An Oncologist I Can Talk To

Day 16-

Hope, unlike optimism, is rooted in unalloyed reality. Although there is no uniform definition of hope, I found one that seemed to capture what my patients had taught me. Hope is the elevating feeling we experience when we see - in the mind's eye- a path to a better future. Hope acknowledges the significant obstacles and deep pitfalls along that path. True hope has no room for delusion.” 

― Jerome Groopman, The Anatomy of Hope: How People Prevail in the Face of Illness

Although I wanted to believe that I could take care of this cancer by myself I felt that I needed an oncologist who would see me as a person and the strides I had made towards a healthier body. In my opinion, my efforts needed to be calculated into the treatment plan. Going back to my previous oncologist was not going to give me what I needed. 

So on recommendation from a new friend who was also going through breast cancer, I called for an appointment with a female oncologist in the same medical group. She was a specialist in breast cancer and I would learn later that she actually owned this medical practice with oncologists in three different locations. 

Our first visit was a telemedicine call and she listened very well. She was most encouraging, telling me that my weight loss and diet change was putting me way ahead of the race for a cure. She recounted my cancer diagnosis and basically gave me the same treatment plan as the previous doctor. Why did it sound more hopeful coming from her? My window of opportunity was right now, she said. I should be done with the chemo treatments by September 11th if I started right away. Her offices were located in a different facility, away from the city which meant an added twenty minute drive but there was a back way, avoiding the freeway, and it was a very calm drive.  

My first visit there was for a blood draw. A big white tent in the parking lot housed the lab technicians who came to the car window to take my blood. This was a new Covid-19 precaution. They wore protective equipment and I wore a mask. These were only the beginnings of new procedures in place to protect everyone from the flu. It was now mid May and many bumps in medical precautions were ironed out. Dr. Blau was not hopeful that the pandemic would be over by summer.She was prepared to keep going with the precautions she and her board had set up for an undefined period of time. 

I had confidence in her knowledge and that made all the difference.

Go To Day 17

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