Could Firing Your Doctor Save Your Life?

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Andrew Schorr:

Hello and welcome to Patient Power.  I'm Andrew Schorr.  It is always a pleasure to welcome back to Patient Power a cancer survivor who has been on before.  And so Randy Broad is in that 10 percent of lung cancer patients who have survived at least five years.  Randy, you're a lucky dog, aren't you? 

Randy Broad:

In more ways than one. 

Andrew Schorr:

Randy, when you were first diagnosed with lung cancer, you just did not feel right about your interaction with the doctor that you saw, and so, in a sense, you fired your doctor. You sought out a specialist in Seattle, the area where you live, and found a renowned expert, Dr. Renato Martins from the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance.  A lot of people don't have the courage to fire their doctor.  What advice would you give them if they're just not feeling comfortable as you were? 

Randy Broad:

I can't stress it enough how important that is.  In fact, when I'm speaking to other lung cancer patients around the country, I am amazed at how many don't actually seek additional support and advice from other doctors.  It's really something. 

Andrew Schorr:

Firing your doctor.  Here's somebody in a white coat, probably with a long title, spouting off scientific information, and you're terrified and in such a vulnerable position. 

Randy Broad:

Correct.  And that's exactly what it was for me.  And I had a doctor who basically pushed me out the door.  I mean, he wasn't doing it on purpose, obviously, but he did by his actions.  And it was at that point that I realized I needed to really do some research, do some homework and find somebody.  Luckily, here in Seattle, we have some world?renowned cancer doctors and facilities, and so I had several to choose from.  But I had to do some work, and I was fortunate I found Dr. Martins at SCCA.  In fact, he is just one of the highest rated thoracic oncologists in the country.  

Andrew Schorr:

Randy, do you think finding the right specialist and getting his expert care has made a big difference in your survival? 

Randy Broad:

Yes, that's, yes.  There's just no question about it.  Absolutely. 

Andrew Schorr:

Okay.  So if you don't feel comfortable, seek out someone else and make sure that someone else is a specialist in what you've got, right? 

Randy Broad:

Yes, absolutely, Andrew.  But the thing was that I didn't at the time know that Renato Martins was who he was.  It was his ability though to communicate with me at that particular moment the way that he did and gave me a feeling that he was, in fact, the guy and his team was the place for my treatment to take place. 

But he didn't pull any punches. He shared, I'm going to treat with you an intent to cure, which at that time I didn't really understand exactly what that term meant, but that's, in fact, what he did, and here I am. 

Andrew Schorr:

Okay, Randy, let's sum things up.  What do you want to say to people when they're there about to see that very first doctor? 

Randy Broad:

You've got to feel comfortable. And my recommendation even if you feel comfortable with that first doctor, still do some more homework and talk to—I would recommend two or three.  And, you know, there are a lot of advocacy groups out there, and there's a lot of information on the Internet, of course.  One of the things, though, I found when I was first diagnosed, the Internet was really not the place that I did spend a lot of time. And part of the reason was, one, I didn't know where to go, and number two, I was afraid to read, you know, what really was going on with me. 

But there are a lot of advocacy groups, as I say, and there's just a lot of information.  And you can find which doctors are treated which by doing some searches, and I found this out subsequently that there were—that Seattle Cancer Care Alliance treats more patients of my disease than about—about 20 percent—excuse me, 20 times more in the Seattle area than anybody else. 

Andrew Schorr:

Randy Broad from Kirkland, Washington.  Randy, I hope that we can talk again in another five years, okay?

Randy Broad:

You bet. 

Andrew Schorr:

I'm Andrew Schorr.  Thank you for joining us.  Remember, knowledge can be the best medicine of all.  

Please remember the opinions expressed on Patient Power are not necessarily the views of our sponsors, contributors, partners or Patient Power. Our discussions are not a substitute for seeking medical advice or care from your own doctor. That’s how you’ll get care that’s most appropriate for you.