Anyone “sacked” their oncologist?
Hi there, I just heard a wonderful ABC radio podcast by Tim Baker, who has stage four prostate cancer. He’s an author. While it might seem to have nothing to do with breast cancer, I found much of w...
Forum Discussion
Absolutely - it is essential that you have total confidence in your Onc in that they are telling you the truth (even if it hurts sometimes) & also that they are on the lookout for upgraded treatments & trials that may assist your treatment.
I initially had a male Onc who just couldn't be bothered with me & my side effects (First appointment & he basically said 'what are you here for' .... well I thought that would have been bloody obvious if he'd bothered to even LOOK at my notes, which he didn't!)
Luckily, a female Onc had recently started at the hospital & he was away (they are now needing a 3rd one with the increased number of cancer patients in the rural region I live in) and I saw her & immediately requested that my case be swapped over to her. She has just been brilliant - and when my husband was diagnosed stage 4 last year - she became his Onc as well. (His original Onc in 2010 had the personality of a gnat & I wish in hindsight that I'd had the balls to change Oncs for him back then, too!!)
My Rad Onc had actually mentioned this new Onc by name (as she was working with her in a different hospital/region) and her glowing assessment of her was enough for me - such a bright, positive personality as well - it was/is never a chore to see her. And she is on top of all the current trials & tests (genome etc) that can be run, to ascertain the correct, most beneficial treatment for any type of cancer.
The very first appt, resulted in a change of meds from Letrozole to Exemestane .... then again 6 months later to Anastrozole, which I am tolerating MUCH better than the first 2.
So - long & short - if you are not happy that your Onc is giving you the full benefit as you deserve - definitely ask around & try another one.
If you add your 'town/region' to your profile - others may well know a 'good onc' in your area & be able to message you with details! ;) Also there may be other members nearby that you can catch up with a coffee & a chat now & then, as a mini support group!
Take care
Having said that - a good buddy who is also Stage 4 Prostate has been seeing my 'original onc' since 2018 and thinks the sun shines out of his bum! But I honestly think that this particular male Onc gets on better with males than females (as another 2 of my BC buddies also swapped to my current Onc - at my suggestion!)
I initially had a male Onc who just couldn't be bothered with me & my side effects (First appointment & he basically said 'what are you here for' .... well I thought that would have been bloody obvious if he'd bothered to even LOOK at my notes, which he didn't!)
Luckily, a female Onc had recently started at the hospital & he was away (they are now needing a 3rd one with the increased number of cancer patients in the rural region I live in) and I saw her & immediately requested that my case be swapped over to her. She has just been brilliant - and when my husband was diagnosed stage 4 last year - she became his Onc as well. (His original Onc in 2010 had the personality of a gnat & I wish in hindsight that I'd had the balls to change Oncs for him back then, too!!)
My Rad Onc had actually mentioned this new Onc by name (as she was working with her in a different hospital/region) and her glowing assessment of her was enough for me - such a bright, positive personality as well - it was/is never a chore to see her. And she is on top of all the current trials & tests (genome etc) that can be run, to ascertain the correct, most beneficial treatment for any type of cancer.
The very first appt, resulted in a change of meds from Letrozole to Exemestane .... then again 6 months later to Anastrozole, which I am tolerating MUCH better than the first 2.
So - long & short - if you are not happy that your Onc is giving you the full benefit as you deserve - definitely ask around & try another one.
If you add your 'town/region' to your profile - others may well know a 'good onc' in your area & be able to message you with details! ;) Also there may be other members nearby that you can catch up with a coffee & a chat now & then, as a mini support group!
Take care
Having said that - a good buddy who is also Stage 4 Prostate has been seeing my 'original onc' since 2018 and thinks the sun shines out of his bum! But I honestly think that this particular male Onc gets on better with males than females (as another 2 of my BC buddies also swapped to my current Onc - at my suggestion!)