Choosing your Physicians

gpAside from family members, the most important people in the lives of a Lynch survivor and previvor are their physicians. The choice of caretakers can make an enormous difference in the quality and longevity of life and we need to be very careful in determining to whom we wish to entrust our lives.

 

First and primary is our general practitioner. He/she has to wear a lot of hats and requires special skills, including catching speeding bullets with his/her teeth, leaping over tall buildings, having X-Ray vision, hearing more confessions than the parish priest and providing as much advice on how to cope in life than a psychologist or a bartender.  He/she is our first line of defense in any illness, including Lynch syndrome and holds an enormous responsibility.

 

Today’s physicians need the above skills, especially due to the lightening fast developments of medical care, whereupon it is essential to know almost every disease imaginable, how to test for it, how to diagnose it, as well as address and document all the patient’s problems within an average of fifteen minutes per visit.  It is no wonder we see most physicians, today, choosing to be specialists.  It is also no wonder we see a severe shortage of GPs today, due to the extremely high, varied demands and the required knowledge to be an effective general practitioner.

 

In light of the requirements of today, the best GPs are super heroes and if we find one that has an inkling about Lynch syndrome or the time to research it, we have ourselves a super star that we and our families will wish to keep for life.

 

The process of finding a good practitioner is simple, however, with our special needs, we simply don’t want one that is “good.”  In fact, that is true for our selections of our entire medical team. We want the very best and to find them, we’re going to have to search.

 

The first place to begin our quest for an excellent general practitioner, gastroenterologist, oncological gynecologist, genetics counselor and oncologist, as well as other specialists dependent upon our inherited cancers, is through referral by those who work in the medical field.  Interview them as to the positive and negative qualities of potential candidates and ask who they would recommend to care for themselves and their own families.  They always know the best, most dedicated and passionate doctors.

 

However, don’t stop at that.  Check out and research the doctor.  Verify the level of education and whether or not complaints exist at the State Medical Board level of your state and other states in which they practiced.  Run a quick check of the courts to see if they have been involved in any litigation. Research what activities in which they are involved and learn more about their lifestyles. Conduct a “Google search” on them and see what turns up. Then assess what you find, very carefully.

 

If you find your physician spends his/her weekends running marathons, be reasonably prepared to accept part of your recovery program to include exercise.  If he/she has an interest in nutrition, expect your diet to be in question and lifestyle changes to be a significant part of treatment.  If the physician writes they are interested in the spiritual health of an individual, it means they expect you to take on the emotional aspects of your medical care and to participate in your treatment in a positive, effective manner. (Actually some pretty sage advice…)

 

The next step is to call the office of the physician who meets your criteria and ask the nurse to ask him/her if they have ever treated anyone with Lynch syndrome.  If the nurse responds, “Just a minute.  Let me check with the doctor.” things are hopeful.  It means if something serious occurs, the staff isn’t going to “shine you on” as what occurred above and the physician will be consulted.  If she returns on the line and advises the doctor has treated individuals with Lynch syndrome previously or even states he/she hasn’t treated anyone for it but knows all the criteria for the surveillance and management of Lynch syndrome and the effects of cancer treatment, that doctor is a strong candidate.

 

The third step is to schedule an appointment.  During the first visit, note whether or not the physician takes a family history.  If he/she doesn’t, scratch the physician from your list.  The family history is important not only for hereditary cancers but any and all hereditary disorders, such as blood clots, allergies, heart problems and other matters which can arise or interfere with Lynch syndrome management.  It is a very basic standard of care, taught in all medical schools.  If the doctor doesn’t take the family history, don’t walk, but run out of his office.  If he does and you click with one another, come to an understanding with one another.

 

Seeking medical care and advice and following medical care and advice is a two way street.  Just as we have expectations upon our physicians, they have expectations upon us.  Its important to discuss these with one another and make certain an understanding exists as they are the experts in their field.  Sometimes that understanding can be as simple as, “You are the doctor and I am the patient and I am trusting you to know and learn all you can about Lynch syndrome and protect and treat me to the very best of your ability and I will do whatever you feel is best for me but I need you to communicate with me and tell me what I should do.  I will commit to listening to and following your advice and learn more about my syndrome in order to become more empowered and to achieve a positive and successful recovery.”

 

Our general practitioners will be with us for years and some will care for us during OUR entire lifetimes while others will be with our GPs for THEIR entire careers.  A mutual environment of trust and confidence in one another is essential, due to the long term relationship and the nature of our disease.  The choice of a physician is extremely important to us.

 

My general practitioner is excellent.  He has a passion for people, for life and for what he does.  With a military background, his training is outstanding. His skills are excellent.  He is a wonderful listener, is positive and full of energy.  He is always prepared and has reviewed my file prior to our appointment, knowing up to the minute what has occurred with treatment with other members of our medical team.

 

He knows my background, both professionally and personally.  He is aware of the challenges faced in life, of my children, of my husband, of our home and where we have lived.  He is aware of the challenges of treating an independent patient as me and we have an excellent understanding with one another.  He is the expert and his job is to keep me alive.  I am the patient and my job is to follow his instructions, make lifestyle changes and keep my attitude positive in order to allow my body to work within his efforts.  I like and respect him as a person and have the utmost confidence in his abilities.

 

Life with Lynch syndrome is greatly eased when we are so very fortunate to have an excellent general practitioner– and one that cares, is passionate, dedicated, committed. competent and blends with our lifestyles.