Mom with Cancer, Disappointed in Family Dr, Any Suggestions for Someone New?

Updated on December 08, 2011
N.T. asks from Macomb, MI
6 answers

Hi!

I'm in need of a wonderful family dr. My mom has pancreatic cancer and was in a car accident last week. She called me today and told me she is in a lot of pain and confused about her water pills. She goes to U of M hospital for radiation, but that does not start for another week. I called her family dr today who had prescribed the pain pills and water pills only to find out that his office hours are 12-5 every day and he is the only one in the office!! I have never heard of these dr hours and feel like she is not getting someone who is giving her the best care. She lives in Oakland twp and I live in Macomb, does anyone know of a family dr. that is wonderful and closer to home (than Michigan hospital) that would give her the care that she needs?

Thanks so much,

Nickie

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L.S.

answers from San Francisco on

I don't have any suggests for a new family doctor, but would suggest that she needs an oncologist who should have access to a specialist for pain management if a specialist is needed. You do not know if the pain is caused by the cancer or the accident, it seems? You need a doctor who will get to the bottom of that. I would also imagine that an oncologist's office would be much more responsive, especially in case of a cancer as serious as pancreatic. I am sorry you are going though this.

3 moms found this helpful
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E.B.

answers from Beaumont on

Her doctor sounds like a yahoo. I'd call whoever is in charge of her care at U of M for a recommendation. She has enough going on and doesn't need this aggrevation! Best of luck....

1 mom found this helpful
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R.J.

answers from Seattle on

Call her oncologist. They should have a referral for someone near her that they can work with. The GP may not have privileges at UofM (Such a great place!), but they'll be able to get consent from your mom for both doctors to share information back and forth (needs to be written, pretty standard form)

1 mom found this helpful
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G.B.

answers from Oklahoma City on

I have had experience with this kind of situation but a little different. My MIL kept having odd symptoms that she had NEVER experienced in her life and the family doc kept telling her she was just aging and to not worry. My FIL finally had it and asked his cardiologist if he could recommend a good internist to examine her. The cardiologist said for my FIL to call his office the next business day and make her an appointment, he had been a very very good internist before going for his specialty.

He got a quick appointment and the very first thing they found during an ultra sound was that her liver was covered with small cell cancer, the fasted mover and most lethal. Had the family doc not discounted her symptoms she might have done some tests and found the cancer sooner.

I think that specialists are there for a reason. They study a particular area zealously and are experts on it. Therefore they are the best place to be when there is a problem with it. So call her cancer doc and visit with them.

My point is:
A family doc is not an expert on cancer or cancer treatment and has no business treating anything beyond the basic cold or flu symptom.

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K.M.

answers from Detroit on

call crittiten hospital in rochester n ask for family dr theres wayne stat physicians there good.

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D.H.

answers from Detroit on

Just because you've never heard of those kind of hours doesn't mean he's not a great doctor. Calling his office should get you to his answering service, they can get a message to the doctor and he can always call you back. If he already knows your mother, he could tell you what to do over the phone. If not, take her to the ER or urgent care center. It's probably not the best time to try to find a new doctor, just because she's a little more complicated at this time. I do agree that she should be also seeing an oncologist. You could try calling the radiologist oncologist that she's scheduled with and see if they could help.
good luck!
D.

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