Postby bradyr » Thu Jun 12, 2008 4:49 pm
I agree with getting another doctor....
but there are some complications with moving radiation oncologist once you are in treatment - not as easy changing chemo oncologist - they have a particular "program" setup on the treatment machine (particular alignment of her body based upon the tattoos and a particular aligment of the machine. they may also have a hard pillow like aid that holds her legs in postion or other such piece of styrofoam, etc. To move to another doctor within the same practice that uses the same machine is not a problem, but these nurses sound as bad as the doctors, so you might be looking at a different treatment facilitiy.
that may requrie some coordianation to transfer the program. I'm not sure if they do that or if the new doctors do a new simulation and start over (not with all the treatments again start over - I mean start over with figuring out where to send the beam for the remaining treatments. But it can be done, I just want to point out that is is a little more than trivial.
another option is to continue with treatmetn on that machine and facility but see another doctor from another treatment center. in the case, which is somewhat extrodinary (you hate your current doctor becuase she is the anti-christ when it comes to worrying about your mother's pain level, and the doctor won't compromise) then I think the next doctor woudl likely be flexible would help you work this out.
but, I guess this is a lesson to everyone about to undergo radation, as much as you may like your doctor, have a frank discussion about they opinion of how pain managment should be done - if you don't hear them talk about this as #1 concern, vote with your feet and go find another doctor.
there is no reason for a cancer paitent to have to suffer any more than necessary. any doctor who is more concerned with there convience of gettting a cream off instead of hte patients pain level should have their license taken away.
bradyr
DX 2/07 mets liver/bone/brain/spleen
Foxfox/avastin 3-6/07
bone mets 5 times
xedada 9-7/07
Folfri 1-6/07
GammaKnife brain lesion 1/08
SIRT Spheres rlobe 7/08 llobe 8/08
cyberknife brain 10/08
Brain surgery 1/09
Vebctibix 1-4/09