Information is Power

I don't know about you, but I'm much calmer and in control when I have all the information I need. The unknown seems to be the worst, and it's what wakes me up, heart pounding, in the middle of the night. You see, in 72 hours I start a 6-week course of daily radiation therapy and weekly chemo. And as the always healthy, never-more-than-a-bad-cold person-who-hates-a-situation-without-a-plan, I'm still lacking the most vital information - "How will I respond physically to this treatment?"

I've had the textbook course, learning about the possible ugly side effects, the list of things I can do to mitigate the extreme nausea and fatigue and that I need to ask for help when I feel I need it. But until I actually start, I'm not going to know exactly what is going to happen. This is understandable, given that every person responds to treatment very differently.

Yet in many health care situations, people still don't get the information they need. My father-in-law passed away recently from end-stage colon cancer, and during his time in the hospital, nurses, physicians and techs often came into and out of the room without ever explaining what they were up to. In fact, in many cases they would completely ignore the family members sitting there. For my husband, this was extremely frustrating.

I have to say that my experience in this regard has been very different. During my hospital stay after surgery, ever single person who entered my room introduced themselves, explained what they were there to do, and before leaving asked me - or my husband and sons - if we had any questions. In each doctor's appointment - and there have been dozens now - my physicians, or their nurses and nurse practitioners, have taken all the time I need to listen to my questions, discuss treatment options, and explain fully what's happening to me. Friends, THIS should be the way it works all the time. It isn't that hard!

My advice is to take the time while you are healthy to make sure you are with the right physician. How are you greeted when you show up for an appointment? Do you feel rushed during your time with the doctor? Are you left with questions, or do you feel talked down to? You can now find lots of information on rating boards about physicians - and even hospitals, thanks to the power of social media. Invest the same amount of (or more!) time in choosing the person who will be managing your care as you would picking out a new television set, car or any other large purchase. At the end of the day, while it may seem obvious, there really is nothing more important than your health or the care you receive when trying to return to health.