Have any of you lost your doctor that you had for years?

Boogerman

Mine moved to another hospital and now I feel lost.

po18guy

My PCP of 20+ years retired the month before I found a tumor behind my ear. What followed was a comedy of errors that was providentially corrected and, although I still have no PCP, most of my issues today are above their pay grade, so to speak.

I know the empty feeling, as the PCP I eventually found after the first one retired left the practice. However, for an oncologist in lung cancer (one of the "big four" cancers), you should have a "relatively" easy time locating another with which you click. Either in the same facility, or in another.

Check the online patient ratings and pay attention to how responsive the oncologist is to patient concerns and how much that doctor involves the patient in treatment decisions. It can make a huge difference.

LiveWithCancer

I fear that. I love my doctor. I would hate to lose him.

JaneA

The oncologist who saved my life (because she reread my staging scans and decided to do potentially curative aggressive treatment) moved about six months after my last chemo. I was devastated - she planned to transition me to Dr. So and So, and he never smiled. I wasn't too happy but told myself to be open-minded.

She ordered a PET scan to confirm that my lung met was cold confirmed that good news but opened a new question. I had activity in my presacral area that was possibly metastatic activity.By then, old oncologist was gone and no one called me. So I called my nurse, and she jumped right on my "new situation." I ended up with the medical director of my cancer clinic who sorted out everything. I didn't have a recurrence - she has been my faithful new oncologist for almost 4 years.

Losing our doctors is definitely stressful. Is there a chance you could transfer to his new practice? My surgeon changed affiliations, and I followed him.

cllinda

My radiation doctor retired soon after I finished my 35 rounds. For my six month check ups, I had his replacement. I didn't care for him at all. So I just left my checkups to my surgeon and my oncologist. And last year, my oncologist retired too. I do like his replacement so I will continue my yearly check ups with him.

jojoalexis

my husband had to travel out of town to see his selected onco for a year due to insurance. after one year he had an insurance change and was able to start seeing a local team through the same facility. he uses Cancer Treatment of America - all doctors under one roof and all have access to info and he has a care manager. they are private but work with insurance having out of network copays and also medicare.

Bengal

I think consistency and stability are very important factors in getting through a cancer diagnosis. I was horrified and terrified when my diagnosis came right out of the blue. Fortunately, the oncologist was great. We clicked right away and she really set my mind at ease. She seemed to take personal interest in her patients and I felt she was very caring. At my lowest point she looked me right in the eye and said "we will get though this together" . When she prescribed anastrozole for 10 years she grinned and said, "oh ya, we're going to be seeing alot of each other for a long time" . Then she moved out of state! For the next year there was a series of temporary fill ins. I never saw any of them. I continued to see the PA who actually took on most of the load until a full time replacement could be found. Then this last fall he announced he was leaving as well. This news is absolutely devastating. Especially if you've grown comfortable with someone, they've earned your trust and, perhaps most important, know your case. I hadn't known either the doctor or the PA for very long but to have to start over again with a completely new person is a real setback to recovery. I've seen our new oncologist a few times. I like her but she doesn't know me and she's not familiar with my history. At my recent follow-up a question came up and she had no clue what I was talking about; had to look it up in my file. This is especially a problem in a small town facility. We get a lot of young doctors that come there to get a start but soon want to move on.

BobsProstate

My surgical oncologist left after I had surgery and then seen him once more for a follow-up.

schweetieangel

I moved in Oct so I lost all the great doctors I had
Not loving the news ones very much. And here you don't actually see the oncologist unless your in active Chemo treatment you follow up with another Dr.
Not feeling the support that I had. Its been hard. Couldn't even get 2 prescriptions that I was on before filled. For pain and anxietym
Was told I have to have a family Dr here that knows my history how when it will be a new Dr. Frustrating.
I go for my CT scan tomorrow and get results on the 24th.

BuckeyeShelby

My surgeon retired. The little twit who replaced him is worthless. After spending maybe 10 minutes w/me over 2 appointments, she proclaimed I should get bariatric surgery. She has no clue if I am psychologically able, financially able, insurance covers it, nada. I was so ticked off. (please replace that with the expletive of your choice). I tried to change doctors and was told in no uncertain terms that that couldn't happen because it might hurt her widdle feelings. Luckily, I was out to seeing them twice a year and my medical oncologist agreed to keep following me.

GregP_WN

When I started treatments and seeing my oncologist/ENT I saw him once in his office, then the day of surgery, once after surgery and he was recruited away to The Cleveland Clinic. I was assigned to the next in line at my facility where I was seeing him. I saw that doctor for a couple of years for yearly check-ups, then he was recruited away by Yale. I'm now on my 3rd doctor and I've been seeing her for 6 years or so now. She is the best one I've had in all of my 32 years.

andreacha

I had my original oncologist from late 2006 until mid 2013. My car was in desperate need of repairs, which I could not afford, so I junked it. His office was an hour and a half away from my home. He helped me find another Oncologist in the next town from me. I found someone to drive me there once a month. He is very well known and people speak very highly of him but I am starting to not feel as secure with him. On more than one occasion I asked him what he thought of a result of a particular blood test that he has ordered for me every week. He looks at me with a blank stare and asks what I'm talking about. He's relying on his nurses to read the tests and they aren't experienced enough to know what they are looking at. Two years after I had to leave my wonderful original doctor, he passed away, the day after Christmas. Broke my heart. There will never be another like him. In 2 weeks I'm going to get a second opinion.This doctor is within the same hospital system in another town. The drive (in good weather) will be an hour. But now a ride is provided for me under the ADA by the State. I had no idea about this service until I was browsing benefits for seniors. I filled out a short form and sent it. I really didn't think I would ever hear from them but within 3 days I got a response. They take me to all of my out of town appointments. All are vetted, bonded, non-smokers and drive their personal vehicles. So, now at least if I decide on the new doctor I'll be able to get a ride.

Paperpusher

We had our internist for 20 years. He and his staff, who were sisters, were like family. He knew about our kids, our marital problems and was the go between with our specialists. He also spoke about his family. How he ended up with 4 kids because one was an oops and another was a bet he lost with his wife. He and hubby even liked the same music. At one point hubby and I found out that he had advised both of us to divorce the other. We just had a good laugh over it. Eventually, he joined a group. He was in and out and we noticed he looked tired. His wife developed some health issues then he developed pancreatic cancer. He had surgery, some treatment and made ti back to the office. I remember him telling me that he felt so grateful that the cancer was found early. A few months later I called to make an appointment with him and the staff asked me didn't I know that he had passed away shortly after I was there. I had to get off the phone because I couldn't talk. The doctor who took over for him was crabby and nasty. We both found other doctors. We've had others who moved and left practices. We're both happy with our doctors right now but we know hubby's oncologist has had some health problems so who knows.

@BuckeyeShelby.. What a jerk that doctor was to you. I have no problem firing a doctor and moving on. I'm paying them. They aren't paying me.