[sassy]

The first onc I saw was very kind and caring and told me if there was anything I wanted to do, get it done in the next ten years. When I asked if there was something about my cancer I didn't know, he replied "Oh, no--no". At that point my dx was stage two ER/PR positive-nothing on HER2 because I had not been tested.

Needless to say the ten year time line sent up all kinds of alerts and prior to staring treatment I decided to switch to a facility at a major research center. Good choice because when I heard about the release of herceptin on the national news and thought my cancer sounded very much like it, I asked my new onc (who did not realize I had not been tested) about it, I was immediately tested and stepped into that treatment protocol with Herceptin/Taxol as I had just finished A/C.

I had only one onc through initial treatment, then changed to a different one who had been trained by my onc and was at a facility closer to my home. Good decision there too, he was cutting edge and gave me treatment 7 years ago that are just now becoming the standard of care. As a researcher he was up to date on new developments.

I would want my onc to know me and see me. Your treatment should be a collaboration between you and your doctor, not a hit or miss by whomever happens to be there at the time.