may need an advocate to help them to navigate this scary and sometimes confusing world of cancer. The advocate can school them with the questions they need to ask before going to doc and someone who goes to the doc needs to take notes with the answers given. Persistence is necessary to get the clarity needed to their specific situation.