How do you feel about your oncologist?

BioAdoptMom
BioAdoptMom Member Posts: 358
in Breast Cancer #1
After reading some of the posts on this board over the past few days I feel so blessed. The day my surgeon gave me the news that I had BC he told me it was okay to cry and be angry, and that if I needed anything at all not to hesitate to call the office and he or a member of his staff would do whatever they could to help me. My RO, who was the next one I saw, when he found out I loved the sun and the beach, told me it was theraputic and he would do whatever he could to make sure I had the right type of protection so I could enjoy one of life's little pleasures while I was going through chemo and radiation. And my MO asked me questions about the strength of my marriage and how my children were handling the fact that their mom has BC as part of my medical history! I think I am very lucky in this area. So, are you happy with your onco and other BC team doctors, or not?

Nancy
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Comments

  • em h
    em h Member Posts: 23
    #2
    I'm not happy with my
    I'm not happy with my oncologist. I explained that in a long post here. But, he got me through chemo OK and I am grateful for that. I think that would be how he would define what his job is about. He's the only oncologist I've ever had, so I don't know if he's supposed to do more. I know I'm on my own for now.

    I think everyone else, my surgeon and her whole staff, the radiologists, nurses, everyone else has been great. I feel lucky to be alive and these are the people (along with my partner) that I have to thank for my life.

    It's amazing that there are people who devote their lives to helping us. Sometimes I'm overwhelmed when I think of the team that assembled to save me.
  • Hippiechick58
    Hippiechick58 Member Posts: 320
    #3
    em h said:

    I'm not happy with my
    I'm not happy with my oncologist. I explained that in a long post here. But, he got me through chemo OK and I am grateful for that. I think that would be how he would define what his job is about. He's the only oncologist I've ever had, so I don't know if he's supposed to do more. I know I'm on my own for now.

    I think everyone else, my surgeon and her whole staff, the radiologists, nurses, everyone else has been great. I feel lucky to be alive and these are the people (along with my partner) that I have to thank for my life.

    It's amazing that there are people who devote their lives to helping us. Sometimes I'm overwhelmed when I think of the team that assembled to save me.

    My onc is the most wonderful
    My onc is the most wonderful doc I have ever had! She called me after each tx to make sure I was doing okay! How many docs do that? She is smart, compassionate, caring, and never fails to amaze me! I am truly blessed to have her in my life.

    Dianne
  • Lighthouse_7
    Lighthouse_7 Member Posts: 1,566 Member
    #4
    Hippiechick58 said:

    My onc is the most wonderful
    My onc is the most wonderful doc I have ever had! She called me after each tx to make sure I was doing okay! How many docs do that? She is smart, compassionate, caring, and never fails to amaze me! I am truly blessed to have her in my life.

    Dianne

    I love my breast surgeon and
    I love my breast surgeon and I loved all of the staff at radiation center. As far as Oncologists go, I am on my third one and like him enough.

    The first one was uncaring and dismissive of my needs, the second one was just okay but I decided to change because I wanted to go to the same hospital network as my surgeon.

    I envy you ladies and gents who have a great Oncologist because my experience hasn't been very lucky in that area.

    I also have learned from this site that if you feel uncomfortable there is nothing wrong with changing.

    Wanda
  • disneyfan2008
    disneyfan2008 Member Posts: 6,583 Member
    #5
    I am comforable with my oncologist
    BUT I truely love and trust my gyno! When I moved I changed gyno and after one visit went back to him. I have had him for 20+ yrs. MY ONCOLOGIST is nice, caring etc but she recently took me off tamox and next week changing me to something else-anyhow I spoke with gyno to ask what he thought was best. He told me to try what she suggests. NOT that I DO NOT trust her..but JUST really trust him.

    I am not sure if you can follow-

    During my treatment I JUST LOVED everyone in the cancer center! They treated me with respect, by name and all caring...

    Denise
  • Heatherbelle
    Heatherbelle Member Posts: 1,226 Member
    #6
    I'm not happy with mine.
    I'm not happy with mine. Like Em h, he did get me through chemo, and they treated me well, but once chemo was over, he wrote my prescription for tamoxifen & that's that. I'm looking for a new one today actually, because I'm having terrbile side effects that I believe are from the tamoxifen, and my oncologist flat out won't discuss it with me - he just says what i'm experiencing isn't from tamoxifen. I need to know what my options and alternatives are and he isn't giving me any. I refuse to accept that I should live in pain every day. I'm glad you have such a caring doctor, we all should have that!
    *hugs*
    Heather
  • Boppy_of_6
    Boppy_of_6 Member Posts: 1,138
    #7
    Heatherbelle said:

    I'm not happy with mine.
    I'm not happy with mine. Like Em h, he did get me through chemo, and they treated me well, but once chemo was over, he wrote my prescription for tamoxifen & that's that. I'm looking for a new one today actually, because I'm having terrbile side effects that I believe are from the tamoxifen, and my oncologist flat out won't discuss it with me - he just says what i'm experiencing isn't from tamoxifen. I need to know what my options and alternatives are and he isn't giving me any. I refuse to accept that I should live in pain every day. I'm glad you have such a caring doctor, we all should have that!
    *hugs*
    Heather

    Very happy!
    I am very happy with my Onc. His last name is pronounced "rude" but spelled differently. I was talking about him one day and someone thought I was being ugly and that he was rude! Not at all he is wonderful. I really liked my surgeon too she was awesome. I have to be honest though I did not care for my RO at all he was rude. God Bless
    (((hugs))) Janice
  • skipper54
    skipper54 Member Posts: 936 Member
    #8
    Love them all!
    I have been blessed with a great team, onc, surg, rads,everybody and the staff. I put myself in their hands and that got me a clean PET scan and were caring & compassionate throughout. If my onc said I could walk on water I'd believe him and give it a try.
  • jendrey
    jendrey Member Posts: 377
    #9
    skipper54 said:

    Love them all!
    I have been blessed with a great team, onc, surg, rads,everybody and the staff. I put myself in their hands and that got me a clean PET scan and were caring & compassionate throughout. If my onc said I could walk on water I'd believe him and give it a try.

    ...
    My first one couldn't deal with the commute so he left around my last chemo treatment. I was stuck without an oncologist for about 8 months. I finally got to see the remaining oncologist who is a total--and I'm being very generous here--absoloute jerk but seems somewhat compentant.

    Or maybe I'm just desperate! lol =)
  • camul
    camul Member Posts: 2,537
    #10
    I love both my RO and MO. I
    I love both my RO and MO. I have disagreed with my MO, but I respect him and know he is the best. He does listen when I have challenged him and he has taken the time to explain the reasons behind his decisions and he is right. He knows my family (was my moms and is my sons onco) and invites their questions as well.

    I know he has my best interests at heart at all times and this was evident when he diagnosed me with Stage IV, grade 3 and cried right with me and my sons. I am so blessed with the doctors that I have.

    ~Carol
  • Chickadee1955
    Chickadee1955 Member Posts: 355 Member
    #11
    camul said:

    I love both my RO and MO. I
    I love both my RO and MO. I have disagreed with my MO, but I respect him and know he is the best. He does listen when I have challenged him and he has taken the time to explain the reasons behind his decisions and he is right. He knows my family (was my moms and is my sons onco) and invites their questions as well.

    I know he has my best interests at heart at all times and this was evident when he diagnosed me with Stage IV, grade 3 and cried right with me and my sons. I am so blessed with the doctors that I have.

    ~Carol

    I, too, have blessed with
    I, too, have blessed with great doctors all the way around. At first my Onc was a little quiet and I was looking for a little more warm, fuzzy. I realized later that she is just a rather quiet type and was giving me all the space I needed to make my decisions. She has warmed up over time and has always been available. The first time I called in after hours I was actually patched through to her----no leaving a message and waiting for a call back. I was amazed!! She is also a firm believer in using any and all drugs in her arsenal for comfort for her patient. She also made it clear that she would keep me off work as long as I felt I needed to be off, no questions asked. Between her and my surgeons I have been really, really pleased with my treatment.
  • mwallace1325
    mwallace1325 Member Posts: 806
    #12
    Happy
    I love my gyn (he was the one who gave me by biopsy results). He's my calm in a storm because he'll take as much time as I need and let me get as crazy as I need to be, all the while giving off an aura of calm intelligence and caring.
    I love my surgeon. She did a great job on my lumpectomy, port and deporting, answered all my questions and just let me know that she "got it".
    I love my MO. He has great credentials, treated me like a person, not a boob needing chemo (sorry, inappropriate). He answered my questions, let me write down what I needed to know, explained EVERYTHING and went I had my meltdown the day before my ninth taxol (of twelve) he listened to my hysteria, told me I could quit if I needed to and then listened to my hysteria when I flipped my crazy and said I couldn't quit or I'd die. Poor man.
    I'm ambivalent about my ROs. I had two and only saw them once a week for about 3 minutes. I never had any issues or questions by then, so that was a good thing. I had nothing bad to say about them, just wasn't as involved.
    I also LOVED the entire staff in MO and RO's offices. They were the BEST.

    marge
  • cahjah75
    cahjah75 Member Posts: 2,631
    #13
    Nancy
    I'm happy with my whole team. Each has their own personality but all treated me with the utmost respect and listened to my questions. My gyn (who found the lump), my surgeon, my med onc and my rad onc as well as the nurses and rad techs were all wonderful.
    {{hugs}} Char
  • CypressCynthia
    CypressCynthia Member Posts: 4,014 Member
    #14
    I have been married to Danny
    I have been married to Danny 37 years this November. I have been with my oncologist for 24 years. He almost feels like a second husband except he is gay...lol! He is brilliant but not warm and fuzzy, if you know what I mean. But, after all these years, we have grown on each other or we've both mellowed. I think he's a sweetie pie.
  • carkris
    carkris Member Posts: 4,553 Member
    #15
    CypressCynthia said:

    I have been married to Danny
    I have been married to Danny 37 years this November. I have been with my oncologist for 24 years. He almost feels like a second husband except he is gay...lol! He is brilliant but not warm and fuzzy, if you know what I mean. But, after all these years, we have grown on each other or we've both mellowed. I think he's a sweetie pie.

    My oncologist is brilliant
    My oncologist is brilliant also. he has a different affect, and sometimes we dont agree. he knows cancer I will say that. But just like CC I have been with him since 1994, so its an interesting relationship.
  • VickiSam
    VickiSam Member Posts: 9,079 Member
    #16
    carkris said:

    My oncologist is brilliant
    My oncologist is brilliant also. he has a different affect, and sometimes we dont agree. he knows cancer I will say that. But just like CC I have been with him since 1994, so its an interesting relationship.

    My Oncologist is well published, known and
    has an awesome reputation. No bedside manner to speak of, and very clinical. I went toe to toe with him and his PA - Regina, many of times --. He has been there, done that kind of a guy. I insisted he answer all my questions, I insisted that the ER doctor call him when I laid there bleeding from my ears, and eyes -- only then, Dr. M. saw for himself -- what dire health condition I was in. Did I mention, that I saw him every Tuesday for 18 consecutive weeks -- when he press my bones, and checked out my ekg's -- and showed me clinical trial after clinical trail .. stating that I should not be experiencing such terrible -- side efforts...

    Apparently, I made some type of impression on Dr. M -- as he remembers everything about my chemo journey, side efforts and ER visits without looking or glancing at my medical chart! Dr. M starts off each conversation with "That's her, Vicki" off the 'Bell Standard' charts... do I have stories regarding her side efforts.

    I adore and worship my Breast Cancer Specialist -- whom recommended Dr. M. If I had it to do over again, I would of switched Oncologist. Thank God, for Dr. M's Onco RN, who is a 2 time breast cancer survivor, herself. She made my chemo therapy days -- bearable, and offer a wealth of information to me.

    Vicki Sam
  • Ritzy
    Ritzy Member Posts: 4,381 Member
    #17
    Hippiechick58 said:

    My onc is the most wonderful
    My onc is the most wonderful doc I have ever had! She called me after each tx to make sure I was doing okay! How many docs do that? She is smart, compassionate, caring, and never fails to amaze me! I am truly blessed to have her in my life.

    Dianne

    The oncologist I have now is
    The oncologist I have now is super wonderful! She listens, she explains everything, she is caring and I just love her.


    My hubby and her get along great too. They are always joking around.


    Sue :)
  • waffle8
    waffle8 Member Posts: 234
    #18
    VickiSam said:

    My Oncologist is well published, known and
    has an awesome reputation. No bedside manner to speak of, and very clinical. I went toe to toe with him and his PA - Regina, many of times --. He has been there, done that kind of a guy. I insisted he answer all my questions, I insisted that the ER doctor call him when I laid there bleeding from my ears, and eyes -- only then, Dr. M. saw for himself -- what dire health condition I was in. Did I mention, that I saw him every Tuesday for 18 consecutive weeks -- when he press my bones, and checked out my ekg's -- and showed me clinical trial after clinical trail .. stating that I should not be experiencing such terrible -- side efforts...

    Apparently, I made some type of impression on Dr. M -- as he remembers everything about my chemo journey, side efforts and ER visits without looking or glancing at my medical chart! Dr. M starts off each conversation with "That's her, Vicki" off the 'Bell Standard' charts... do I have stories regarding her side efforts.

    I adore and worship my Breast Cancer Specialist -- whom recommended Dr. M. If I had it to do over again, I would of switched Oncologist. Thank God, for Dr. M's Onco RN, who is a 2 time breast cancer survivor, herself. She made my chemo therapy days -- bearable, and offer a wealth of information to me.

    Vicki Sam

    onco doc.
    I love my onco doc. she makes me feel like she has all the time in the world to listen when I tell her about my every ache and pain. Now her staff thats a different story! They were not very helpful or friendly during my chemo treatments! Just found out my doc.is leaving the group. So not sure what I will be doing about that yet!I have till Nov. to decide!
    Blessings!
  • survivorbc09
    survivorbc09 Member Posts: 4,374 Member
    #19
    Heatherbelle said:

    I'm not happy with mine.
    I'm not happy with mine. Like Em h, he did get me through chemo, and they treated me well, but once chemo was over, he wrote my prescription for tamoxifen & that's that. I'm looking for a new one today actually, because I'm having terrbile side effects that I believe are from the tamoxifen, and my oncologist flat out won't discuss it with me - he just says what i'm experiencing isn't from tamoxifen. I need to know what my options and alternatives are and he isn't giving me any. I refuse to accept that I should live in pain every day. I'm glad you have such a caring doctor, we all should have that!
    *hugs*
    Heather

    Mine seems actually kind of
    Mine seems actually kind of shy at times. But, I like him. If I didn't, I would find another one.


    Jan
  • 24242
    24242 Member Posts: 1,398
    #20
    waffle8 said:

    onco doc.
    I love my onco doc. she makes me feel like she has all the time in the world to listen when I tell her about my every ache and pain. Now her staff thats a different story! They were not very helpful or friendly during my chemo treatments! Just found out my doc.is leaving the group. So not sure what I will be doing about that yet!I have till Nov. to decide!
    Blessings!

    Don't get me wrong
    I too loved my doctors and all they did for me for I wouldn't be here without them...
    BUT they sure aren't the same today as they were back then. I was under impression if I ever had problems I would be welcomed back to cancer clinic since they are my resource group. Instead since they feel don't have cancer wonder why I am there looking to them for help.
    Trust is a big thing and I don't have much of that since the first battle and all the convincing I had to do back them. I am not up for that same challenge today and wonder how you get second opinions?? I tried and the surgeon said he wouldn't be a second opinion since cancer lumps are the business of cancer surgeon who had referred me to him.
    It is hard to trust my GP when she ignored me about lumps I found only to find out later one was actually in lymnphnode and I could see she was shaken by it. Maybe I have her attention now...
    Tara
  • BEGallagher
    BEGallagher Member Posts: 2
    #21
    Hippiechick58 said:

    My onc is the most wonderful
    My onc is the most wonderful doc I have ever had! She called me after each tx to make sure I was doing okay! How many docs do that? She is smart, compassionate, caring, and never fails to amaze me! I am truly blessed to have her in my life.

    Dianne

    Wow!
    I thought MY doc was great but she has never called me. When I see her, she is compassionate and kind and I know she is smart as hell and has my health in mind but she has never called me. You really are so blessed!

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