r/breastcancer • u/Rachel21321 • 18h ago
Diagnosed Patient or Survivor Support Choosing Doctors
What do you think made you go w/one oncologist over the other? How many did you see?
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u/PupperPawsitive +++ 18h ago
Honestly I just went with first available.
Are you trying to choose an oncologist currently?
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u/Rachel21321 9h ago
Yes - I live in Houston so a lot of options. My gyno referred me to a breast surgeon after my biopsy and not an oncologist. It was confusing bc I thought I was seeing an oncologist. I have stage 2b, her2 negative, tumor is ~5x5cm.
The surgeon then referred me to an oncologist (I don’t get in until 9/25!) and to get an MRI but I see so many people talk about getting multiple opinions and finding someone that feels right for them. So trying to understand what makes someone prefer one doctor over the other.
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u/PupperPawsitive +++ 7h ago edited 7h ago
Here (link at bottom) is a recent post you might find helpful; I rambled on a response at length to it.
It is normal to start with a surgeon (could be a general surgeon, breast surgeon, surgical oncologist). They basically cut the cancer out of you, and hand you to a medical oncologist and/or radiation oncologist to handle those pieces. Depending on your cancer, they’ll decide who gets dibs on you first, it might be recommended to do chemo first and surgery after for example. There might also be a plastic surgeon involved. I never knew I would have so many doctors in my life, let alone all at once!
My bottom line tip: most of these people are good, so don’t overly stress about finding “the best”, especially if your flavor of cancer is straightforward and common. However, every profession has a few bad apples & assholes. You’ve met assholes before in your life, and you know when you’re standing in a room with one. If your doctor is an asshole, leave the room and find a different one.
Some people prefer to get a second opinion no matter what, and this is perfectly valid if you do. It is like getting 2 quotes on a new roof: if they are the same, that’s probably what a roof costs, and you’ll feel better knowing. If they are very different, you suddenly have some questions.
I liked my first doctors, haven’t felt a need for a second opinion. MD Anderson has their standard treatment protocols online, I’m nowhere near Texas, but I can follow the flowchart & it tells me my doctors are doing standard by the book recommendations used by one of the top cancer hospitals in the country, and that makes me feel pretty good. Also, I stood in a room with them and just like them as people. So that ticks all the boxes I need.
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u/Eleanorshrillstop 5h ago
I live in Houston too - I was auto referred to my breast surgeon and the plastics team she works with. Both are very highly regarded and I like them both so I stuck with them. For oncology, I spoke with a friend who is chief of neurology and he gave me his recommendation for best oncologist, so I am going to see him.
I also plan to seek second opinion from md Anderson if there is anything I don’t like/understand/agree with. You can self refer to MDA and it’s very easy. They’re super nice. Feel free to pm me if you want to talk specifics 💙
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u/No-Intention-9439 17h ago
ER/PR+Her2- Breast Oncologist A didn’t read my chart and made me take Tamoxifen when I have already had complete hysterectomy. Big red flag. Sprinkle in the unresponsiveness of her team.
Breast Oncologist B was double certified breast surgeon and reconstructive surgeon. She started the breast clinic at this institute. She was great but I felt intimidated to ask her questions. Also , she was far from my family.
Breast Oncologist C was trained by Breast Oncologist B. Only a breast surgeon but great beside manner. So responsive. Her team also is very responsive. Closer to my family.
Hard choice between Breast Oncologisr B and C. Ended up with C since she had wonderful bedside manner , responsive, and closer to family.
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u/CautiousArmadillo123 11h ago
I saw two medical oncologists. The first one dismissed my concerns, wasn’t aware of important and well tested breast cancer topics (RSClin), and just generally seemed to treat me like an afterthought in her day.
Second opinion is at an NCI location, spent over an hour with me explaining my options, talked about the latest research and how it could impact my care, and just generally put me at ease.
The decision was easy for me between those two! I want someone who seems to be fully in my corner, up to speed on the latest research, and is willing to give me the time I need.
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u/DogMamaLA 9h ago
I went with who my breast surgeon recommended. I didn't like her or her P.A. and they charged outrageous facility fees that my insurance will not cover. So I fired them.
I now go to one my gyno recommended who I had been researching anyway. Went back to my breast surgeon, told him that the onc he recommended and I were not a fit and I wanted a referal to "XYZ" and have been going to her since.
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u/Rachel21321 8h ago
This is helpful. I like my breast surgeon. So if I find an oncologist I like they didn’t refer I can still work with them without issues. (also why is the system so convoluted and confusing)
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u/lil_numb_bug 8h ago
I've not even seen the medical oncologist I've been referred to yet. (Newly diagnosed.) He wants me to have surgery first and then see him once they've done all of the tests. (This does make 100% sense in my circumstances.) But he is actively involved in my case. He is the onc who works with the practice my gyn recommended - she's a three time cancer survivor and said given my location this is the practice she would use and highly recommends them. My surgeon told me he is the truly the best onc she's ever known. He also happens to be the brother of a friend I made in a support group for my other health issues and long before now I frequently heard about all of the research he was doing and was really impressed before I had any skin in the game. His reviews as a med onc back up everything I've heard from all of these people.
That said, I feel like a second opinion will give me peace of mind. Another friend (who I met through a similar support group) was diagnosed 2-3 years ago with breast cancer. Because we know each other through a group where medical issues and drs were frequently discussed, I know she and I have very similar expectations for drs. I reached out to her and got the scoop on both pros and cons of her team and of going to the local med school she went to. My family dr just sent a referral to her team for a second opinion.
One of my reasons for considering a switch is my cancer may slightly more involved than they thought at first (likely stage 2b instead of 1 - need surgery to confirm, of course). I at least want to hear they are on the same page with my current team. The other thing driving my choice for another opinion there is that being a large center they offer more comprehensive care and chemo is now a possibility when we originally didn't think it would be. Having a built in, streamlined, system for referrals for wigs, support groups, etc. appeals to me in that situation.
My husband used to work with a physician who is married to a psychiatrist who has been battling breast cancer for so, so long. She's had stage 4 for about 5 years now. What they've told my husband is that in general most drs are all following the same guidelines, protocols, etc. and that being the case we should pick an onc I like and get along with. She also goes to the university for her care.
One thing all of the cancer survivors I've spoken to have talked about location, too. IF all, or most, things are equal between centers and teams, they recommend choosing a dr closer rather than further away. When chemo wasn't even a thought I wasn't as concerned about that, but I am more so now.
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u/rebelkitty 8h ago
My local hospital assigned me a surgeon, and my surgeon then reached out to both a medical oncologist and a radiation oncologist on my behalf. The three of them are my cancer care team.
Choosing my own oncologist has never come up as an option.
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u/Altruistic_Front_507 8h ago
My method has always been to see the first doctor and know I can ask a second opinion if I’m not impressed. For my surgeon, I posted on my city Reddit and asked for surgeons for breast cancer and a few threw out the docs name that I had an apt with. But if I left that first apt with her feeling off, I should have went with a different one.
With my MO, the hospital assigned me I’m guessing on first available. Some of his online review were about him being arrogant and idk I was nervous. But he is so kind and soft spoken and he listens. So I’ve stuck with him.
Some people will have 2 apts set up and pick the one they like better from those- but my approach was to see another doc if I felt the need to do so. I had some family stuff come up right before my diagnosis so I just didn’t have the energy , and I’d already missed a lot of work & knew I’d be missing more- I think that influenced my decision too.
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u/DragonFlyMeToTheMoon +++ 7h ago
I live near MD Anderson and when I called, they placed me with a team - oncologist, breast surgery, and plastic surgeon. They were all amazing. ❤️
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u/Bright-Weakness4406 6h ago
My surgeon sent me to my main oncologist who I loved immediately.
I only got a second opinion when I had a super bad experience with my onc's NP.
Now I see both of them haha.
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u/amyleeizmee TNBC 17h ago
My gyno who is FANTASTIC referred me to my surgeon and she referred me to my oncologist. My gyno is a real boujee lady and doesnt mess around with it comes to good medical care. I trust her implicitly as we have a long history and she did not steer me wrong. I have had THE BEST medical team thru all of this. A real dream team.
She did tell me if I had someone in mind she would send in the referral but she had a great dr lined up.