icbn Posted April 8, 2006 Share Posted April 8, 2006 I got a written copy of my PET scan Monday and the official word from my Onc today. The report stated that the SUV of the Lymph Node has decreased from 12.0 to 6.5. Its size remains at 2cm. I assumed this meant I'd be in for more Chemo or Radiation. The Onc said no. It was great news. My Radiation stopped on 3/6 and the PET on 3/31. The Lymph Node will continue to decline. He is very pleased. I made a mistake and said, "When I first saw the report I thought it was bad news. I thought the node would be fried." The Onc said I am Brusk and confrontational. He said I may not be aware of it but I am. I'm definitely not aware of it because I've never had any disagreement with his findings or anything else. If I ask a question its because I don't understand. But I ask to learn not to question his diagnosis or prognosis. Then he said that he's the expert whose been doing this for 30 years and I'd just have to trust him. This has blown my mind. I have always enjoyed this guy. I never questioned any decisions he's made, everything has been fairly straight forward. Just the basics for LC treatment. I had and have no agenda except to listen. For the last month of radiation and its afterglow of fatigue I have been trying to "get my affairs in order" to do all I can for my wife in my absence just in case. It has been an uphill battle that has made me feel worthless. His comments have leveled me to a grade below that now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hollyanne Posted April 8, 2006 Share Posted April 8, 2006 Wait a second, you should be happy, so BE HAPPY. This is good news, right? So, the messenger let you down today. May sound dumb, but maybe he was offing an "off" day. You have trusted and valued him for a while, right? Celebrate the message. Forgive the messenger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adela Posted April 8, 2006 Share Posted April 8, 2006 You have good news......he has a problem you don't. The news is goooood, happy for you. Maybe he needs a hormone shot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MurielK Posted April 8, 2006 Share Posted April 8, 2006 Congratulations. I think that's good news. Now for the onc.: I'd be really uncomfortable dealing with him again. And, I'd be looking for his replacement. Hope he's not the only one in town. Muriel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ry Posted April 8, 2006 Share Posted April 8, 2006 I am glad you are doing well. Don't be upset over the misunderstanding-- it's his problem, not yours. No crime in asking questions and if he's threatened by that then maybe he's not the doc for you. Glad you checked in with us. Rochelle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icbn Posted April 8, 2006 Author Share Posted April 8, 2006 I agree it was and is great news. I hate to sound unappreciative. My problem is the irony that when I finally get some good news it is sullied by the Onc's blow up. The best thing to have come out of this day is the great fellowship here. Thanks LC Gang. Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cindi o'h Posted April 8, 2006 Share Posted April 8, 2006 Bill, I will PM you .. you will not believe my story to you.. You are doing well, better than well.. you are kicking butt! love, Cindi o'h Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowflake Posted April 8, 2006 Share Posted April 8, 2006 Bill, Congrats! As for the doctor being the expert of 30 years, etc., maybe you should inform him that as for YOUR body, YOU are the expert of how many years? Geezzzz, THAT might be brusque and confrontational! Whatever... Heck, if he fixes it and makes it all better, ya don't gotta kiss him! Celebrate, and give him a break - this time. He could have just been having a bad day, his wife coulda met him at the door with a rolling pin the night before and told him where he could stick that stethascope if he didn't get his boxers to the hamper... Well, it COULDA happened... Take care, Becky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Wood Posted April 8, 2006 Share Posted April 8, 2006 Definitely good news and don't let the situation take that away from you. When a doctor gets sensitive about his being the expert, that is a red flag to me. He definitely has a problem and it is not you. Don Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dadstimeon Posted April 8, 2006 Share Posted April 8, 2006 Congrats on the good news! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carolhg Posted April 8, 2006 Share Posted April 8, 2006 You should never feel that you have to apologize for being proactive about your own healthcare and your own life. Your doctor is the one who is off base here. He knows how serious this awful illness is and he should be doing all that he can to take all the stress out of anything that he can for you. I had a doctor in the beginning who would not give me my PET scan reports. I learned how to go around her and get them myself and then I got rid of her sorry self when she told me that I was expecting too much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mamasbabygirl Posted April 8, 2006 Share Posted April 8, 2006 There you are Bill and I am so glad that you got good news. For our family, bedside manner is so important. We want honest but compassioante answers. It is so hard to find. Congrats!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J.C. Posted April 8, 2006 Share Posted April 8, 2006 Glad to see your name here, and happy about the news. For the confrontational remark, just file it away in your memory for the next time you see him. Wear white gloves next meeting. It is your body and you know it for so many years so that must be more than his 30 years of practice. You are the patient and you assume that more chemo could be needed, that is very normal you don't have his 30 years of practice but you have lc. Don't let it mar the good news you had. Easy to say but I know how you feel, I,m in the same situation with my GP and still have not find a way to clear the air. Congratulations Bill. Jackie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Linda661 Posted April 8, 2006 Share Posted April 8, 2006 Congrats on the good news! As for the onc., his 30 years of practice don't make him immune to questioning at all -- as just about everyone else has said, it's your life and your treatment journey, not his. Don't ever believe that you're confrontational for wanting to know and understand what's going on. Hopefully he was just having a bad day. Please don't be discouraged. Hugs, Linda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joanie55 Posted April 8, 2006 Share Posted April 8, 2006 Great news and PLEASE don't let someone who probably just had a fight with his wife upset you. Everyone is human and unfortunately we are probably so much more fragile than most. Go out and enjoy this good news and just forgot your doc ever said that. Joan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nikkala Posted April 8, 2006 Share Posted April 8, 2006 Great News Bill. And also so Great to see a post from you. Don't let the docs bad day bring you down. We all have them. Have been holding you firmly in prayer and will continue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kamataca Posted April 8, 2006 Share Posted April 8, 2006 I'm joining in with the "great news gang," but I think you have a legitimate gripe. We had a ped. years ago who took a full year to "forgive" me for asking for a pertussis test on my infant son. Turned out he had RSV, but there was a horrible outbreak of whopping cough in our area that year, and I wanted to be sure. She told me it was a waste of time, and I told her I had good insurance. She eventually quit making snappy comments to me, and we eventually built a good relationship. She was a very good Dr. You have the right to ask questions. Don't let him make you gun-shy. It could have just been an off day for him. Shame on him for stealing your good news day! We'll all celebrate with you now! Kelly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kasey Posted April 8, 2006 Share Posted April 8, 2006 Wonderful, wonderful news, Bill!!!! I am celebrating with you, for sure I am ! Now I WON'T get on my soapbox about inept doctors.......no I won't. But this guy needs a good big chill pill, for sure! Seems like you made an innocent.......maybe even light-hearted comment.........and this howdy-doody took offense. Well, he will NOT spoil my good mood right now. Don't allow him to spoil yours! Kasey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icbn Posted April 8, 2006 Author Share Posted April 8, 2006 Thanks everybody. Like I said, the best thing to come of this is the fellowship from here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don M Posted April 8, 2006 Share Posted April 8, 2006 I am glad you don't have to do more chemo and the uptake is going down Bill. I had a similar experience with a radiation oncologist at my last consultation at Swedish Cancer Institute in Seattle. He did not get real upset or anything, but made some comment about how he was the leading expert or something, I don't remember his exact words, but I got the impression he was a little bit defensive. It did not make a huge impression on me. I just kept asking away with my questions. He was the last specialist I consulted with out of 4 that I saw there. I think I kind of impressed them because I was well organized and could speak a little medical jargonese. Apparently they don't get many self advovcates. They are, however, the best medical team I can find regionally and I like them. I think I will mention to the radiation oncologist sometime, that the main reason I ask so many questions is because I want to know as much as I can about my disease and its treatment. It is the way I cope with having this d__n disease. I know others don't want to know anything, that is the way they cope, but I am not one of them. Don M Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pammie Posted April 8, 2006 Share Posted April 8, 2006 So very thankful for your good news. Just wonderful. The docs are all human beings and have their own set of problems but we can't let them control us or our behavior. If he feels threatened by questions maybe a different doc would be better for you So thankful to God for your good news. pammie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RandyW Posted April 8, 2006 Share Posted April 8, 2006 1) Congrats on great results. 2) Your doctor may have been having a rough day. They see a lot more of this disease I think than we do on a daily basis. Debs Onc was home on the holidays for a few hours in the morning and he would be back at the hospital with his terminal patients for hours on end. I used to catch him at 5 am when deb was in hospital. That was the only time he could make rounds because he was so swamped in the clinic. These are my experiences and thoughts so don't get mad if you disagree. JUST A THOUGHT.. Saying prayers and Congrats on the good news really!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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