Talk Cancer

Question:

It appears as though I really started an interesting thread of messages with my post about my wife’s oncologist being too busy to spend the time with me that I would like. Let me clarify a point or two…First of all, I have a great deal of respect for our oncologist.  He is a very nice guy and is very well respected in the St. Louis medical community.  Because of his reputation, he is extremely busy.  I estimate 30 to 40 people in the waiting room each time that I am there.  If I have an early morning appointment, it is best because he hasn’t gotten all that far behind schedule.  An afternoon appointment is worse because he is running further and further behind schedule as the day progresses.  I suspect most of his patients come armed with a host of questions, and I suspect he tries to spend as much time as possible with each of them (that is why he is always running behind schedule). To those who recommended that I find another doctor, I’m not really anxious to do that.  First of all, my medical insurance limits my freedom of choice, and I am not wealthy enough to buck the establishment.  Secondly, I am not really unhappy with my oncologist, just wish he would be able to spend the time with me that I desire (however, I must admit that is a bit unrealistic as he would be with me all day if he were to field all of my questions as fully and completely as I wish…) Anyway…it has been an enjoyable thread of messages! Regards, Dave Davidson

Response:

It appears as though I really started an interesting thread of messages with my post about my wife’s oncologist being too busy to spend the time with me that I would like.

Best bet is as we did, do as much research as you can on your own and prescreen your questions. You might also ask some of them here, if they are about general ideas and not specifically about treating your wife. My wifes oncologist was also a very busy guy, typically 40 patients a day. Also very well respected throughout the community, by doctors we talked to all over, as well as by his patients. But he did manage to find the time to answer our questions, sometimes by calling us back at night from home. By the way, he is the only doctor I have known who printed his home phone number on his business card….. Marc L. Cohen [IBM] OS/2 Presentation Graphics Subsystems

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As far as I am concerned any physician be the physician an oncologist, an internist, a pediatrician, or what ever has an obligation to answer questions from the patient or spouse. If the physician is too busy to do so, I would find one who will. I am a pharmacologist and I have cancer. The name of my cancer is Waldensatrom’s Macroglobulineamia which is very rare and incurable. At one point I had to have a heart to heart with my oncologist. We now understand one another and all is great at the present. I say at the present because I do not know what the future will bring. If he ever reverts to his former mode of answering questions then I will find a physician who will.

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..snip   He continued to be available right to the end which came last night.   Oncologists have one of the toughtest jobs in the world.  Most of your patients die.  Once in awhile you get a winner who survives long term in good health.

Making a similar generalization I believe it is the opposite of your statement (no flame intended).  The majority, 50%, are surviving 5 years or longer.  Someone out there have some statistics to back this up? Regards, Sean

Response:

 He continued to be available right to the end which came last night.

I’m very sorry.  Bless you for reaching out and giving to others at a time of loss in your own life.  Oncologists have one of the toughtest jobs in the world.  Most of your patients die.  Once in awhile you get a winner who survives long term in good health.

I wonder if oncologists tend to measure their successes and failures by the survival of their patients.  If they do, I can understand a certain dehumanization of their patients – they can’t see them as people with normal lives and interests because then the losses would be great at too many times in their day, week, or lives.  But God bless the nurses in an oncology ward, for the ones who have touched my life and my father’s life through his battle with lung cancer have been angels (with few exceptions) who treat him with respect and try to make his hospital stay as personal as possible. I’m so glad you had a pleasant experience with your doctor, and I’m truly sorry for the loss of your significant other. Cheryl Y. UNL

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  I do not know how oncologists measure success or failure.  We never asked this particular one for a scorecard.  I just assume that most must gain personal satisfaction from knowing they have extended one’s life with some quality time.   Think about your own job.  Do you get satisfaction when your tasks go well and you get quantifiable and subjective results attesting to the fact that you have had a positive impact?   The statistic mentioned previously about 50% living more than 5 years I think should be verified and quantified.  This statistic would vary with the type of cancer and stage when detected.  My wife had NSCLC (adeno carcinoma) stage III.  One year survival is just under 50% and 2 year is just under 25%.  She fought for 11 months and then lost the war.   I still think oncologists have a difficult job.   I also firmly believe that the patient and caregiver must take control and keep in mind that the doctor is THEIR employee and advisor.  You always have the right to get another opinion.  If you are not comfortable with the doctor get another one.  This may not be easy with some of the insurance plans but you can always complain to the insurance company and they will help you find another.

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