Doctor Patient Relationship in Cancer – Does It Make A Difference?

The doctor-patient relationship matters especially in cancer patients.  That has always been my theory based on emails I receive from breast cancer patients.   The women who tell me they love their doctors, trust their doctors, and feel confident that they are placing their lives in their physicians’ hands, always seem like they are doing better emotionally and even physically through cancer treatment and beyond.  Often, when I get a letter from a woman who is really having a rough time, I ask her how her relationship is with her Oncologist or Surgeon.  Nine times out of ten, they admit to me that their confidence level is low, and they have thought about changing doctors but are afraid to do so. Now I have a study to prove my theory:

Lacking trust in one’s doctor affects health of emotionally vulnerable cancer patients

Date:

July 22, 2014

Source:

Health Behavior News Service

Summary:

The physical and mental well-being of people with cancer may be affected by how they feel about their relationship with their physician and by differences in attachment styles, finds a new study. Patients who feel anxious and uneasy with their doctor may be impacted the most. “Anxiously attached patients may experience and report more physical and emotional problems when the relationship with their physician is perceived as less trusting,” said the lead author.

Full story:  http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/07/140722164136.htm

It always surprises me when most people go to buy a car, they will go to many dealerships, do much internet research along with asking opinions of family and friends, test drive numerous brands and models of cars, and finally make a decision based upon what they learned and how they feel about the car they are choosing.  Frequently, they will travel to another town or state to check out other dealerships because their level of trust is not good for their local dealership or because they can get a better deal.   Often, if you ask someone who has just purchased a new car why they chose that brand, they will say, “It just felt right for me, and I liked it.”

For most people diagnosed with cancer or any serious illness, they may spend far less time choosing their doctors than they would buying a car.  Why?  These are the answers I hear most often:

• Fear of my diagnosis and needing to just get to any doctor so the job can be done quickly
• Insurance – maybe my insurance won’t pay somewhere else
• Convenience – I don’t want to inconvenience my family by going to more doctor appointments.  Staying close to home is just easier

Those issues are all very, very real.  But in most cases, you do have choices.  Remember, you are hiring the doctor, you or your insurance company are paying the doctor, and they work for you! I so admire cancer patients who change doctors mid-stream because “something just didn’t feel right.”    It takes a lot of additional courage to do that, but your life is at stake.  If you have ANY reservations about your physicians, get another opinion.  Or better yet, get two opinions. If you have a great team of doctors, I would love for you to post and tell me about them!  Or if you had to change doctors, I would also appreciate hearing about this!

___________________

If you have not checked out my online store for a while, please check out http://www.hellocourage.com    I have a new line of Moisture Wicking Sleepwear, made for women having HOT FLASHES, that is absolutely lovely, Made in USA, and really does help you sleep better!!  It is amazing as I wear mine all the time!     It may cost slightly more than you are used to paying for sleepwear, but trust me, it is worth every penny.  The quality is amazing and the moisture-wicking fabric is unbelievable!  Plus I offer FREE SHIPPING which saves you $9.95.