Scans: When, Why & Which One?
This week on Cancer Covered: Why oncologists need to order scans How scans help doctors diagnose, treat, and monitor cancer Common misconceptions about getting follow-up scans after a cancer diagnosis Only three cancer diagnoses that early detection has been proven to change the survival rate of patients The difference between PET scans and CT scans […]
How to Talk to Your Doctor
“Communication is a collaborative endeavor. It requires clarification, resetting, and recalibration all theway through the therapeutic relationship, at every level of where you connect with your healthcare team.”– Dr. Mitch Winkler Good healthcare starts with good communication. But despite good intentions, patients often visit their oncologists with a huge knowledge gap and a lot of […]
Scanxiety
This week on Cancer Covered: The prevalence of anxiety among cancer patients Abe’s experience with testicular cancer Developing strategies for managing stress and anxiety related to a cancer diagnosis and treatment The value of increasing communication with medical professionals to ensure you fully understand your diagnosis and treatment plan Addressing the emotional and psychological impact […]
How to have Difficult Conversations
This week, we discuss what makes some conversations more difficult than others and why they’re so important to have with our patients. We discuss why oncologists should acknowledge and embrace the ‘uncomfortableness’ of having difficult conversations with their patients and share tips for delivering serious or difficult news. We discuss what ‘Red Level Concerns’ are […]
Anatomy of Difficult Conversations
This week, we discuss the anatomy of a difficult conversation. We discuss the impact of delaying or avoiding a difficult conversation and explore what makes some conversations more difficult than others. We discuss how our emotions play a role in our interactions with patients and how we can cope with these emotions to improve patient […]
My Doctor Stuck His Boot in His Mouth
Dr. Burnette and Erika join us today to discuss the power dynamics between doctors and patients and why some people are often surprised when conflicts arise between doctors and patients. We discuss the letter Erika sent to Green Bay Oncology that expressed deep concerns about a comment Dr. Burnette made during one of her appointments, […]
Which One of You is my Doctor?
Dr. Burnette and Dr. Ryan join us today to discuss one of the most common questions we receive from our patients at Green Bay Oncology: “Which one of you is my doctor?” We discuss the difference between visiting your primary care doctor and your oncologist and why it may be impossible to see the same […]
Caregivers: Put on Your Own Mask First
You know those safety demonstrations at the beginning of a flight, where they go through the plane’s safety features? Remember what they always say about the oxygen masks? “If you’re with someone that needs assistance, always put on your own mask first.” You’re thinking that’s selfish maybe, but it’s critical advice – and not just […]
My Hero
Oprah’s guest pointed to the place above her collarbone where the tumors first appeared. It’d been a hard fight, with one particularly close call, but she’d made it and now she was a survivor – even a hero. Cue tears from the audience. Normally I’d have been moved, crying along with the show and applauding […]
To Port or Not To Port – Advantages & Disadvantages
Most of our patients who receive chemotherapy, and some patients who receive other therapies for blood disorders, have had a port catheter (or port for short) placed by recommendation of their medical provider for very good reason. A port catheter is a device placed “centrally” into a large, main vein and is generally located in […]
