When you are diagnosed with cancer, one of the first things you should do is find the right doctor… someone you can trust and is knowledgeable about how to heal the human body. But more than that, you should find a doctor who treats their patients as human beings, rather than revenue generators.
Why Choosing a Doctor Carefully Matters
Cancer is oftentimes a terrifying illness that sends you on a roller coaster of emotion. From the day you’re given the news, your mind may experience fear, anger, and depression.
There will be issues regarding insurance and meeting the financial demands of your healthcare. Concerns for your family and the future will add to the emotional toll. Worry about potential outcomes and dealing with unknown factors will generate many questions. You have the right to expect your questions to be properly addressed.
No one should be kept in the dark and simply believe “the doctor knows best” when it comes to an illness that has claimed the lives of so many.
The right doctor treats you as a whole person − not just another appointment to
rush through their exam room so they can get to the next file. There are many things to consider before you trust someone you do not know with your life.The Road to Becoming a Doctor
Naturally, selecting a qualified doctor is an important first requirement. It takes a lot of work to become a doctor and yours will have put in the time, energy, and money to make that happen.
A physician’s journey includes a four-year premedical education in a university or college, a four-year medical school education, and a two-year internship. Each doctor spends a period of time as a resident in a hospital setting to become accustomed to working with patients. Finally, they take the medical board exam. Each country or state has its own rules for licensing physicians.
The physicians who have expertise in cancer treatment are called oncologists. Doctors who specialize in oncology and other specific fields continue their education. The education and training to become an oncologist can take 12 years or longer. In addition, there are ongoing education requirements through the years that they practice medicine. Their exams encompass the area of their “specialty.” They may also choose a sub-specialty such as radiation oncology, medical oncology, surgery, or hematology.
By the time your doctor sees you in their office, they have invested many years of their life to obtain the education required to treat you. All that education, all that effort, and all the money invested still might not make them the right doctor for you, because doctors treat their patients with the protocols to which they have been exposed. And medical schools in the U.S. teach drug intensive medicine − a “pill for every ill.”
Unfortunately, in the U.S., due to a business alliance between the American Medical Association (AMA) and Big Pharma, the curriculum in 99% of the medical schools focuses heavily on prescribing drugs to mask symptoms, rather than determining and treating the root cause of the disease. This is a much more profitable business model and sadly, patients suffer as a result of ineffective therapeutics. This is especially evident in the cancer industry, where patients are typically treated with chemotherapy, radiation, and/or surgery. Oftentimes, the patients die from the horrifically toxic treatments rather than the disease itself.
The Truth About Your Cancer
If you’re reading this article, more than likely you’re aware that the medical community might not be giving you the truth about how to fight cancer effectively on all fronts.
In fact, you don’t know if your doctor is receiving payments to push specific cancer drugs (which often happens). Such cases of “supplemental” income are becoming the source of great debate in the health industry. Political candidates must show whom they are affiliated with but doctors are not required to reveal their affiliations.
You might not be a person or even a patient to some doctors. You might be nothing more than a monetary bonus. Does that seem extreme?
How many times have you seen television ads for medications, only to have them prescribed to you or someone you know within weeks? How easily can you receive a prescription for an antidepressant today as opposed to 20 or even 10 years ago? How often have you received refills with almost no questions about side effects, overall health, or actual improvement?
Sales commissions and cancer drugs work the same way. Pharmaceutical companies have invested billions of dollars to push their drugs to market and they offer lucrative perks when doctors choose to use their products.
Take “Big Pharma” out of the picture. Does your doctor believe in alternative or complementary medicine that can be used in tandem with or instead of traditional treatments? Are they willing to “think outside the box” – especially if you or your loved one has a particularly aggressive cancer?
Is your doctor willing to talk about your diet, your environment, or other health issues you may have and how they may help or hinder your recovery?
The Bottom Line
You have to be confident and comfortable with your chosen specialist since you will discuss everything with them regarding your cancer treatment. Trust your instincts.
Cancer is a journey into extreme emotional, physical, psychological, and financial stress. Having a doctor who sees you, talks to you and listens to you, will make the journey easier.
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with cancer, you need to find a doctor. No matter what, you’re going to need one, because cancer is a dangerous disease that cannot be ignored.
Make sure the doctor you choose is the right doctor for treating and beating the cancer in your life.
Remember, your doctor works for you, not vice versa. If your doctor treats you as less than human or as a stream of revenue, then FIRE him and find a doctor that takes and practices the Hippocratic Oath seriously.
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