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An important part of good health care is good relationship between you and your physician. You must be able to communicate well with each other so your needs are met.
Cancer treatment often means that you more than one doctor. Sometimes other health specialists are involved too. You might get facts from many sources. However, it is a good idea to choose one doctor to serve as your main source of information. This is the doctor that you can turn to with all of your concerns.
The most important thing is that you are at ease with your doctor. A good relationship with your doctor is worth the effort needed to create it. If you and your doctor have similar viewpoints about sharing facts, making choices, or joining self-help groups, you are likely to have a good relationship.
For you, the first step is creating good communication with your physician.
Ask yourself: “How much do you want to know?”
You may want a lot of details. Some people feel much better when they know all the facts about what is happening to them. If you are like this, then you should ask your doctor for specific details and information. Or, you may only want an overview. It can bother some people when they have too many details. They may want simple directions (i.e. what pill to take or what kind of treatment they will need and when they will be done.) These type of people would rather the doctor make most of the decisions. Don’t be afraid to tell your doctor how much, or how little information that you want.
Sharing Information
Each of us has our own style of communication. That is why the perfect doctor for one person may not be a good match for another. You may want your doctor to be business-like, while others prefer a doctor who is direct and straight to the point. Or, one might prefer a doctor with a more friendly style. This is often the case when your illness requires long-term treatment. Once you decide what you want as a patient, the next step is looking at how you talk with your physician.
Understanding Your Doctor
Keep in mind, it is hard to listen well and understand when you are anxious or afraid. Even if the doctor is very thorough, you may not hear or remember what is being said. Taking notes is an excellent way to recall what your doctor has told you, or tape record the physician visit for later review. Another idea is to bring a relative or a friend with you to your appointment, so they can be a second set of ears and can remind you of any questions that you forgot to ask. If you don’t understand anything that the doctor has told you, ask for him/her to explain it in more detail.
Asking Questions
Here are some questions that your doctor can normally answer for you:
- What is wrong with me?
- What treatment do you recommend?
- What treatment options do you normally recommend for people with my type and stage of cancer? What results to do you expect?
- Are there other treatments?
- What are the benefits of these treatments?
- What are the risks?
- What medicines are you giving me? What are they for?
- How should I expect to feel during treatment?
- What side effects, if any, can I expect?
- How long will the suggested treatment last?
- Will I have to change my normal activities, and if so, for how long?
When you get instructions from your doctor, write them down. Make sure you understand them before you leave the office. Follow the instructions as they are written and keep written notes to bring with you to the next appointment, if needed.
- Who else gets information about me? Should anyone else (i.e. a spouse, family member, friend or other doctor) also get my information? It’s important to think carefully about this and then tell your physician what you want.
- What issues are important to me? For example, will the treatment keep me from working or maintaining a household? Will I have physical limitations?
- If you are starting to feel sad or depressed, it is important that you mention this to your physician, as you may have clinical depression, which can be treated.
- How can I reach you if there is a problem? It is normal to expect a return phone call back to you, but remember that a quick response might not be possible if your physician is seeing patients or dealing with a serious patient-related issue.
The Doctor-Patient Relationship
Tips on how to maintain a good doctor-patient relationship:
- Try to state as clearly as you can any changes in any of your bodily functions. You might not think it is a big deal, but your doctor would like to know about any changes that you might be experiencing.
- Tell your physician any concerns that you are feeling. Be sure to mention lifestyle habits, even if it is something that you would rather not share—such as smoking.
- Make a list of all questions. There is no such thing as a “dumb” question.
If You Have A Problem Talking To Your Doctor
If you have a problem talking with your doctor, there are ways to improve the situation.
For example, if you need more details after your doctor answers a question, say so. Sometimes it’s even helpful to ask the question again, in a different way. It will seem as if you understand what the doctor has said, unless you tell the him or her that you don’t.
If you want to take an active role in your cancer treatment, ask the doctor to suggest some websites or literature that can keep you educated on your disease and treatment.
Contact Us with any questions or concerns.
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