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Pharmacy Links

AFTER CANCER: QUESTIONS ABOUT ONCOLOGIST

12th March 2009

Can I Continue My Routine Non-Cancer-Related Medical Care with My Oncologist?

In general, it is best to continue your routine non-cancer-related care with your internist or family practitioner, not your oncologist. Some of the reasons for this are that •oncologists’ offices are set up to diagnose and address cancer-’ related problems, not general medical problems

• oncology offices are not set up for routine comprehensive medical evaluations

• it is not cost-effective for you

• if a new medical problem were diagnosed, you would probably be referred to a general internist or a family practitioner

If you do not have an internist or family practitioner, ask your oncologist for a referral. If you want your oncologist to be your only doctor, discuss with him or her whether this is an option for you and whether it is in your best interests.

Which Oncologist Do I See If I Move to Another City?

In our mobile society, where it is common to move to another city, you can

• establish yourself with a new oncologist in your new hometown and have all of your cancer-related care attended to locally (your original oncologist can be kept informed of your progress and provide input on your care through telephone calls, letters, and reports)

•return to your original oncologist for routine follow-ups or if you develop a new cancer-related problem (this is not practical if you have ongoing problems or require frequent follow-up)

•continue your major checkups with your original oncologist and establish yourself with a new oncologist in your hometown who can do the brief checkups and attend to minor problems (your original and your new oncologist must both be agreeable to this arrangement)

The best choice for you will depend on

• your type of cancer

• the complexity or unusualness of your situation

• the sophistication of the local facilities

• financial concerns

• the location of family and support people

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