My Doctor Has Stage 4 Cancer

[Ltb31057]

I don't know how to handle this. Over a year ago, my PCP was diagnosed with Stage 4 ovarian cancer. She worked through it all this time and appeared to be doing well. She even survived having covid!

Received a letter saying she was taking a "medical leave of absence". I take it as her swan song. I mean, she's not going to say she's terminal and dying, is she? In the letter she states someone will contact me to choose a new doctor in network in the interim, or we can obtain our medical records free of charge if we opt to go outside the network.

I'm devastated. I had a PCP many years ago who slipped and fell in her office and sustained a brain injury. Subsequently, she had to retire from the practice, and then she died a few years after that.

It took me a while to find my current doctor and over the years, we've established a comfortable relationship.

I will probably still go to the clinic and see another doctor but how do I deal with walking into the clinic and not seeing "my" doctor? Should I ask the staff if it's really a "leave" or is she terminal? Should I keep quiet? I am so torn.

[Arymretep]

That’s so sad, is she quite young , life is so cruel sometimes ☹️

[Ltb31057 in reply to Arymretep]

She's probably in her mid 50s, I want to guess. I just don't know how to handle this.

[Hidden]

oh boy, that’s really sad. I haven’t had a doc die (yet) but that has to be tough especially since it can take time to develop a good relationship with them. I would probably stay at same clinic too. At least the other staff will be there to help you transition to someone else. And, yes, I wouldn’t hesitate to ask about her current health situation. Tell them you’d just like to know, if they don’t mind sharing the info, and maybe can send a card of thanks to her, and/or a condolence card if/when she passes. So sorry for this situation. Definitely a tough one. 🙏

[Ltb31057 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you! She has handled this so well, always a smile and a laugh. She is even upbeat in the letter, but I know in my heart of hearts, she is saying goodbye to everyone. Why send out a formal letter to everyone if it's just a "leave", ya know? She mentions coming back, but didn't specify a particular time. I want to stay hopeful and think maybe she is undergoing some heavy treatment and her oncologist suggests she take off because it may leave her too ill to keep working. I really want to believe that.

[Hidden in reply to Ltb31057]

She sounds like a true gem who just doesn’t want her patients to worry about her, regardless of the outcome. I would probably take the letter the same as you, that she may not be returning. Perhaps she doesn’t really know herself how her treatments will turn out and she’s just trying to realistic but also hopeful! Your calling and checking on her probably means a lot to the staff, which they can convey to her, that her patients do really care and are thinking of her. She’s lucky to have had you as a patient/friend. I pray that she will make it through this difficult time. 🙏