Can't Get A Doctor
My oncologist (I'll call him Dr. Death to protect the guilty) at OU Physicians has gone flaky on me AGAIN, but I can't find any other recommended oncologist in the Oklahoma City area. I can't afford to go to MD Anderson. I've been terminal for 4 years now, have had Stage 4, HIGHLY aggressive, Inflammatory Breast Cancer for 4.5 years (diagnosed, it started 6 months earlier). I've tried to make appointments with other oncologists at OU Medical - but no go. So I insisted that my current oncologist refer me and he referred me to the only doctor there that he knew I would object to.
My cancer grows in sheets, the lumps are where it blocks the lymphatics or blood vessels. It doesn't show up at all on CT scans and can barely be seen on MRI's. It was originally diagnosed by fine needle biopsy - but only if they stick it where I tell them to.
I've called and taken my records to several outside oncologists, but it's like I'm blacklisted - nobody will touch my case.
I went to Cancer Treatment Centers of America in Tulsa two years ago for about 6 months. I got crosswise with the PA and the only oncologist that didn't use her looked at my lumps and told me he didn't see any cancer, He refused to biopsy and so he didn't treat me for 4 months. Needless to say, I was dying, so I went back to Dr. Death so I could get some kind of treatment fast without waiting another couple of months to do tests.
Dr. Death has been telling me to die for 4 years, and I'm becoming convinced that he intends to make it a self-fulfilling prophecy. He actually seems upset that I'm still alive. Herceptin was working fine, so he cut the dosage in half without my knowledge (no problems with the heart) which made it not work. So he put me on some experimental junk for colon cancer that an internet search revealed wasn't working for anyone. I tried Tykerb without Xeloda and got MASSIVE diarrhea. I tried Xeloda without the Tykerb and tolerated it just fine. So Dr. Death wanted to put me on the same dose of Tykerb and cut the dosage of the Xeloda. Does this make sense??????
Anyone have any suggestions? How do I find an oncologist with the experience to handle my rare and deadly cancer that will take my case? I was told that my insurance pays out really well.
Comments
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Hey there-
I don't know if we have chatted before, but I wonder if you have a family doc that you like? If so maybe they would be able to help you get into the right doc for you? My family doc is always who I go to first with questions about who to see for what.
Good Luck
Hugs
Deb C
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