Choosing the Best Oncologist to Treat Your Breast Cancer

When a woman has been diagnosed with breast cancer, this is usually a time of fear and uncertainty. But once the initial shock passes, most breast cancer victims become determined to do everything they can to beat this disease. Of course, they will not be alone in this fight. Besides the moral support they will get from family and friends, there will also be a medical team with them every step of the way, and one of the first important decisions that a breast cancer sufferer must make is the selection of the oncologist who will lead her cancer treatment team.

No two women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer are identical, which is why there is no standard formula to follow when it comes time to pick the right the right oncologist. Nevertheless, if you are the one who has been diagnosed with breast cancer, there are a few important factors you should take into account when making such a crucial and ultimately life-altering decision.

The Basics
Geographical location will normally play a significant role when it comes to selecting a cancer center for treatment. Medical facilities all have websites now, and they usually have videos that allow prospective patients to see and hear the doctors associated with those facilities speaking about such things as their experience and their philosophy of treatment. Visiting cancer center websites to watch these videos and read the accompanying biographies can be a good way to begin the search for an oncologist.

Once you have found cancer specialists, or general doctors who also do cancer work, who interest you, the next step should be to contact the American Board of Medical Specialties either online or over the telephone. This organization can tell you if your potential candidates have had any complaints issued against them my patients, and if they are currently in good standing with the board.

“Famous” vs. Novice
Many women want to find the oncologist with the best reputation and the most experience. But the problem with these well-known, highly decorated oncologists is they may be so busy that they can’t give you the personal attention you seek. Also, because they are so busy they may have difficulty getting back to you quickly when you have questions or other concerns.

While oncologists who are fairly new to practice may not have the same level of experience, or the same reputation, you can be sure in most cases that they are very highly trained and qualified. Also, because they probably graduated from medical school more recently, they may be more up-to-date on the latest research findings and innovative new approaches to treatment. One concern that has been raised about older oncologists is that in some cases they may have a bias in favor of mastectomy over lumpectomy, because the latter is a procedure that only dates to the 1980s so therefore they may not be as familiar with it. The decision ultimately comes down to what you feel more comfortable with but it would probably be a mistake to rule out younger or less experienced doctors automatically.