Video: Difficult Patients by Oncologist Brian Wojciechowski

I couldn't agree with you more.  

I completely agree Suzy. If someone finds it easier to go along with what is being recommended that good for them too :)

We all have to do what feels right to us at the time.

Frankly I am in no way advocating 2nd and 3rd guessing everything that is said to us every time. Only that is one is not feeling 100% right about a situation they should speak up and never be affraid to do so. 

I have specialists who i have known for many years now, been through 'Hell and high water' with who I trust implicitly to take my history into account without my being all nagging and asking 1000 questions and frankly with those guys I am.usally more than comfortable just go along with most of the time.

I just believe that when one is in a new situation it is important to remember they have the right to ask 'why' and never to be affraid of asking or even challenging if they are uneasy about something. They should not be affraid of standing out from the crowd as doctors and nurses are all human and while sometimes they may see us as 'just another case / job' speaking out is not necessarily goong to get them angry with us - if anything being honest and telling them we are uneasy or scared will get them to see us as human and will get them to convey the information in a way which will help us make the right decision for us :)

LOVE the pre Op chat Suzie :)

I had all my surgeries without general aneastheic and I know what you mean. I always joke with them before they do get busy that since I am wide awake they better behave ;)

It is always good to be seen as a person rather than just another case and I reckon consults are the same thing. 

I always remind them that I know I am a pain in the behind but that it is not personal, that I do trust them but for me to get the best possible outcome and the peace of mind I need to know exactly what is happening to me and what my options are. Afterall, they too would do the same in my shoes.

Usually makes them laugh and we get on with the job...

Wow JDakic, you are a true survivor!   Like you, I find my doctors are only too happy to deal with "difficult patients". I do keep mine on their toes but I also try to  intesperse my difficulty with good humour and thank them for caring about me.  We are all human and all like to hear that.  

I found keeping a journal, getting copies of every test result, particularly pathology as well as medical history, family medical history etc kept me feeling I was in charge of this disease. Reading latest medical journals etc. Having copies of pathology helped me research my own odds and helped me make informed decisions and allowed me to properly understand why a particular treatment was or wasn't recommended.  For me, knowledge is power - I just gives me peace of mind.  I also found I needed less and less appointment time.   But, we are all different.  I completely understand women who just don't want to know and accepts everything the medico says.  This is their way to survive the disease.  It is what keeps them strong. We are all very different.  I would never tell a woman how to manage her disease. What works for one may not work for another.  I love the women on this site. I love reading their stories.  Yours was truly inspirational. Thankyou

LOL.  Love your story.  I recently had to have my ovaries removed.  I have a brilliant Gyno and a great General Surgeon who was assisting.  I was in theatre getting prepped and the two of them were gathered in the corner with the anaesthetist chatting happily together before the Op. I suddenly looked over at them and called out:  How are you all today? I am so happy you all look happy and refreshed. Did you all have a good breakfast?  And is everything alright at home?  Everyone cracked up. It helped me feel more relaxed and comfortable.  But at the same time it reminded them I was a real person and they needed to be at their best.  Suexx 

Thank you. We are used to being meek mice but where our health or the health of our loved ones is concerned the proessionals should expect and want to settle ALL our concerns. Great video.

You go girl!  Well done.  Like you, I too give my doctors a written list of questions and hand to them when I sit down.  It helps us both.  He knows what is really concerning me and can address those concerns before we start and I have a clear head not thinking about what concerns me.  We all have to be vigilant about our treatments.  I will relay this one experience to you I had after chemo and rads when I was put on Aramatose Inhibitors as part of my treatment as the carcinoma was estrogen positive.  I developed a severe infection in my breast and had constant Urinary Tract Infections.  At the same time I developed a rash over my body from rib cage to knees.  It resembled molten lava, my skin hardened and the itch near drove me crazy.  No treatment relieved it. I didn't sleep for a week.  My Specialist put me in hospital to try and clear the infections but kept trying different antibiotics thinking the rash was allergic reaction to antibiotics.  I eventually said to my husband the only thing I can think of in the past few weeks that has changed is I have been put on this drug Femera (Letrozole).  My husband went home and googled the drug and the side effects of severe allergy is exactly what I had been experiencing.  I immediately ceased the drug and the infections cleared up and the rash disappeared.  I bet there are a thousand stories on this site....  

That was great Sue, thanks!

Thanks Jdakis

Your post was extremely helpful. I have written down your vital questions and will use them at my next appt. 

I research lots of sights.  Probably the absolute best site is the one where I found this video. It is the American Breast Cancer site.  Here is link:

http://www.breastcancer.org/

I also network on this site. Hope this helps.  Suex