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StephN · 08-08-2005, 03:07 PM

Dear Jojo and ladies -
You have raised such a good question and this is not the first time we discussed this here. But not in such a specific way.

Many people are "smart" as far as grades and testing went. I have someone close to me who was a straight A student right through university. But she lacks common sense - I call her "smart, but dumb." That is not an insult, but a description of her personality.

I have run into people in the medical profession like this as well. They can be taken aback by a simple question that seems so obvious to me! By now I am prepared for that reaction. However, NEVER does my medical oncologist take my questions less than seriously. He often has the same thing on his mind and we talk about it and maybe a course of action if needed. He is very "smart" as well as very empathetic. I knew I needed such a doctor when I got my diagnosis with the HER2+++, etc. He is extrememly hard to get into and he made room for me, as I saw him for a 2nd opinion and his group is outside my normal medical group.

I think he saw something in me as an interesting patient, and we have been together fighting my disease for 5 years at this point. What happened to me with this disease was really outside my thinking at the onset of diagnosis. My med onc has been a very good guide for me and my husband throughout these 5 years.
(I do forgive his forgetting a few minor details, but he comes into our appt prepared and we don't waste time on refamiliarizing with my case or who I am.)

All the survivors here deserve such a doctor who will fight for their patient and cares without getting over a boundary line.

08-08-2005, 03:07 PM	#4
StephN Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Misty woods of WA State Posts: 4,128	Dear Jojo and ladies - You have raised such a good question and this is not the first time we discussed this here. But not in such a specific way. Many people are "smart" as far as grades and testing went. I have someone close to me who was a straight A student right through university. But she lacks common sense - I call her "smart, but dumb." That is not an insult, but a description of her personality. I have run into people in the medical profession like this as well. They can be taken aback by a simple question that seems so obvious to me! By now I am prepared for that reaction. However, NEVER does my medical oncologist take my questions less than seriously. He often has the same thing on his mind and we talk about it and maybe a course of action if needed. He is very "smart" as well as very empathetic. I knew I needed such a doctor when I got my diagnosis with the HER2+++, etc. He is extrememly hard to get into and he made room for me, as I saw him for a 2nd opinion and his group is outside my normal medical group. I think he saw something in me as an interesting patient, and we have been together fighting my disease for 5 years at this point. What happened to me with this disease was really outside my thinking at the onset of diagnosis. My med onc has been a very good guide for me and my husband throughout these 5 years. (I do forgive his forgetting a few minor details, but he comes into our appt prepared and we don't waste time on refamiliarizing with my case or who I am.) All the survivors here deserve such a doctor who will fight for their patient and cares without getting over a boundary line.