the Price of Oncology

My grandmother was recently taken to the hospital by me for lack of appetite and a few other symptoms that seemed out of place. We had an appointment with a general family practitioner who admitted her to the hospital and had additional tests requested. We then had an appointment with an oncologist, who did the tests and gave us the diagnosis: Stage 4 Colon Cancer. The cancer had spread to her liver and she was put on hospice care and we took care of her at home. The tests included X-rays, blood tests, and an MRI.

The oncologists at our hospital (there were many we saw over the course of the illness) were wonderful people who cared about getting the best care for her as possible. They were always offering suggestions and ideas for what we could do to make things better.

There isn't much you can do as far as shopping around unless you are from a huge city, so you really just have to find the right doctor within your hospital. You don't have to make the first doctor you see your primary doctor. If for any reason you feel uncomfortable with the doctor you're seeing, ask politely to see another. They understand that this is a difficult time for you and want you to feel comfortable with the experience.