r/endometrialcancer • u/throwaway132289 • 11d ago

Lost another doctor

I have posted before. I was diagnosed with endometrial cancer early last year and had my hysterectomy in April. Fortunately I was grade 1 stage 1a. At my 4 week follow up with my gyn onc, I found out that the hospital had decided to close her department and end her contact (she was on locums) and she was leaving the state. She told me to just go to my regular gynecologist for my every 6 months follow up appointments. I had only met this gyn 2 months prior, but ok she's all I've got.

So I just tried to make my next appointment for October but couldn't do it online. I called scheduling and was told my Dr. left the practice 2 months ago, in a tone of voice like I should have known that already. I was not notified that she was leaving at all.

So I guess now I have no Dr. I am thinking of going to a different practice, mainly because the hospital this practice is associated with is doing some bad things for patient care. But I'm doubting another Dr. will take me as a new patient at this point.

Guess I needed to vent. Feeling very let down by doctors.

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u/mcmurrml 11d ago

You need to find an oncologist. Your doctor was wrong to tell you to go to a regular gyn. Until you are NED for five years you should be under the care and monitoring of an oncologist. A regular gyn is not trained in oncology for in case you were to have a reoccurrence. That can happen even at stage 1.

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u/throwaway132289 11d ago

There is exactly 1 gyn oncologist left in our city, and the next nearest one is 100 miles away. So the one we have here is overloaded with patients with more pressing needs. I was lucky to get my surgery before they got rid of my oncologist. So yeah, having an oncologist would be ideal, but not possible. But now will any other gyn even take me?

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u/mcmurrml 11d ago

I am not a doctor. Even if you have to travel and with you being early stage you wouldn't need to go that much. A regular gyn should not be treating you at this point. You are newly with cancer and gyn is not treated in oncology. You can have reoccurrence even with early stage cancer. Normally you are not released to a regular gyn until you are NED aka remission for five years. An oncologist is trained in how to monitor you, tests and looking and treatment of reoccurrence if needed. With these cancers it is imperative you have someone who knows what they are doing. It's your choice that if even a regular gyn would take you at this stage. I would suggest you find an oncologist even if you have to travel.

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u/juicy-mangoes 9d ago

What really? My mom was diagnosed with stage 1b and her oncologist also told her to get her regular checkups from gynaecologist. She still has some radiation to do but even that was up to my mom. They said if she got radiation her chances of recurrence would drop to 0-2% and if she didn’t it would be 8%. Her oncologist let my mom decide since it was below 9%

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u/mcmurrml 9d ago

Some doctors do things differently. The thing is sometimes the cancer can come back at an early stage. If she go backs to a regular doctor she should know and be aware of what signs to look for in case of reoccurrence.

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u/vape-o 11d ago

This is happening a lot in the US, many physicians leaving medicine completely or moving to more lucrative positions. I'm on my third primary care in the past 3 years, my oncologist has managed to stay with the same practice since my surgery but I'm always half expecting them to leave. Your insurer can recommend other providers if needed.

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u/Antique-Anteater-988 11d ago

Even if you have to travel some distance, it’s worth it to make sure you’re getting your exams in a timely manner.   I don’t know why a new providers’ practice would not accept you as a new patient.  Just make sure you have all your records sent to them ahead of time.  

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u/Economy-Ad-3480 11d ago

Where do you live?

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u/throwaway132289 11d ago

Iowa

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u/Economy-Ad-3480 11d ago

Dang. I was gonna say you can come see me but I’m in Oregon.

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u/throwaway132289 11d ago

Feels like I might as well be in Antarctica

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u/Prize_Echidna_5128 10d ago

This must be very frustrating. Hopefully you can find a doctor. However, going out of state may be your best option. More gyns within all subspecialties will likely continue to leave the state and women’s healthcare continue to become more compromised.

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u/doug123reddit 10d ago

Is telemedicine with occasional office visits a possibility? I’m assuming your follow-up will be mostly labs and imaging. I also think a specialist is a better choice, but I don’t know the standard of care. Knock on wood, it’s not coming back.

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u/throwaway132289 10d ago

Follow up has consisted of a quick check with the speculum and palpitation of the abdomen. No labs, no imaging. I've been making calls and I'm working on it.

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u/doug123reddit 10d ago

Figure out that standard of care — what you should be offered. Good luck and I hope you do well! Your probabilities are likely good.