Teamwork

My doctor brought me in to explain the course of treatment he was recommending for my lesion. I asked him to explain what was going on, and why he was recommending the treatment. He looked startled and frankly a bit offended.

"I went to school four years beyond medical school to learn how to do this, and you want me to teach it to you in one hour?" he asked, somewhat sarcastically.

I looked at him and said, "I don’t want to know everything you know, but I want to know how this treatment is going to work on me. How did you come up with this plan? Why? Show me on my films just where the treatment will be working and how."

There was a lot of tension and a long pause. "I think I know what you’re asking me to do. Most patients don’t ask to know, so I’m not used to answering questions like these."

I explained to him that I needed to know. I wanted to be able to visualize clearly what he was doing, and participate in helping the treatment work. I wanted to look in the mirror, straight at that lesion, and order it to shrink!

Eventually the tension subsided and we had a very pleasant, constructive conversation. At the end of the meeting I said, "Thank you for explaining. Now I understand."

He shook my hand warmly and said, "We’ll get through this together."

We’re a good team now.

Don't hesitate to ask your doctor to show you X-rays and explain test results. If you don't understand, ask for clarification. It is your right to have as much information as you wish about your own body.