The first thing you should do when diagnosed with breast cancer is get a second opinion. Dr. John Canady, MD, a professor at the University of Iowa is a firm believer in second opinions. "It's amazing to me," he says, "how people will go to multiple places looking for a car but go to one doctor's office when making a decision that they will have to live with for the rest of their life."
I interviewed two doctors for each phase of my treatment and am so happy that I did. There are many ways to approach medicine and I found that while many practitioners will treat cancer, not all are on the cutting edge. Not one physician was upset when I said I would be seeking a second opinion or that I had come for a second opinion.
Ask people who have already had breast cancer what they would do and who they had for doctors. Elle H., a new friend with breast cancer, said that making that call to another person with breast cancer was the hardest call she ever made during her treatment, "...but it turned out to be the best call as well. After getting off the phone I had more confidence in my doctors and decisions." I hope this blog will serve to support others with breast cancer as well.
In Arizona there is a wonderful service called the Arizona Institute for Breast Health (AIBH), which is a non-profit organization that provides education and support to newly diagnosed patients about their treatment options, completely free of charge. These second opinions are offered through a multi-disciplinary panel of Breast Cancer Specialists and each patient that is seen through the program is guided and supported by a patient advocate, a breast cancer survivor herself. Contact AIBH through their website http://www.aibh.org/or by calling 480-860-4200.
You do not have to be a resident of Arizona to take advantage of this service!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment