Shopping for Cancer Specialists Orlando FL

When we say that it is your job to educate yourself about your cancer and your treatments, please don’t think that the responsibility rests entirely on your shoulders. You will have help — a lot of it. Some people first learn that they have cancer from a surgeon or another specialist. When it comes time to do the tests that determine the extent of the cancer, you need to see a medical oncologist, a medical specialist who treats cancer. If radiation therapy is recommended for you, your medical oncologist will refer you to a radiation oncologist, a medical specialist who treats cancer patients with radiation therapy.

Local Companies

Affordable Insurance Inc
(407) 381-4000
5062 S Conway Rd
Orlando, FL

Affordable Insurance Inc
(407) 438-2200
5062 S Conway Rd
Orlando, FL

Affordable Health and Life Insurance
(386) 574-4998
W Volusia
Orlando, FL

Florida Health Insurance Quotes
(407) 425-9347
400 E Colonial Dr
Orlando, FL

Brad Shivers Insurance Agency
(407) 472-9682
2424 E Central Blvd
Orlando, FL

AFLAC
(407) 438-8180
1650 Sand Lake Rd
Orlando, FL

Advanced Health Specialists
(407) 578-4747
4241 N John Young Pkwy
Orlando, FL

Affordable Health Insurance
(407) 296-5985
6200 Metrowest Blvd
Orlando, FL

AA Insurance Center Incorporated
(407) 295-5900
5574 N Orange Blossom Trl
Orlando, FL

Allen R J Insurance
(407) 857-2666
9521 S Orange Blossom Trl
Orlando, FL

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Finding good doctors

These cancer specialists and other doctors along the way will direct your care and serve as important members of your support team. Of course, before you can build relationships, you have to choose the doctors. A number of factors come into play, including

The type of cancer you have

Your age

Your general health

The number of doctors or medical centers available where you live

Your insurance coverage — or lack of it

Obviously, you want the best care that you can get. Given the state of healthcare today, some choices will be up to you and some will not, no matter what your specific circumstances. In any case, you most likely don’t want to choose a doctor simply by opening the telephone book and picking one with an office close to your home.

Here are some sources to help you choose your cancer doctors:

Your primary care doctor (internist or family doctor) or surgeon

The referral department of a large medical center

Your local medical society

Professional medical associations

A relative or friend who has personal experience with cancer

When you have a name or two in hand, make an appointment for a consultation. Ask the receptionist what you need to do to make any test results, xrays, or surgical reports available to the doctor. After that information is gathered, sit down with the doctor and hear what he has to say.

If you have a friend or family member who can accompany you for your first visit to the oncologist, take advantage of that help. Another pair of oars could be helpful as you navigate these unfamiliar waters!

Afterwards, think about what you heard. Think about how you felt while you were hearing it. Think about spending the next several months carrying out a treatment plan under the direction of this particular doctor. If you have found a good fit for you, then proceed.

If for any reason you’re not satisfied with what you hear, or you are uncomfortable about how you feel, make an appointment with the next doctor on your list.

Second opinions are common in oncology, and most oncologists expect and encourage you to seek one, just so you are comfortable as you proceed with your treatment. A good closing question with the oncologist is “Who would you go to see if you were me and you wanted to be sure that you were on the right path?” If you think that the doctor is uncomfortable with this question, move on!

Preparing to embrace a new culture

After you have chosen a doctor, you quickly will become aware that not only are you in the hands of a new medical professional, but you are entering what may seem like an entirely new culture full of people who speak a new language. There is much to learn about your particular cancer, of course, but that is just the beginning.

What’s next?

Tests to take

Treatments to undergo

Side effects to endure

Strategies to implement to manage those side effects

More specifically, just to give you a few examples, you will find yourself wondering
about the following:

Your blood cell count

Survival statistics

How radiation works

Long-term effects of chemotherapy

How to avoid nausea

Where to buy a wig

Long-term effects of radiation

How to care for your skin

Clinical trials of new and (potentially) better treatments

And that’s just part of your new culture!

Sound confusing? One more piece of advice: while you are learning the new language and sorting out your place in the new culture, you also want to keep your eye on the future.

When you have a treatment plan in place, grab a calendar and mark on it the proposed schedule for your chemotherapy and/or radiation treatments. Seeing exactly how long all this will take also allows you to see all those dates left on the calendar after treatment, when your life will once again be your own.

provided by:

For Dummies is a registered trademark of Wiley Publishing, Inc. in the United States and other countries. Used here by license.

Featured Local Company

Affordable Insurance Inc

(407) 381-4000
5062 S Conway Rd
Orlando, FL

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