Questions and Topics Breast Cancer Patients Discuss with their Physicians
An Open Relationship:
Patients should be encouraged to speak freely and openly to their physicians and medical staff. A lot of new information will be given out during these meetings with your doctor. It may be even wise to have a close confidant come with you in order to discuss and understand things better in the future. Throughout your journey, this may be hard for some patients. Being open about such a sensitive topic is uncomfortable and occasionally physicians don't have the best bed side manner or they talk with such medical jargon they can be hard to comprehend. Here are some ways to make conversing and understanding your physician effortless.
- Write down questions you have before hand. This way you can stay focused during the conversation.
- Take notes during your appointment. It can help jog your memory, remember important issues, and create new questions for the future.
- Be prepared. Do your own research and be ready to discuss the things you have learned.
- Tell YOUR story. No doubt, your physician has other patients. Don't be afraid to ask for time to discuss your particular story, issues, and concerns.
- Don't be afraid to speak up if you don't understand a concept. Understanding issues and procedures is key to being successful (The Doctor Patient Relationship, 2014).
Below is a video of what a medical oncologist believes you should look for in a physician.
(YouTube, 2014)
Links
The Susan G. Komen website has great tips and suggestions for other websites for talking with your oncologist.
The Cancer Advocacy website has tips for talking to your physician and also what your physician wished you knew.
References
Questions Breast Cancer Patients Should Ask Their Oncologist. (2014). Retrieved November 23, 2016, from https://youtu.be/K6i2wigVkIA
Talking to Your Health Care Provider about Breast Cancer | Susan G. Komen®. (2014). Retrieved November 23, 2016, from http://ww5.komen.org/BreastCancer/TalkingWithYourDoctor.html
The Doctor-Patient Relationship. (2014). Retrieved November 23, 2016, from http://www.cancer.org/treatment/understandingyourdiagnosis/talkingaboutcancer/the-doctor-patient-relationship
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