Living with lung cancer - Introduce yourself & come say hi

These stories are so encouraging! I will be getting my second round of Chemo this week then scans sometime. I see the local Onc tomorrow but he does not seem very receptive to new info. Have forwarded a lot of this to Dr. Wakelee at Stanfird but have not heard back. Traveling and having to stay somewhere really is not an option or something I would feel comfortable doing and my husband shoukd stay close to his doctors as he is having some heart/BP issues. Wakelee is supposed to be one of the best in this field and you woukd think they woukd cone up with something. I think they want to see how I respond to the Chemo. I have just been so depressed the past few days. How do you get them to listen??

Hi Margot, I had the same trouble as you with a doctor and there was no way he would listen to me. As I was checking out, I told them I would not be back and found someone to replace him. It is so difficult when you are going to the best and he doesn't HEAR you. Bring a close friend, relative with you to your appointment, so when you speak to the doctor that person can affirm what you are saying with a nod or verbal reply. If not that, when the doctor comes in, look at him square in the face and tell him I want you to listen to me in a firm voice. Maybe these suggestions may work. If not, remind yourself that you are doing the best you can and you chose the best. And this should being out a "best"outcome. Blessings.

My husband goes with me but is pretty non-committal. I gave been bringing a recorder but need a new one.
I don't hesitate to speak up. Unfortunately, there are few specialists in my area and few good ones. That is why I went to Stanfird but it is too far to travel for regular treatments. Dr. Wakelee, at Stanford, sent her notes to the Onc here thus the decision to do this Chemo combo. They admit there is little known in the way of treatment for this type of cancer. Money and research gies to the types most people get. I have found some info and have sent it to her. Bith cases being treated at Sloan. Today, I see my neutrophils are way down and I sure don't want those shots!

@lizdorn - Good morning. It must be very very upsetting to hear that you have to pack up your bag for your next life from a doctor. Have you been told that you have Multifocal adenocarcinoma? It means many nodules at once. I'm glad that you are trying to get into see a doctor at Mayo Clinic. When you said that you had everything done are you including surgery? How are you feeling?

Good morning @margot. I'm so sorry that you have been depressed. This whole journey has been quite a struggle, more due to personality than competence. This can have quite an impact on your health. Why don't you want the shot to bring up your white blood cells?
Here are a few suggestions on how to get your doctor to listen.
https://health.usnews.com/health-care/patient-advice/articles/how-to-talk-so-your-doctor-will-listen

Wow...that's great! See there...never give up!

Hi @lisdorn...can you tell us the doctor's name in Maryland? My wife's oncologist left Mayo and went there. We would like to stay in touch with him.

Thank you, Merry.
I pretty much do all those things. I have started a notebook and write down questions for each visit and things I want to discuss. I do communicate electronically. Some doctors are better at responding then others. This Onc gives brief answers or often says it is better to discuss in person. Well, I don't see him that often and he is cutting diwn on office hours. Thanks! Have an appt this morning and woke up with my chest hurting. With my WBC and Neutrophils down, I worry.

Margot- My counts were down when I had chemo. It's very normal, although not ideal for sure. When you go for your infusion ask the nurses for more information about blood counts. I know that when my blood counts were bad from chemo it was disconcerting, I even was turned away because of it and missed one session. What is it that is upsetting you about this? That you will miss one or that it's not within a normal range? Chemo kills a lot of things so that it can kill your cancer too. Very upsetting. I'm glad that you are writing everything down.

I will see what he says this morning. He was concerned how I would react to the Chemo and I don't even have a port. I am afraid of infection and getting sick. Yes, just been beside myself the past couple of days. I think starting the loss of my hair set me off. I don't know. Beginning to wonder if all this is worth it as he only gives me a year, maybe, with treatment.