Thank you. I did not even realize that providers would make an issue of seeing someone else regarding something as critical as cancer treatment. I'm sure my insurance required my GP to recommend the initial specialist. My general practitioner (GP) recommended my Urologist, who recommended my Oncologist. and my Oncologist recommended the Prostate Cancer research doctor. I didn't realize how fortunate I was that I was able to request and get that support. However, if *that* doctor hadn't done it, I would have asked my GP to send me to someone. But I would have had to research that myself before asking. Fortunately, I didn't need to do that. The thought that the system is flawed and that others experience issues horrifies me!

I've moved around a lot with my jobs (before I retired), and I always ensured I found the correct general practitioner (GP) for me when I moved into a new area. In my opinion, the rapport between a GP and their patient is the most important relationship one can establish. My GP would do anything I asked for, including things I did not ask for, while simultaneously questioning my requests and explaining their recommendations and logic to ensure they understood what I was asking them to do or what they were asking me to do and why.

This conversation has caused me to reflect on my history with GPs. I recall dropping one when I was young when we didn't see eye to eye. With my current GP, we joke about being friends who cannot socialize because rules forbid it. I often threaten to find another GP so we can socialize. 😉 I know it's a tough decision, but if I had a problem with my GP or Specialist, I would get another doctor.

Your GP is your first line of defense and represents you to your insurance company. One who listens to the patient and takes the patient's health as seriously as the patient is priceless. The specialist you are directed or redirected to is only as good as the one who recommended them. Usually, that's your GP, or the specialist the GP sent you to.