It's OK to Push to Get Answers About Your Own Health
- For people living with cancer, or anyone else looking for answers related to their health, being your own advocate is an important part of the journey.
- If you are experiencing new symptoms, it’s important to voice concerns to your doctor and not take no, or being brushed off, for an answer if symptoms persist.
- Oncologists encourage people diagnosed with cancer to seek second opinions. You won’t be offending your doctor if you wish to consult another expert.
- Feeling comfortable voicing your concerns about treatment plans which could mean asking about genetic testing, fertility options, integrative treatments, and more is crucial.
This could mean asking additional questions about symptoms or a diagnosis, getting a second opinion, or doing your own research so you can come to doctor appointments prepared to voice your concerns.
Read MoreHave a plan for doctor appointments
“The truth is, you have to be in tune with your body and you have to realize that you are not a statistic,” Dr. Murrell said. “You are not necessarily going to fit into [guidelines].” So, if you have symptoms of colon cancer such as a change in bowel habits or blood in the stool that means you should not avoid a colonoscopy just because you are not the recommended screening age of 50 years old yet, he said. Colorectal cancer surgeon Dr. Zuri Murrell explains why advocating for yourself is crucial if you’re experiencing new symptoms.“…You should lead each doctor’s appointment with a plan,” he added. “So if I, a 40-year-old, come into a doctor’s office and say, ‘I’m having rectal bleeding. This is new for me.’ The doctor says, ‘You know what? It’s probably hemorrhoids.’ First of all, I think, did they examine me? And a lot of times, especially if you’re a male, you’re actually happy that they didn’t examine you, but that’s not necessarily the right thing to do.”
The takeaway here is to not let doctors brush off symptoms you may be experiencing. Dr. Murrell recommends asking for a plan. For example, if you doctor thinks symptoms are due to hemorrhoids, what’s the plan if they persist after a month of medication? It’s all a part of being proactive. Another important part in many cases is getting a second opinion.
Seek out a second opinion
Dealing with hospitals, meeting new doctors, learning about a bunch of treatment options you may have never heard of it can all be an intimidating process. But you should feel completely comfortable seeking out a second opinion after a cancer diagnosis. This doesn’t mean you don’t trust your doctor, it’s simply a part of advocating for yourself.
“I support second opinions. I actually think it’s really important,” Dr. Heather Yeo, a colorectal cancer surgeon at Weill Cornell Medicine, told SurvivorNet in a previous conversation on the matter.
“I mean, if you think about in life, how do you choose someone to cut your hair? You get an opinion, right? You usually don’t just go in and sit down with the first person you see on the street and say cut my hair. You ask around and you try and if a patient has questions, I support second opinions 100%.”
Getting a second opinion is extremely common and encouraged after a cancer diagnosis, colorectal cancer surgeon Dr. Heather Yeo explains.
Advocate for your concerns
Whether it is a preference for a certain medication, lifestyle adjustments you will have to make, or your plans for the future don’t be afraid to voice your concerns to your medical team after a cancer diagnosis. For younger people diagnosed, a common concern is: will I be able to have children after cancer treatment?
"E! News" host Giuliana Rancic, who was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 36, previously told SurvivorNet that she encourages other women to be vocal about fertility concerns a topic that may feel uncomfortable, or even inappropriate, when dealing with a serious diagnosis.
“I get a lot of young women who come up to me and ask me about breast cancer and having children … They’ll say, ‘I just got diagnosed with breast cancer. What does that mean for my journey to have a child?’ First and foremost, it’s talking to your doctor and letting them know, this was my plan.”
Rancic explained that she and her husband were planning to have children down the road, so they were able to work that into her treatment plan.
“E! News” host and cancer survivor Giuliana Rancic encourages others to speak up about their concerns when making cancer treatment plans.
“For me, I’d been through the first part of IVF, which was the retrieval, so I had embryos. But I knew that the medicine I was about to go on would not allow me to be pregnant for five years. Here I am. I’m 36. I already was having issues getting pregnant. So five years from now, what are my chances? … So for us, the best option was a surrogate.”
“It’s very important to ask any question that’s on your mind. If it matters to you, that’s all that matters,” she added.
And that sentiment doesn’t just go for fertility issues. You should feel comfortable incorporating what you want into your treatment plan whatever that may be.
Questions to Ask Your Doctor
- What might my symptoms mean? What plan can we make to deal with them?
- Are other treatment options available in my situation?
- What will the timeline for my treatment look like?
- What literature can you give me about my treatment plan?
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