Doctors made decision without me?
Meet the Experts
Jennifer Griggs, M.D., M.P.H. is a medical oncologist specializing in the treatment of breast cancer, with a a special interest in cancer survivorship, patient-physician communication, and quality of care for women with breast cancer.
Marisa Weiss, M.D. is a radiation oncologist specializing in breast cancer and the founder, president, and guiding force behind Breastcancer.org.
Question from Colleen: Without my knowledge, my breast surgeon called my plastic surgeon and asked him not to add the implant to my remaining breast. I then went to a different breast surgeon for another opinion and received permission to move forward. I'm supposed to go back to the original surgeon that did the mastectomy, but I feel differently about her now.
- Answers —Jennifer Griggs, M.D., M.P.H.: If you think this is a workable relationship, it's important that you talk with your first surgeon about what happened. She may have had a good reason for the recommendation she made. On the other hand, it is important that you let her know, gently, that you were thrown by the fact that she didn't discuss this with you. Regardless of whether you choose to stay with the first or second surgeon, this will be an important learning experience for the first surgeon, and it may help you understand WHY what happened actually happened.
- Marisa Weiss, M.D., president and founder: Sometimes, after your doctor sees you, s/he will get on the phone and bring another doctor up-to-date on your evaluation. During that conversation, new ideas might come up. It's possible that through this conversation another approach or idea about how to handle the reconstruction was brought up. This is a good thing when your doctors connect and come up with the best plan. But it is also important to circle back to you and bring you up-to-date with the way the team is thinking, and the way they want to guide you through the process.
On Wednesday, February 19, 2003, our Ask-the-Expert Online Conference was called The Doctor-Patient Relationship. Jennifer Griggs, M.D., M.P.H. and Marisa Weiss, M.D. answered your questions about how to find the right doctor for you, and how to create and maintain a good, open relationship with your doctor so you can be sure to get all the care and information you need.
The materials presented in these conferences do not necessarily reflect the views of breastcancer.org. A qualified healthcare professional should be consulted before using any therapeutic product or regimen discussed. All readers should verify all information and data before employing any therapies described here.
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An original video-on-demand educational initiative brought to you by Breastcancer.org and Comcast. Visit www.comcast.net/pinkribbon each week through the end of October for engaging, up-to-date videos and information about the fight to end breast cancer.