Susan, I wanted to answer you before I left
for doctor.... >Thanks for the generous and
compassionate offers of support. I'll be leaningquite heavily on you all
for a while, but, hopefully as I learn, I'll be ableto help others too.
Don't worry, you will... It will just start
happening... > >Today is my first trip to an
Oncologist. I have done a lot of research; I have prepared a long list of
questions; and I will have my Mom with me to beanother set of ears. You
could say: I am ready!!!
Good preparation. I am glad your mom
will be with you, but still write or record those....
Then why am I so scared?I keep worrying about whether this doctor is
really, really good or just OK. I wonder if he will really, really care about
me, or will I just be anotherpatient. In other words, I wonder how I
will know whether or not I'm getting the best possible care.
Go get a second opinion
regardless. Very important before you let anyone direct you in the
cancering journey... Then you will know who is caring about you and seems
the best for you and thats where you will be for your
treatment... > >Should I seek a second opinion
no matter what? What do I do if one says one thing and the other says
something different? How do I know who is right? And what if it
takes another several weeks before I can see another doctor? Will I not be
risking more by waiting? Yes and a third or
more if you need to.. This is not picking a doctor to treat you for a 24
hour flu. If one and two disagree, that is why you go to three... Of
course there are also other places for you to call like NCI. When
you call for a second opinion and let let know your stage etc., they will work
you in quickly.... Also be sure that you choose a doctor completely separate
from the one you are seeing... Ex: If Doctor # 1 is primarily at one
hospital... You may one to find Doctor #2 from a different one.... Make
sure you are not getting the ol, I know him well and I am sure that what he is
telling you is the right way.... >I know I'll find
the right answers as I move forward. But, thanks anyway for letting a
control freak vent a little. >
You are not a control freak anymore, you
have become a cancering survivor on the cancering journey and that takes good
management..... Good luck to day and let us know how it goes... Love,
Carla
