Choosing the Right Doctor:

Something that has come up time and time again when talking to people with a chronic illness is the importance of being comfortable with your doctor. Many people feel that because they were referred to a doctor or they started treatment with a doctor that they are stuck with this doctor forever. Nothing could be further from the truth.

When I first got sick, I just itched a lot and had a fever that seemingly had no reason. I went to my doctor and he told me that I wasn't sick and basically made me feel I was wasting his time. Luckily I decided he was wrong and went to someone else who ultimately found the Hodgkin's. If I had trusted the first doctor I wouldn't know today what was really wrong with me.

Right now your relationship with your doctor is the most important relationship in your life. If you aren't 100% comfortable with her, change doctors.

Some signs of trouble are:

1) You don't think your doctor listens to you and what you try to say.

2) You don't feel comfortable asking questions.

3) You don't think you can say NO to anything you aren't comfortable doing. Remember the choice is always yours.

4) You don't think you are getting the explanations of what is happening that you need and desire.

5) You don't trust your doctor.

If you feel one of the things above decide how important this problem is for you. If you feel more than one I would seriously consider looking for another doctor. The oncologist and primary care physicians I have now I trust 100% and I think that I am receiving exceptional care. If that feeling ever waivers, however, I will change doctors immediately. Remember, your doctor is treating you, the patient, not just the disease.

If you want help checking out your doctor, or to be referred to a new one, you might try calling one of these numbers:

The American Cancer Society: 1-800-ACS-2345

National Cancer Institute and Physician Data Query: 1-800-4CANCER

Leukemia Society of America: 1-800-284-4271

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