Once you are diagnosed with breast cancer, it may be a tough time for you and the people around you. However, in those moments it is necessary to make one crucial decision, and it is choosing the breast cancer doctor. A right breast cancer doctor will not only provide the best treatment but will also support you throughout your treatment, recovery, and emotional periods. You will feel like you have a strong teammate throughout the journey, which is going to be very beneficial for you.
In this blog, we will provide you with crucial suggestions to help you choose the right doctor for your needs.
1. Expertise & Knowledge
The first and most obvious point that you should check is the expertise and knowledge of breast cancer surgeons. It is obvious but the most important point that should not be overlooked even a little. While selecting a breast cancer doctor, it is important to be sure that the specialist has deep expertise. It will be better to find a doctor, who has special education in breast cancer surgeries, and who also went through additional oncoplasty training. This way they are not only trained to treat cancer but also to perform reconstructive surgery as well.
One should also see if the surgeon has expertise in oncoplasty because of the focus on oncological and reconstructive abilities that are required to maintain the appearance of the breast after cancer surgery.
2. Good Communication Skills
You are going to spend a lot of time communicating with your doctor during your treatment phase. It is important that your doctor explains things clearly, listens to you and takes your concerns seriously. When you discuss therapy options that you have researched, you want your doctor to be open to your questions rather than dismissive or threatening.
Having said that, we would also not recommend judging the doctor from the first appointment only. A doctor may end up having more time to discuss at
the second visit if they manage to fit you in for the first one on a highly busy day.
3. Responsive Staff
Apart from the doctor, it is advised to pay attention to the office staff as well. Check to see if the doctor’s office staff is responsive to your calls, helpful, and easily reachable. It could be a deal breaker if scheduling appointments and receiving answers to your inquiries are too annoying. Before switching practices, though, try discussing any issues you may be having with the staff with your doctor.
4. Long-Term Support and Commitment
Your doctor may have to work with you closely for several years, especially if you have metastatic breast cancer, are on long-term hormone therapy, or have a hereditary gene mutation that increases your chance of developing breast cancer. As a result, it is ideal to select a doctor who will be in practice for a long time and is not about to retire.
Since you will be making decisions about your treatment together, it is wise to make sure that your doctor supports your priorities and your approach to care, regardless of how long you have been seeing them.
5. Review Patient Feedback and Success Stories
By checking the reviews of the other people, you will get to know how their experience was with the doctor regarding treatment, and recovery and also an overview of the overall experience of the people with the doctor. Feedback and success stories can help you make informed decisions regarding your treatment.
Conclusion
At last, we would say that breast cancer treatment can be a difficult journey but when you have a good breast cancer surgeon by your side, you will feel like a strong companion standing firmly with you in this journey and winning it. They provide expert treatment, emotional support, and constant guidance which will make you feel confident and empowered.
