Doctors and DX

SwingBridgeTSI
SwingBridgeTSI Member Posts: 78
edited March 2014 in Young Cancer Survivors #1
My sister/ best friend well her other friend who I became friends with just started with testing of abnormal cells that were found and they both got freaked out when first thing the doctor said was cancer. I told her it may be nothing but when they heard a 45% chance of cancer they got freaked out.

I hate how doctors approach this because I was told there was a 0% I had cancer and it was cancer all because the first thing out of his mouth was you dont fit the criteria. I love to see doctors saying the first thing they are testing for is cancer but it freaks people out. I wish there was an easier way like tell people ok we are treating this as cancer because thats the thats on the top of the list for the first thing that has to be proved it not to be before we can test for anything else. I am just frustrated with it I guess cause I watch people like me wait 9 months or longer and the doctors tellin them the whole time its not cancer then it is.... then I see those that the doctors tell them it only can be cancer when there is more of a possibility its something else. I just wish doctors would tell all the posibilities it could be then just say well we need to test for cancer first. I dont know if anyone else had this problem or not but let me know.

Kristin

Comments

  • shmurciakova
    shmurciakova Member Posts: 906 Member
    #2
    Personally, I don't think they should say one way or the other until all the test results are in. I mean, why get someone all freaked out for nothing. I also hate when they begin spewing statistics. Either she has cancer or she does not. It is 100% or it is 0%. Besides, all of the statistics are based on the "average cancer patient" for any given type of cancer, that usually means an older person. In which case, the people are probably not in as good pysical condition as us young folks.
    I did not have anyone tell me that they thought I had cancer, but when they got back my test results they go "We need your husband to come in w/ you so that we will all be on the same page". I could not believe that! So essentially they told me my test results, in a very blunt way w/o actually telling me.
    I think most doctors could use continuing ed in the realm of bedside manner.
  • SwingBridgeTSI
    SwingBridgeTSI Member Posts: 78
    #3
    shmurciakova said:

    Personally, I don't think they should say one way or the other until all the test results are in. I mean, why get someone all freaked out for nothing. I also hate when they begin spewing statistics. Either she has cancer or she does not. It is 100% or it is 0%. Besides, all of the statistics are based on the "average cancer patient" for any given type of cancer, that usually means an older person. In which case, the people are probably not in as good pysical condition as us young folks.
    I did not have anyone tell me that they thought I had cancer, but when they got back my test results they go "We need your husband to come in w/ you so that we will all be on the same page". I could not believe that! So essentially they told me my test results, in a very blunt way w/o actually telling me.
    I think most doctors could use continuing ed in the realm of bedside manner.

    It just annoyed me because my case was a 0% chance and my friend joyce they are treating as a 100% chance the doc said there is a 45% chance its cancer and thats the only thing they told her that they believe its cancer and only cancer.

    I think something is sooo wrong with that...That was wrong tha they asked to see your hubby and that would freak him out. I just wish there was a better way for docs to do this like right. its like ok what if it was YOU and not us sitting there. How would u want to be treated but doctors forget compassion sometimes it seems.... my one doc was so sure it wasnt cancer that I could of sued him because he didnt think it as a posibility it took 9 months to get the dx and even at that point I got lucky the biopsy got the cancer within the scar tissue.

    Yes the stats are all based on those most likely 2 times our age so when it comes down to it... they say 45% that means like 10% to us. but its like there is no collective info on those our age that get it. if there is the doc thinks its minor unless its a childhood cancer thats when the info is more accurate....

    anyway glad to hear from u.
  • char1970
    char1970 Member Posts: 17
    #4
    i too was one of those who didn't fit the criteria therefore my doc was confident it wasn't cancer. his observation changed immediately upon entering my bone tumor. my gutt feeling were confirmed with a phone call the day after the bone biopsy to meet in his office the next day.

    if there was only a way to teach bedside manners. unfortunately, u have them or u don't. it's life altering occurrences where the doc is put into the patient role that they sometimes see the light.

    just keep praying that i can continue to benefit from all i've learned as a cancer survivor. and that my experiences will be able to help someone else not have to go through all i did.

    char
  • SwingBridgeTSI
    SwingBridgeTSI Member Posts: 78
    #5
    char1970 said:

    i too was one of those who didn't fit the criteria therefore my doc was confident it wasn't cancer. his observation changed immediately upon entering my bone tumor. my gutt feeling were confirmed with a phone call the day after the bone biopsy to meet in his office the next day.

    if there was only a way to teach bedside manners. unfortunately, u have them or u don't. it's life altering occurrences where the doc is put into the patient role that they sometimes see the light.

    just keep praying that i can continue to benefit from all i've learned as a cancer survivor. and that my experiences will be able to help someone else not have to go through all i did.

    char

    Thanks for your imput char I am happy to have you here and we all can bennifit from eachother by sharing our experiences. so if u have anything you would like to vent on or share feel free to post a topic for us to discuss or just anything u want to say!
    *hugs*
    Kristin
  • mc2001
    mc2001 Member Posts: 343
    #6
    I was first Dx'd with the a virus such as flu. Then when I went back to ask for blood work, the results were off the charts!
  • SwingBridgeTSI
    SwingBridgeTSI Member Posts: 78
    #7
    mc2001 said:

    I was first Dx'd with the a virus such as flu. Then when I went back to ask for blood work, the results were off the charts!

    it sounds kinda odd MC? but then again most our stories often dont seem right....

    Kristin

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