Talking With Your Doctors About News in the Media

In my last post I shared my response to a reader who was upset by the media reports of a new study. The commenter expressed ambivalence about discussing it with her physicians: "I don't know if it would be healthy or not to ask my doctors...if [knowing what we know today] I would have been spared this surgery."

I responded:

As for bringing it up with your oncologist, you have to ask yourself if this conversation will help you or hurt you in your efforts to be a Healthy Survivor. Will the conversation overall help you get good care and live as fully as possible? Or hurt?

For sure, your oncologist can’t undo what’s been done. So ask yourself, are you looking for an explanation? An apology?

Please keep in mind that how you ask about the study will affect how your oncologist answers. My suggestion is to take the high road, for example: “I know that everything has been done with my best interests in mind, and I’m grateful for my care. For my peace of mind, I was curious why the decision was made to do the axillary dissection with removal of so many lymph nodes.”  

Since Healthy Survivorship depends on sound knowledge, and since your physicians are your primary source of information about the particulars of your medical situation, don't hesitate to ask questions related to your health. Just remember that mutually respectful and trusting relationships with your physicians are essential elements of Healthy Survivorship, too. 

Comments

[Finn]

A few years ago I read somewhere that the appendix should always be removed during a total hysterectomy for ovarian cancer, and I knew mine had not been. I briefly considered asking my surgeon why she hadn't, then realized that I wasn't about to hop up on the table so she could go back in for it anyway so there was no point in asking.

[Marie Ennis O'Connor]

You could have written this for me Wendy! Thank you for bringing up this issue. I too was upset at the latest research for early stage breast cancer which suggests that an axillary dissection may not have been necessary in my case. I live with the painful consequences of a decision which may have been avoided.

[Wendy S. Harpham, MD]

Glad it helped, Marie.
With hope, Wendy