"I feel my oncologist just drops me like a hot potato when the symptom isn't cancer related," wrote a woman on a support website I belong to. I've had three oncologists with three distinct personalities. After working with them and talking to lots of cancer patients I've...
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Marilyn 'Mare' Kirschenbaum
Wednesday, February 27, 2008 at 02:54 PMre: Untitled Comment
Phyllis Johnson
Monday, March 03, 2008 at 04:37 AMThanks for your comments, Mare. One of the ironic twists in finding the doctor who will fight for our lives is that sometimes it ends up being the patient who has to persuade the doctor that she is ready to stop treatment. But, now that I've been on the inside of the cancer treatment process, I'd rather a doctor err on the side of doggedly pursuing treatment than deciding for someone else that it is time to stop. My best to you. I appreciate all you are doing in the IBC advocacy world.
Phyllis
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Dearest Phyllis,
As always another fine article .. I look forward to your messages! What caught my attention after reading what you wrote was " You can expect that your doctor will fight for your life. If your doc tells you nothing can be done, find another doctor. I've known many women who are alive five and ten years later because they found a doctor who was willing to try a new aggressive treatment after their first oncologist offered them no hope and no treatment." Being in the IBC world, we are all certainly aware of many physicians telling their patients to get their papers in order AND the finest of the doctors will welcome people getting another opinion. Mare
Marilyn 'Mare' Kirschenbaum
Inflammatory Breast Cancer Foundation
www.Eraseibc.com
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