Change Doctors - Should I Change Doctors

Building a solid doctor-patient relationship while battling cancer

(LifeWire) -  Throughout your treatment for cancer, your oncologist should be one of most important people in your corner. You should feel comfortable peppering your doctor with questions and sharing the details about your side effects.

If you find yourself struggling to build a solid partnership, try opening the lines of communication before attempting to find a new doctor. But if that fails, don't be afraid to change. Cancer treatment isn't personal -- this is your life at stake.

A Constructive Relationship

It's not entirely your doctor's responsibility to make you feel at ease. It takes effort and time for both parties. In the best case scenario, both the doctor and patient will feel comfortable exchanging information and working together to make treatment decisions.

The American Cancer Society offers some tips for patients on building a good relationship:

• Be honest with your doctor about symptoms and treatment side effects. Keep a diary or journal of the side effects.
• Talk to your physician about your side effects and symptoms that could warrant phone calls to the office. You should know when to have your doctor paged after office hours, when to go to the emergency room and when to wait until normal business hours.
• Openly discuss your lifestyle, even if it includes tendencies for which you're ashamed, such as smoking.
• Between appointments, write down your questions and don't be nervous to ask them.
• Remember that your doctor-patient relationship may be different than you imagined in a hospital setting due to all of the other providers involved in your care.

When Tension Arises

The doctor-patient relationship is ever-evolving. Today, everything from insurance coverage constraints to worries about a malpractice lawsuit can influence how you and your doctor interact. This makes it imperative that you take a proactive role in your own healthcare and your relationship with your doctor.

There are countless reasons why tension could arise in a doctor-patient relationship. You might feel that your physician isn't listening to your concerns, won't answer your questions or doesn't take your fear of a recurrence seriously. Before you switch, try talking about it.

Don't be afraid to bluntly tell your doctor that you feel unable to address certain issues with him or her. Don't be afraid to tell your doctor that you don't understand their medical lingo. If you feel you don't have time to talk during a regular appointment, be direct in asking your physician to schedule a separate appointment for this discussion.

If you are angry and upset with your doctor, try to avoid letting your emotions get the better of you. As with any relationship, if you approach a conflict in anger, you typically get a defensive response.

For those who are uncomfortable approaching their doctor directly, find a liaison. You might ask your primary care physician, patient advocate or a nurse in the office to talk to your doctor on your behalf.

Before you begin searching for a new doctor, consider whether your doctor's expertise and success rate outweighs his or her disappointing bedside manner. There are a variety of tools you can use to check your physician's reputation for a small fee. Examples of for-profit entities that offer physician reports include HealthGrades.com or MDnationwide.org. You can also visit the American Medical Association Web site for physician certification and educational history information.

Moving On

Though it may be nerve-wracking, if you continually feel that you are not getting what you need from your physician, it's time to move on.

Begin by asking for recommendations from other patients, support groups and even your insurance company. Be sure to check with your insurance company to make sure your visits to a new doctor will be covered.

You need to provide your new doctor with a full medical history, so get copies from your old office as soon as possible. Make sure you are requesting a full copy, which includes a list of hospitalizations, medications prescribed and pathology reports.

And as you begin your new relationship, keep in mind that a solid partnership between physician and patient is built by both parties.

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