Perception of physicians' attitude after cancer

[29sillygirl]

Has any cancer survivor experienced :
1) poor or nonexistant support from oncologist's office after the big drama passes and patient is left to deal with changes brought about by radiation and chemo?

2) Being treated differently by doctors/dentists you've known for years?

3) Brief exams by specialists ,like dermatologist, who used to chat and respond with options, etc /.now barely glance @ body during  exam, ignoring growths that used to be frozen off...only commenting on radiation tatoos?

4) A patronizing attitude

5) Remarks that morph into religious areas...faith is the answer???

I see a urologist in 2 weeks for his assessment of damage to bladder...know I have to drag myself there...have lost so much confidence in ability of docs to correctly diagnose and treat anal cancer..only hope he will catch cancer if it has spread to this area.

[29sillygirl]

Umm....something just happened to post.

Briefly....thanks very much for your great response.  You covered my concerns.

I am at point where I can start setting goals again.  Social and physical.

I retired from a large public library @ 70 and was diagnosed with anal cancer @ 72: two big adjustments.

You are right about things actually being the way they always were....it is just now, I have little to distract me.

Need to work on identity issues.....I'm so much heavier now..people don't recognize me.

Meds caused initial weight gain...something I used to fear more than cancer..lol.  Such a vain, silly girl I was.  

I'll carry on....

Best,
Ann

[GeezLouize75]

I am not a cancer survivor but accompanied my sister who had Stage IV rectal cancer to her oncologist office.  I noticed that once he had the diagnosis/prognosis, it was like he was just going through the motions knowing it was a futile attempt and a waste of time.  

As for other people and their interaction with her, I believe a lot of people are uncomfortable and don't know how to act or what to say when someone has cancer.  One thing people should do is treat someone exactly like they did before the diagnosis.

It could be that part of what you think you are seeing now, has always been that way and you are seeing things differently than you did before you had cancer.?

I recently sent an email to a former co-worker that was diagnosed with breast cancer.  She was so glad to hear from someone who was not afraid to say the "C" word, as she put it.

Sometimes the emotional changes we have can affect the way we perceive other peoples actions toward us.

Take care and God Bless.