We met with my husband's managing oncologist today and I asked these questions - which, thanks to this forum I knew to ask! It seemed only right that I share the questions and the responses in case someone might find it helpful.
A friend with a lot more experience with doctors gave me this advice: Write out your questions ahead of time, and print out two copies - one for the doctor, one for you to take notes. I did this and it worked like a charm - I could focus on recording the info, and my husband could be present to what the doc was saying and ask his own follow-up questions. And all of our present concerns were addressed.
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Tinuriel
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Tinuriel - fantastic. Your questions are great and the recommendation to bring in two copies of printed questions is great. And the summarized answers are great too. Time with a medical oncologist is precious - use it wisely. I have found that generally they will work with us until we run out of questions 😂
I have done the same thing with 2 lists. I had one MO who hated for me to hand him his copy, so I also started messaging the questions to him prior to the appointment and that seemed to help with his objection to the lists.
Fortunately, the balky MO retired, so I don't get the same resistance, and I can now use a regular sized font 😀
These were great questions. I appreciate you sending these along with your doctors answers. My husband is also asymptomatic. He is not castrate resistant yet but we have gone through the different options with his doctor for when the time comes. Hopefully by then there will be even more options! Thanks again for sharing and good luck with your husband’s treatment.
Thanks for posting. My husband is getting ready for second dose of Zofigo. This time I will make sure he is well hydrated before the infusion and give him some ibuprofen & Tylenol about 2-3 hours after. Other than a brief episode of pain about 4-5 hours after infusion, no other side effects.
I always wonder, though, if one took the same questions to the closest oncologist down the street (so to speak), one who didn't know what the first oncologist answered, how similar or different the answers would be.
years ago - for another health issue - a friend told me" " You have to participate at a high level in your health care. " Very true. I also believe that when one does participate with questions and discussions, a good provider respects that and engages at a better level.
I also believe - and know from experience - if your questioning and participations annoys the provider - find another one. I had a Urologists' who refused to share his note with my MO or my PCP - even thought the PCP was in the same health care system. I did tell him when I switched, WHY I was switching.
Some great ideas, glad it worked for you. Also you can audio record the session in case you are not great at taking notes or are good at losing paper as I am. I have actually only done this once and it was a zoom appointment but proved useful when I wanted to know what the "doctor" had actually promised as compared with what he did. Confirmed my opinion that the guy is a rip off Most phones come with a recording app or you can get one for free from the app store (Iphone) or play store (android)
Great idea, and we've actually done that in the past and the doctor had no objections. But another doctor in the same system said no and that the clinic urges them not to. Best to ask!
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Most phones come with a recording app or you can get one for free from the app store (Iphone) or play store (android)
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