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08-08-2005, 12:56 PM

I recently wrote about switching oncologists (within the same practice). I switched because my onco couldn't remember one bloody thing about me - even things we had talked about repeatedly (every visit - 15 visits in 10 months). One of these things was he always asked if I had children (I do) and then their ages. My oldest daughter and his oldest son graduated from the same high school together, went to the same college etc, etc. Every visit he would say " my oldest son just graduated from high school - he'd ask, which high school did your daughter go to... We moved on to - "my son just started his first year of college too, where does your daughter go... my son goes there too!!!") Every visit. I we had something in common.

I figured if after 15+ times he could not remember that, he would forget something (medically) important (and he did). We discussed that and he said it would never happen again (he ordered my 27/29 test and the lab drew the blood but never ran the test and he never noticed even though I called to ask for my results). The next visit after that he asked me "do you have children?"

I switched immediately. Unfortunately, he got angry (like I broke up with him). I ended up having to talk to him this weekend when I resumed getting my period out of the blue (and I needed some advice as I was taking Arimidex). He was on call this weekend. After talking about the medical problem, I told him I felt we needed to discuss why I left. I did not talk specifically about the "children" thing. I told him I felt that he was not interested in me and my case since he could never remember anything about me. He told me he has a lot of patients. I told him that every one of his patients deserves to have one thing remembered about them. He just left it at that - said he was never disinterested in my case and said he was sorry.

I am happy to have switched. My new doctor has everything at my gyno's office for me to get my oophorectomy in 3 weeks (now I really need it) and is on top of everything for me. I am not so sure the previous guy would have been.

Doctors may be book smart but it takes a lot, lot more. They need to look at the whole person and that they are treating someone with a life threatening illness too.

Best regards to all,

Becky

08-08-2005, 12:56 PM	#3
Becky Guest Posts: n/a	I recently wrote about switching oncologists (within the same practice). I switched because my onco couldn't remember one bloody thing about me - even things we had talked about repeatedly (every visit - 15 visits in 10 months). One of these things was he always asked if I had children (I do) and then their ages. My oldest daughter and his oldest son graduated from the same high school together, went to the same college etc, etc. Every visit he would say " my oldest son just graduated from high school - he'd ask, which high school did your daughter go to... We moved on to - "my son just started his first year of college too, where does your daughter go... my son goes there too!!!") Every visit. I we had something in common. I figured if after 15+ times he could not remember that, he would forget something (medically) important (and he did). We discussed that and he said it would never happen again (he ordered my 27/29 test and the lab drew the blood but never ran the test and he never noticed even though I called to ask for my results). The next visit after that he asked me "do you have children?" I switched immediately. Unfortunately, he got angry (like I broke up with him). I ended up having to talk to him this weekend when I resumed getting my period out of the blue (and I needed some advice as I was taking Arimidex). He was on call this weekend. After talking about the medical problem, I told him I felt we needed to discuss why I left. I did not talk specifically about the "children" thing. I told him I felt that he was not interested in me and my case since he could never remember anything about me. He told me he has a lot of patients. I told him that every one of his patients deserves to have one thing remembered about them. He just left it at that - said he was never disinterested in my case and said he was sorry. I am happy to have switched. My new doctor has everything at my gyno's office for me to get my oophorectomy in 3 weeks (now I really need it) and is on top of everything for me. I am not so sure the previous guy would have been. Doctors may be book smart but it takes a lot, lot more. They need to look at the whole person and that they are treating someone with a life threatening illness too. Best regards to all, Becky