How do you know what issues concern Family Doctor vs Oncologist?

@colleenyoung Yes, the family doctor in on board now. I feel like she is part of the team and she's happy to be on the team. I appreciate the extra medical resource and it makes tracking of symptoms, ordering tests, and offering support much easier. It make sense since she knows my medical history and the nuances and details associated with my health journey.

A picture is worth a thousand words...

Your trio of cancer doctors, urologist, radiologist and oncologist generally prefer to stay in their lanes and refer back to your PCM for overall health snd speciality medicine.

Bottom line, your PCM is a valuable member of your medical team who handles routine things and does the heavy lifting for referrals!

Kevin

I have a cardiologist and pulmonologist along with my PCM.

My PCM orders CBCs, Metabolic Panel, Lipid testing, tracks my vaccinations, refers out to ensure I am having necessary diagnostic testing such as colonoscopies. I see my dentist three times a year for teeth cleaning, exams, eye doctor at least once a year...

My oncologist does the liver test and I always wandered why; so you answered my curiosity.

I would suggest your PCP rather than Urologist. All mine cares about is treating prostate cancer. Radiologist just cared about his plan. All of my blood work and test results automatically go to my primary so that we can sit and talk about them. She ordered additional blood work and verified my anemia. I took them to my SO and he looked at the results like he had never seen blood results. Granted my cancer was dealt within a private practice which I now feel was a mistake. Took my proctitis to a GI and they are dealing with it. Urologist and radiologist wanted nothing to do with it.

@chippydoo
What do you mean by SO? Never heard of any medical person referenced with that. Now significant other would make sense, But I’m sure that’s not what you mean.

@colleenyoung Yes, my family physician is on-board and part of the team now. It took a while but the distributed doctor-support roles are more defined.

@jeffmarc SO and RO. Surgical Oncologist and Radiation Oncologist

@chippydoo
Never Heard an Urology oncologist referred to as a surgical oncologist, RO is a common term.

Since almost all prostate cancer surgeons are urologists they are usually referred to a UO. Will add SO to the list of abbreviations.

@asolidrock Well that is refreshing. ADT and other cancer drugs can effect lipids and liver health. I brought my primary on board and had the discussion that he, now a she, would look out for my general health. My oncologist is literally only interested in his cancer treatments and doesn't do any bloods other than psa and T. Another reason to move to a CCC cancer center that takes a team approach.