how much time does your doctor spend with you?

Tricia,

If you are from New Jersey,one of the US top melanoma centers-Sloan Kettering in New York is right next to you;contact Dr Jedd Wolchok, he is one of the Yervoy creators and one of the best melanoma specialists and  request a consultation.You will be in really good hands with them.

Dr.Wolchok  :tel 646 888 2395                   

http://www.mskcc.org/prg/prg/bios/608.cfm

Good Luck,

Teodora 

Tricia,

If you are from New Jersey,one of the US top melanoma centers-Sloan Kettering in New York is right next to you;contact Dr Jedd Wolchok, he is one of the Yervoy creators and one of the best melanoma specialists and  request a consultation.You will be in really good hands with them.

Dr.Wolchok  :tel 646 888 2395                   

http://www.mskcc.org/prg/prg/bios/608.cfm

Good Luck,

Teodora 

Hi Tricia, generally I'd say that my golden retriever's veterinarian spends more time with him than my oncologist spends with me in one of my routine follow up visits as an 8-year survivor after a Stage IIIc diagnosis.  But I know that if I came to him presenting any symptoms of concern, he'd be all over them.  Short checkups are good checkups!

Best wishes to you!

http://www.hotelmelanoma.blogspot.com

Hi Tricia, generally I'd say that my golden retriever's veterinarian spends more time with him than my oncologist spends with me in one of my routine follow up visits as an 8-year survivor after a Stage IIIc diagnosis.  But I know that if I came to him presenting any symptoms of concern, he'd be all over them.  Short checkups are good checkups!

Best wishes to you!

http://www.hotelmelanoma.blogspot.com

I get about 4-5 minutes with an intern and then I get all the time my visit warrants with my doc. If all's well and I have no questions, then I may see him only that 2-3 minutes, but that's all I need. For visits where I need more time, he doesn't leave until I'm satisfied, that really doesn't take longer than may 5-10 minutes because usually I can get basic questions answered by the intern or my doc's onc nurse (who's fabulous).

I really can't sing Dr. Tyler's praises loud enough. He's laid back, not rush- rush. One  of my recent appts was eaarly afternoon, 4:30 I still hadn't seen him but was in a room waiting, door open. We all hear this voice and I look and there's this man standing outside another room shouting saying that he's been waiting almost 3 hours and it was ridiculous. That's the way Dr. Tyler is… I knew he was taking his time with his patieints who needed his time. I wish we could all have that.

Grace and peace,

Carol

I get about 4-5 minutes with an intern and then I get all the time my visit warrants with my doc. If all's well and I have no questions, then I may see him only that 2-3 minutes, but that's all I need. For visits where I need more time, he doesn't leave until I'm satisfied, that really doesn't take longer than may 5-10 minutes because usually I can get basic questions answered by the intern or my doc's onc nurse (who's fabulous).

I really can't sing Dr. Tyler's praises loud enough. He's laid back, not rush- rush. One  of my recent appts was eaarly afternoon, 4:30 I still hadn't seen him but was in a room waiting, door open. We all hear this voice and I look and there's this man standing outside another room shouting saying that he's been waiting almost 3 hours and it was ridiculous. That's the way Dr. Tyler is… I knew he was taking his time with his patieints who needed his time. I wish we could all have that.

Grace and peace,

Carol

My derm usually spends 10-15 minutes with me- longer if I need it.  That includes a check up and basic questions I might have.  Oh, and that's after I see his resident.  Dr. Lui at University of Iowa.  Can't say enough good things about that group.

My local oncologist also spends as much time with me as I need.  Sometimes 5 minutes, some times much longer.  Again, Dr. Garneau and his staff are wonderful.

My derm usually spends 10-15 minutes with me- longer if I need it.  That includes a check up and basic questions I might have.  Oh, and that's after I see his resident.  Dr. Lui at University of Iowa.  Can't say enough good things about that group.

My local oncologist also spends as much time with me as I need.  Sometimes 5 minutes, some times much longer.  Again, Dr. Garneau and his staff are wonderful.

I would say my Onc spends as much time as I need at my appts.  I have 2 doctors. Dr Schwartz and Dr Kaluza at Breslin Cancer Center.  Over the past year I have grown very fond of the Breslin Cancer Center and there staff.  There are several nurses that work in the infusion center that take the time to get to know you.  I went through the 1 month high dose Interferon so I was there 5 days a week for 4 weeks.  This was last October and they still know me by first name.  I never feel hurried but there are times I do have to wait in the exam room for an hour or more.  I know the doctors are giving each patient the same attention as they give me so I try to be patient.

I would say my Onc spends as much time as I need at my appts.  I have 2 doctors. Dr Schwartz and Dr Kaluza at Breslin Cancer Center.  Over the past year I have grown very fond of the Breslin Cancer Center and there staff.  There are several nurses that work in the infusion center that take the time to get to know you.  I went through the 1 month high dose Interferon so I was there 5 days a week for 4 weeks.  This was last October and they still know me by first name.  I never feel hurried but there are times I do have to wait in the exam room for an hour or more.  I know the doctors are giving each patient the same attention as they give me so I try to be patient.

After reading your post I asked my husband how much time he thinks my Dr actually spends with me.  We aren't sure, we have always had to wait but he has also never rushed us!  In the last 2 years I don't think I've had a visit where there wasn't some sort of issue ……  and he has always sat down and talked to both of us, quite often bringing in another Dr. if needed where he felt he couldn't give an answer.  I would say that most appointments are anywhere from 15 min and up. 

If I go home and have another thought I also e-mail him!  The other day when you were told that we will take care of you, he should have told you options if the biopsy came back positive. At least that's my thoughts.  When a plan is in place, or options of plans, emotionally you can deal more often.

My Dr has also in the past discussed current trials that he doesn't have but are availailable. He's also let me know when he hasn't liked a trial and has told me why.

You have to be comfortable with your Dr.

Linda

stage IV for 5 years

After reading your post I asked my husband how much time he thinks my Dr actually spends with me.  We aren't sure, we have always had to wait but he has also never rushed us!  In the last 2 years I don't think I've had a visit where there wasn't some sort of issue ……  and he has always sat down and talked to both of us, quite often bringing in another Dr. if needed where he felt he couldn't give an answer.  I would say that most appointments are anywhere from 15 min and up. 

If I go home and have another thought I also e-mail him!  The other day when you were told that we will take care of you, he should have told you options if the biopsy came back positive. At least that's my thoughts.  When a plan is in place, or options of plans, emotionally you can deal more often.

My Dr has also in the past discussed current trials that he doesn't have but are availailable. He's also let me know when he hasn't liked a trial and has told me why.

You have to be comfortable with your Dr.

Linda

stage IV for 5 years

Scots

Scots

Always a sit down conversation first that takes as long as we need.  We ask questions and onc asks us just as many… then physical exam.  Never rushed and always answers emails quickly between appts.

Kelly

Always a sit down conversation first that takes as long as we need.  We ask questions and onc asks us just as many… then physical exam.  Never rushed and always answers emails quickly between appts.

Kelly

The nurse goes over my meds, how I feel, refills I need, then a Fellow comes in and I go over my notes with him for around 5 minutes then the Oncologist always comes in and checks me put goes over my notes aand questions for him and doesn't leave until he has either answered all my questions or made notes on what to research for me.,etc   I caaan always email him and expect a response within 24 hours, sometimes it only been minutes.-Sometimes I have had to wait a while to see him but he is treating all his patients as though they are worthy of his time.

The nurse goes over my meds, how I feel, refills I need, then a Fellow comes in and I go over my notes with him for around 5 minutes then the Oncologist always comes in and checks me put goes over my notes aand questions for him and doesn't leave until he has either answered all my questions or made notes on what to research for me.,etc   I caaan always email him and expect a response within 24 hours, sometimes it only been minutes.-Sometimes I have had to wait a while to see him but he is treating all his patients as though they are worthy of his time.