I'm losing my med oncologist

[OzarkDem]

He's taken a job in another state, a better career move for him, but his patients are really going to miss him. He saved my life and many other women (he just successfully treated a woman with Inflammatory Breast Cancer who had a 6 cm tumor - got rid of it all - complete remission). He's a very sweet, kind man. He's a loyal Dem and we always talked politics, I used to get him tickets to Gore and Kerry events, etc. I passed his office today on my way to a meeting and started blubbering. It was so embarrassing, but I think all of his patients are going through the same thing.

Anyone else get really attached to their oncologist?

[pecwae]

1. That has to suck!

I like my onc, but am not that close to her although I wish I were. Don't be embaarrassed about blubbering! He's apparently one in a million, as are you. I'm glad the Universe saw fit to bring the two of you together so he could save your very-much-needed-here-at-DU self. I wish I could thank him personally for what he has done for us here.

[Tracer]

2. It may be a common reaction ...

... by anyone who is going through a difficult time, to develop feelings of attachment to their doctors -- especially if the physician is a particularly caring person.

I felt myself going through this at the time when I was seeing my oncologist regularly for chemo and followups.

Yes, he's a great guy, a highly competent doctor and a very empathetic person --- but I've also got to recognize that he's got a life of his own (married with 3 kids), has other patients who are a lot worse off than me, and is really not a saint.

But yes, f he moved out of state, I'd be quite disappointed and would worry that my next doctor would not be the same kind of guy.

[filer]

3. I'm losing mine too

I just received notice from my local hospital, Norman Regional Hospital, that after December 31st they will no longer participate in the PPO Oklahoma/CCN networks. Seems they couldn't reach a "mutually acceptable agreement". Since my oncologist practices through that hospital, I'm now waiting for the other shoe to drop...notice from my insurance carrier that they will no longer include her on their list of approved physicians. As an 18 year survivor of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, and all that history with the same oncologist, needless to say, I'm not looking forward to changing doctors. I can't change insurance companies. The only coverage available to me is through the Oklahoma High Risk Pool. They're it! And it's not like they're giving that coverage away either. I am currently paying $7212 annually with a $5000 deductible and additional $2000 copay. My out-of-pocket medical expenses have exceeded $13,000 both of the last two years.

Sorry this message is so long, but when I read your post, my anger just boiled over. Yes, we do establish a special relationship with the doctors who save our lives. I've been through four rounds of chemotherapy and two series of radiation treatments over those years. I know her and trust her. I don't want to start over with some new doctor that my insurance company picks for me!

What's wrong with this country? We need a universal, single payer health care system now! The system in place doesn't work! I putting my faith in the Democrats, someday. I know the Republicans don't give a damn.

Sorry for the rant. Hang in there and trust that Providence will direct you to another exceptional physician. I'll try do do the same.

[OzarkDem]

4. Hey, you hang in there too

This is the time when we all have to be good advocates for ourselves.

I'm lucky, I already know the new doctor I'll be having and I've known her for years and will trust her. But I also know she's comfortable with me asking a lot of questions and being in charge of my own care. I'm lucky to have health insurance (for now) that lets me go to one of the top cancer hospitals in the US.

When switching doctors, its so important to know everything about your cancer, what your latest tests show, what treatment you've had, etc. Then don't be afraid to have a visit with the new oncologist just to go over these things, bring them up to date and make sure they're familiar with your patient history.

Remember that all your test results,x-ray films, tumor biopsy samples (for breast cancer, they're called paraffin blocks) medical files, etc. belong to you. Even though they are kept at a doctors office or hospital, they are still your property, so make sure you know where they are and that they don't get lost. In fact, you can go to your old oncologist's office, sign a consent form, pick them up and personally deliver them to your next oncologist's office. You are free to read them, too, and make notes. Every cancer patient should have a copy of their most recent pathology report and should know how to read it.

Thanks for the information about Oklahoma's high risk cancer pool. The concept is a good idea, but the out of pocket costs are unreasonable. Any time you're paying that much for insurance, you should have a choice of doctors.

Also, we cancer patients who are insured through private plans shouldn't take our coverage for granted. One of the bills that Congress tried to pass this year, S. 1955, would have begun the process of unravelling most of the protections and coverage we have in our private insurance plans. It would have allowed our employers or the insurance companies they buy their plans from to suddenly stop covering a lot of things that they're required to cover now - or to put low maximum coverage amounts. Letting legislation like that pass Congress or your own state legislature could turn your own health insurance plan into one like the Oklahoma catastrophic coverage plan overnight.

I'm sure I'm preaching to the choir when I tell all of you that we have to make health care issues our biggest legislative priorities and do all we can to educate our own party of the pitfalls cancer patients face in health care coverage and reform. Unfortunately, there aren't too many groups in Washington DC who advocate for health care issues who really understand what cancer patients need. And don't count on American Cancer Society or the Lance Armstrong Foundation to do it. Both of them have priorities written by doctors or researchers, which don't always address the needs of patients.

Its up to us to educate them, I suppose.

[Maestro]

5. I lost mine because of insurance.

It's hard finding one with whom you are comfortable. I wish you luck.

[LiberalinNC]

6. I believe many breast cancer survivors "fall in love" with their Docs!

I even told his wife at a fund raiser!

And yes, if I lost him, I would cry like a baby!

[OzarkDem]

7. I think his wife gets jealous

of all of his women who adore him. Just kidding, we love her, too!