Anyone use remote onc with a local onc as team?

Rich66 · 09-09-2008, 03:06 PM

Do oncs ever agree to team up or are they always territorial? I'm also wondering about getting tx plan from one onc and having another local onc to implement it.

chrisy · 09-09-2008, 03:29 PM

Rich,
I did this and for me it worked out great. It is important that they are willing to work together and communicate but this need not be a problem, particularly if you end up doing a "standard" therapy.

There are some oncologists that are as you say 'territorial', but many will welcome the opportunity to team up with a specialist at a major cancer center. My local oncologist was a great doctor, but referred me to a breast cancer specialist at UCSF -one who he thought was on the "cutting edge" of breast cancer research - for a second opinion .

I ended up deciding to have the UCSF doctor direct the treatment (which was initially a fairly standard regimen) but to be seen/treated by the local oncologist. I continued to see the UCSF specialist every few months, but was considered to "belong" to the local doctor.

Both doctors were fine with this arrangement, it helped that they knew and respected each other. Because I have now been in clinical trials at UCSF (which means I have to be treated there) the roles are sort of reversed for now, I see the local oncologist every few months and keep him apprised of my status. This is important because at some point I will likely "come home", and as he noted, if I ended up with an emergency, he would be a local contact.

One other thing, doing it the way I did meant I had good - and quick- access to the specialist when I needed it.

My only advice would be, make sure both doctors really ARE ok with it - you don't need anyones ego to get in the way.

jones7676 · 09-09-2008, 04:51 PM

My oncologist in Marquette MI sometimes consults with the oncologist I saw in Chicago. They have a great relationship as far as I can tell.

ElaineM · 09-10-2008, 04:23 PM

I write to my former oncologist and ask him for advice once in awhile. I share his advice with my local docs. I don't know if this qualifies, but I value my former oncologist's opinion. My current docs sort of have to listen. Smile !! My former oncologist still has a financial interest in his former practice and he hired them.

Carolyns · 09-10-2008, 04:30 PM

Rich,

I asked that very question prior to going to visit a major cancer center doctor. I told her my intentions and where I lived. The large cancer center happened to have a very close working relationship with the cancer center close to my home and the one that I wanted to use.

In the end, everything I wanted was at my local center but my experience made me see that it could work.

Good luck, Carolyn

mts · 09-11-2008, 05:07 AM

My "real" onc is at UPenn and the middleman onc is in Orlando (I live 75 miles south of Orlando, FL).

I visit UPenn once a year for my own peace of mind. My Orlando onc actually encourages me to go to Philadelphia because he is a UPenn grad as well !

Both onc's have different views, but fortunately for me, they have no problem communicating with one another. It took me nearly 3 months and 4 different oncology centers to get what I felt was right for me.

maria