have a good relationship with your doctor and be patient active in your recovery

We know just how serious the diagnosis and treatment of cancer is for you. So, we asked six oncologists and staff from The Wellness Community in Los Angeles the following question:

“What can cancer patients expect from their oncologists?”

The important response from these experts was that they believe that the quality of the relationship between you and your doctor can affect the course of the illness.

the wellness community physician/patient statement

you want your doctor to make every effort to:

• Provide you with the care most likely to be helpful to you.
• Inform you about your condition, and the various treatments available. How much detail your doctor goes into depends on what you and your parents want.
• Encourage you to ask questions about your illness and its treatment and to answer your questions as clearly as possible.
• Remember that all major decisions about the course of your care will be made by you and your family. However, the doctor will accept responsibility for making certain decisions if you want.
• Help you in getting other opinions if you desire, or if it’s in your best interest.
• Relate to you as respectfully as possible, always considering your emotional, social and psychological needs as well as your physical needs.
• Spend a reasonable amount of time, as well as offering their undivided attention, on each of your return visits unless an emergency should occur.
• Honor all appointment times unless an emergency happens.
• Return phone calls as soon as possible, especially those you say are urgent.
• Make available test results promptly, and let you know when to expect them.
• Respect your desire to try treatments that might not be conventionally accepted. The doctor should give you an honest opinion about such unconventional treatments.
• Maintain active support and attention throughout the course of the illness.

in turn, you as the patient should make every effort to:

• Comply with the agreed-upon treatment plan.
• Be as honest as possible about what you need and expect from your doctor.
• Inform your doctor if you want another doctor’s opinion.
• Inform your doctor of all forms of therapy you are involved with.
• Honor all appointment times unless you have an emergency.
• Be as considerate as possible of your doctor’s need to follow a schedule and see other patients.
• Attempt to make all phone calls to your doctor during the working hours. Call on nights and weekends only when absolutely necessary.
• Try to coordinate the requests and concerns of you and your family, so that your doctor does not have to answer the same questions to several different people.