CAROLE CHAMBERLAIN: When I was in the hospital I knew that they'd found something. And I knew that I was in very good hands: the smiles, the hugs, the pat on the head.
When a doctor knows you as well and they bring in this awful apple juice and he says, "Take it away. Give her black coffee with sugar. That's what she likes."
When you're dealing with doctors who have hearts and emotions and take your hand and give you a hug, that's all it takes.
ANNOUNCER: Carole Chamberlain knows what she's talking about. As a breast cancer survivor she's had plenty of experience with doctors
CAROLE CHAMBERLAIN: It's like having a rapport with your husband because they've got your life in their hands. If they can't be honest with you and they can't be open with you -- it's like I once heard a doctor said, "Ladies, if you don't like the answers you're getting, get out." And it's true. It's true.
GENEROSA GRANA, MD: The ability for the woman to communicate freely with her physician. The ability to discuss the side effects that she's experiencing. The ability to get information from that physician and to have her questions answered fully is very important.
D. LAWRENCE WICKERHAM, MD: The personalities of the caregivers becomes important. Now, the type of personality may vary from patient to patient, but it needs to be compatible with her needs, and arguably the needs of her family as well.
GENEROSA GRANA, MD: We are no longer in an era where the physician makes all of the decisions in isolation. This is a partnership. The decisions are made by the physician and the patient together.
ANNOUNCER: Being comfortable with your choice of doctors extends to choosing the team that will be involved in helping a breast cancer patient.
GENEROSA GRANA, MD: Involved in the treatment of breast cancer are people of a variety of specialties: the surgical oncologist, the medical oncologist, the radiation oncologist, a plastic and reconstructive surgeon who is involved in deciding what type of reconstruction is available. Often a psychologist or social worker, and again, sometimes a coordinator that will guide the patient through each of those steps.
ANNOUNCER: Finding the right people is key. Carole found hers through her gynecologist and surgeon.
CAROLE CHAMBERLAIN: He said, "I know them well." They were two guys and a gal. And it was wonderful from the minute I walked in there.
D. LAWRENCE WICKERHAM, MD: Ideally, the team involved in breast care should be just that, a team that provides very integrated activities from day one followed through long-term follow-up of these individuals.
ANNOUNCER: Support from family and friends can also be important.
GENEROSA GRANA, MD: They are there to support her in her decisions. They are there to help her in seeking and obtaining the appropriate information. They may just go with her on her appointments, and another set of ears is critical. They may be there to take her for her appointments if she can't drive herself, to take her for radiation, to take her for her chemotherapy appointments. And we must also emphasize the emotional support that they can give as she's dealing with this disease.
ANNOUNCER: Of course those nearest and dearest can have mixed emotions.
CAROLE CHAMBERLAIN: I think they were very supportive of me but I think they were more scared than I was because let's face it, there for the grace of God goes every woman in this world.
ANNOUNCER: Often support comes from those going through the same experience.
CAROLE CHAMBERLAIN: It's very helpful to talk to women who have been there and done that. You get that reaching out, that experience. Now everybody's experience is different. Everybody's surgery is different. But when you can see somebody who has been through something worse than what you're going through, it really helps. And women are sharing more today. They're not holding back.
ANNOUNCER: Doctors encourage their patients to learn about their disease in many ways.
CAROLE CHAMBERLAIN: Online resources have helped tremendously. I've spoken to a lot of my friends who were diagnosed and immediately got on the Internet. Between organizations like the Komen Foundation, the Cancer Society, Sharing and Caring, here in New York, SHARE organization.
D. LAWRENCE WICKERHAM, MD: I often take time when the patient is first diagnosed with a breast cancer to sort of go over the fact that they are going to be getting lots of information from lots of different sources, and they need to take that information with a grain of salt, whether or not it's Aunt Tillie or Dan Rather.
ANNOUNCER: While being educated about your disease is important, a good relationship with your doctor is vital.
CAROLE CHAMBERLAIN: If you don't like what the doctor says or the personalities clash, it's like a date. You can tell on the first hour of a date. If you don't like him, go home.
Ask a friend, call a medical association, call an organization like the Komen Foundation. They will help you in any part of this country they have teams; they have organizations. With what you're going through as a possible breast cancer survivor, you don't need to be treated like a number. You need to be treated like a human being.
©2007 Healthology, Inc.