Continued from Chapter 6: part 7
We settled in quickly to the clinic routine and always came prepared.
An expression occasionally used by the doctor stuck with me, “When you get sicker.” That was the key phrase. When you get sicker.
On our first visit we rattled off our list of rehearsed questions and mentioned the test drug Hal had been offered. The doctor knew of it, of course. He was a factual and honest as he could be and he left us with the impression that when there is a break-through, he will be quick to act on it for his patients. I was reminded that the surgeon said to think of the Oncologist as a researcher above all, and when a breakthrough came, he would be only too happy to be involved.
Information and accessibility were important to us and we got that. We naively asked if the treatment he was considering for Hal showed that patients had ever gone into remission for five years or more. I don’t recall how he fielded that one but we didn’t get a definitive answer.
I again wondered out loud about Hal’s life expectancy when Hal interrupted, “Look, I will not permit anyone to tell me when I might die.”
Here was a change of direction. We had endlessly discussion the question of Hal’s life expectancy, but now Hal had made his stand. The matter was never discussed again and I know that would have been marked in his file.
We liked and trusted the oncologist from the start. We didn’t ask how long the planned treatment would be or whether there were other procedures that might be tried, but we didn’t doubt that hr would answer direct questions honestly and compassionately as Hal’s illness progressed. We left Hal’s life in his hands and we believed completely that he would do what he considered the best way to benefit Hal.
We did ask about a self -help group run by a Princess Margaret staff psychologist. The doctor sent along our names and the clinic got in touch with us.
That day, based on the man’s manner and professional approach, we made the decision to commit to this doctor and this hospital. We never seriously discussed the trial drug again and turned out concentration and attention to “reading” this most important person in our lives.
During all our visits over the months he never ever left the room until he was satisfied all our questions had been answered, and we never felt any impatience on his part, knowing there were other patients waiting for him. Hal liked and trusted him.
I can’t imagine how an Oncologist or anyone working where the mortality rate is so high, can lead a balanced life. Certainly, keeping patients at arms length is a start and concentration on the research is vital.
You won’t find a doctor who isn’t terribly busy, so forget that dream. We were heard and our questions were answered. The doctor gave us his office number and the name of his secretary and god bless doctor’s secretaries. They are a compassionate bunch.
This man had a limited humor, not unexpected, was all business, gave us his complete attention and was knowledgeable. To be sure, he would never have picked Hal out of a crowd, but we had found our doctor.
Now to begin.
continued in chapter 7: part 1
Showing posts with label oncologists. Show all posts
Showing posts with label oncologists. Show all posts
Friday, August 3, 2007
Thursday, August 2, 2007
Chapter 6: part 7 Study Your Doctor
continued from chapter 6: part 6
At last Doctor Roberts announced he was going to set up an appointment with the Oncologist at the Princess Margaret Hospital next door. Now we wouldn’t have been dumb enough to maintain ties with this man, but ask yourself whether a person like this would waste his time trying to prolong Hal’s life. I think not.
Three months to the day since his surgery Hal had his first meeting with Doctor five, the Oncologist. This was also our first experience with clinic visits, an experience like no other.
Kind volunteers ushered us through the first-time admitting routine until Hal was weighed and we were directed to an examining room. I had every intention of being with Hal and that turned out to be acceptable procedure anyway. The room was a decent size, with examining table, washroom, cupboards and sink. Hal stripped down to his underwear and socks and pulled himself onto the table. I sat in a chair holding his clothes, magazines, books and other necessities. We probably only waited fifteen minutes, and a nurse popped in once to say the doctor would be in soon.
We watched the shadows of passing feet under the crack in the door leading to the more private back corridor. Another nurse dropped in for a moment to let us know what the procedure would be and then a resident entered to do the usual testing and thumping and asking of questions and as always, in Hal’s case, came the rectal exam. I know he was sore from them but he never complained.
Finally, Doctor Edge arrived, accompanied by the resident and a nurse. My hands were ice cold. Here was the person who might be able to give us more of that quality time we kept reading about.
He was a stocky bearded man, crisp, articulate and smiling. He had the kind of erect body that appeared rooted to the floor. He introduced himself and was definitely not a person you would be on a first-name basis with. It became immediately clear that he had read Hal’s file thoroughly. He knew we were studying him as carefully as he was studying Hal. He talked about Hal’s kind of cancer and what he perceived as Hal’s condition at the present time. Hal said he felt well, had returned to work full time and found it hard to believe he had cancer.
The doctor told us he didn’t plan to begin any treatment while Hal was feeling well and while his weight was holding. We asked about something another doctor had mentioned, that they might consider surgically implanting an infusion pump near Hal’s liver, to mete out chemo drugs but Doctor Edge didn’t think this was the right course. He said that when the time came for treatment he would probably try chemotherapy by injection, a series lasting one week and then a follow-up six weeks later. We did ask how the doctor would know when to begin treatment and he said when Hal began to lose weight and complained of various discomforts.
continued in chapter 6: part 8
At last Doctor Roberts announced he was going to set up an appointment with the Oncologist at the Princess Margaret Hospital next door. Now we wouldn’t have been dumb enough to maintain ties with this man, but ask yourself whether a person like this would waste his time trying to prolong Hal’s life. I think not.
Three months to the day since his surgery Hal had his first meeting with Doctor five, the Oncologist. This was also our first experience with clinic visits, an experience like no other.
Kind volunteers ushered us through the first-time admitting routine until Hal was weighed and we were directed to an examining room. I had every intention of being with Hal and that turned out to be acceptable procedure anyway. The room was a decent size, with examining table, washroom, cupboards and sink. Hal stripped down to his underwear and socks and pulled himself onto the table. I sat in a chair holding his clothes, magazines, books and other necessities. We probably only waited fifteen minutes, and a nurse popped in once to say the doctor would be in soon.
We watched the shadows of passing feet under the crack in the door leading to the more private back corridor. Another nurse dropped in for a moment to let us know what the procedure would be and then a resident entered to do the usual testing and thumping and asking of questions and as always, in Hal’s case, came the rectal exam. I know he was sore from them but he never complained.
Finally, Doctor Edge arrived, accompanied by the resident and a nurse. My hands were ice cold. Here was the person who might be able to give us more of that quality time we kept reading about.
He was a stocky bearded man, crisp, articulate and smiling. He had the kind of erect body that appeared rooted to the floor. He introduced himself and was definitely not a person you would be on a first-name basis with. It became immediately clear that he had read Hal’s file thoroughly. He knew we were studying him as carefully as he was studying Hal. He talked about Hal’s kind of cancer and what he perceived as Hal’s condition at the present time. Hal said he felt well, had returned to work full time and found it hard to believe he had cancer.
The doctor told us he didn’t plan to begin any treatment while Hal was feeling well and while his weight was holding. We asked about something another doctor had mentioned, that they might consider surgically implanting an infusion pump near Hal’s liver, to mete out chemo drugs but Doctor Edge didn’t think this was the right course. He said that when the time came for treatment he would probably try chemotherapy by injection, a series lasting one week and then a follow-up six weeks later. We did ask how the doctor would know when to begin treatment and he said when Hal began to lose weight and complained of various discomforts.
continued in chapter 6: part 8
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