Help - oncologist recommendations for Charlottesville VA please?

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JustJean
JustJean Member Posts: 327
edited June 2014 in Recommend Your Resources

Hi everyone. I don't know if this is the right place to post this or not but let's give it a try...

A good friend of a friend of mine lives in Charlottesville VA and has BC. It seems to me that she is receiving substandard care and I would like recommendations if anyone has any (I am in Ohio so would have no idea) for a different surgeon/oncologist for this young woman.

Here's part of what she writes: "A very close friend of mine, age 38, recently found out that she has breast cancer -- a sizable tumor is growing in her right breast. Today we went to the surgeon to talk about her options. She asked to see the MRI that shows the tumor, but he initially refused, saying "You wouldn't understand what you were looking at." Umm, well, we will if you point to it and say THAT IS THE TUMOR. So he sighs a mighty sigh and shows us the MRI and, indeed, THERE IS THE TUMOR. It's a big motherf*cker, and it's clearly distorting the muscle of the chest wall.

So my friend asked if she could have a print out or a digital copy of the tumor, and he says "What, are you scrapbooking it or something?"

She says no, but that she'd like it for her records.

He says "You don't want a picture of it. You want to just go on, live your life,forget you ever had cancer."

She responds that she would just like a copy for her own records.

He says he can't give her one and besides, she doesn't want one."

Now, to me this sort of behavior from a doctor is unacceptable and I cannot believe that he told her she could not receive a copy of her own medical report!!!. My friend thinks so too but HER friend is so shell-shocked right now that she can't make the decision to look for another doc.

Does anyone have any suggestions for that area of the US?

Thanks in advance...

Lona

Comments

  • JustJean
    JustJean Member Posts: 327
    edited March 2012
    I guess I should have said "surgeon and oncologist" instead of just oncologist. Apparently this young woman has agreed to let this guy do her surgery and guide her chemo. Frown
  • chef127
    chef127 Member Posts: 891
    edited March 2012

    JustJean,

    There has got to be other surgeons in the area, even if she needs to travel a bit. She is entitled to all her med records and he has no right keeping them from her. WHY can't she start a scrap book if she wants to. I would kick him to the curb asap. She needs to find a sugeon to do the surgery and an onco to decide if she needs the chemo or not. Surgeons don't generaly Rx chemo. Sounds like greed to me. I would'nt let him touch me or my BC. She should contact the American Cancer Society or an organization that deals with cancer.

    I wish her luck and healing.

  • JustJean
    JustJean Member Posts: 327
    edited March 2012

    You have my total 200% agreement with your opinion!

    I'd do whatever I could to get his license taken away. He has no right treating her like that, no right to withhold her medical records, and just shouldn't be doing what he is doing. But she is scared and alone (her friend lives in a different state too) and has apparently not come to her senses yet.

    Hopefully someone will know someone and I can send her the information immediately. She's already going through hell - does she need a doctor like this to make things even worse?????

    ...sigh...

    Thanks for the reply!

  • mamabee
    mamabee Member Posts: 546
    edited March 2012

    The University of Virginia has an NCI-designated cancer center. Assuming this awful doctor isn't affiliated with it, that would be a good place to start.

  • shadylady1
    shadylady1 Member Posts: 75
    edited March 2012

    Agree with mambee! UVA is a great hospital!  I live in Richmond and love my oncologist here.  Please feel free to PM me if I can be of any help!  Richmond is an hour away but I am pleased with the care I received and continue to receive!  BTW, the doctor she saw sounds like a flaming ass and should have his license revoked. 

  • JustJean
    JustJean Member Posts: 327
    edited March 2012

    Mamabee and shadylady1, thank you so much! And I would LOVE to know the name of your oncologist! Got any good ideas for surgeons?

    I agree, he should have his license revoked. I also have nasty thoughts that involve sharp objects but I'll keep those to myself.

    Anyone else?

  • holdontohope
    holdontohope Member Posts: 295
    edited March 2012

    Justjean, I PM'd you with a suggestion.  Shadylady1, can you give me the name of your oncologist in Richmond?  I am considering getting a second opinion at the VCU Massey Cancer Center.  Do you have any knowledge of them?

  • JustJean
    JustJean Member Posts: 327
    edited March 2012

    Awesome - thank you very much! ♥

    We've got one surgeon, now we need an oncologist - anyone???

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