the right kind of provider

One of the coolest things that has happened during this project involved my visit to a gynecologist who specializes in women's breast cancer issues. It was the best encounter with a health care provider that I have ever had, and I've been mostly happy with all my health care providers, but after going to this one, all the others now pale in comparison! Dr. S was so thorough in everything she went over with me. I felt like she was looking after me in all the areas of my health. When she saw in my family history that there had been multiple DVTs on my mom's side, she made recommendations and referrals for my sister see a coagulation specialist. She referred me to a dermatologist and assured me that this dermatologist was very aware of the correlation between skin and breast cancer and her beliefs in prophylactic removal of any sort of worrisome mole, and that she would be emotionally sensitive with her digital photography and not make me stand naked in front of a camera, then stick the pictures in my chart. :) She was also the first physician that actually addressed nutrition in a more emphatic and thorough way. She made suggestions of diet programs and the importance of lowering my body weight to prevent cancer. From personal experience and my own personal experience, I have noticed that providers tend to avoid suggesting weight loss or making nutritional changes. It's always really bothered me. I couldn't understand how nobody had told my mom the connection of red meat consumption with breast cancer or suggested to her any kind of nutrition and exercise changes. That seems like the cheapest way to do it. And it gives the patient some control.

While no one really likes to hear from someone else that they could lose some weight, it actually was refreshing for a provider to address it. It kind of was a wake-up. It wasn't the media telling me to lose weight, or my ex-husband, or my critical voice. It was an objective physician who is watching out for my health and well-being.

I was just so impressed when this physician sat down and went over all of these things with me. It really made me feel like I wouldn't slip through the cracks. I was being looked out for while I was also being expected to take responsibility for aspects of my own health. I might not be living in Durham a year from now, but I would seriously consider flying back for my yearly appointment with this physician.