Four mesothelioma patients questions should arise when deciding whether a doctor is the best solution for them.
A diagnosis of mesothelioma is devastating news.
When you or someone you love has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, its impact extends beyond the physical aspect of your life. It also has an impact on the emotional and spiritual self. Therefore, patients and their caregivers must be mentally and physically ready to fight against this terrible disease.
This preparation begins with ensuring the accurate diagnosis of cancer and to establish the best treatment plan for your specific situation. It is also important to consider the type of relationship you have with all your doctors -. From your doctor your oncologist maybe even your nutritionist
For over 15 years I have been privileged to help patients diagnosed with mesothelioma and their families through my role as Director of asbestos Department of medicine Simmons Hanly Conroy. In addition to overseeing the medical aspect of their legal affairs, I also help patients navigate the health care system.
Although not as common as it used to be, I regularly hear stories of mesothelioma patients telling that when they were first diagnosed, their GP essentially "washing hands of them. "the patients received, straight hard facts. They had six months to live and they should go home and get their affairs in order.
It is rare for a family physician to be familiar with the most common treatment options for mesothelioma. A specialist, however, will be informed about the different treatment options, including potential clinical trials.
As Mary Jane, mesothelioma survivor of 13 years, recommends that those newly diagnosed in his video customer profile, "If you do not like the doctor, go find another one and continue until you find the one you do "
When choosing a doctor to guide you in your fight against mesothelioma -. and really any kind of fight against cancer - you want them to be direct and honest, but also compassion. The best primary care physicians understand that conventional medicine is not the only thing a doctor offers patients. The hope, compassion and respect can make a huge difference in the emotional and spiritual aspects of a fight against mesothelioma
Some questions to ask yourself when evaluating if a doctor is good for you might be :.
- Do they allow me to ask questions and to listen to my concerns?
- Have they made everything easy for me to understand?
- do they offer other treatment options and ask questions about my preferences?
- Do they treat me with respect?
to better understand mesothelioma and treatment options available to you, it is important to find a doctor that will allow much time for questions during your visits. It is a good sign if you leave your appointment feeling that if your questions were greeted with compassion and understanding of mental anguish that you and your family currently live.
You want to find a doctor who can provide you with that glimmer of hope that you search by learning about the different treatment options available to you and your family. It ensures that you are part of the process of decision making and does not pick up the treatment for you. Instead, the doctor provides various recommendations and educates you about the benefits and draw backs of each plan tailored to your particular situation. For example, it could explain how your age or fitness level or location of tumor mesothelioma influences why she recommends a specific approach or varied treatment.
Something for caregivers to consider is to have a good relationship with referring physicians, can also increase the chances a patient will follow the recommended treatment protocol. When a patient is comfortable with their doctor, the likelihood to feel comfortable enough to share their concerns or adverse side effects to the treatment plan is greater, which increases the chances that the necessary adjustments can be made to plan. This, in turn, ensures patients receive the best possible care by improving the quality of their lives and their chances of survival.
Finally, when choosing a mesothelioma doctor for you, it's interesting to consider what I've mentioned above regarding their staff. Many patients have often told me stories about the nurse or the doctor's assistant whose work made a difference in the course of their treatment. After all, they also play an important role in your fight against mesothelioma.
If you or someone you love has been diagnosed and are currently being processed, please consider sharing below in the comments about your own experiences and suggestions for choosing a mesothelioma doctor.
