COVER STORY
Doctors and patients must work together for optimal treatment.
By Laurie Wertich C cfthrive.com
ancer treatment can present a long and winding road, marked by emotional and physical chal- lenges along the way. Though the prospect may seem daunting, building good rapport with your
doctor can help make that journey a smooth one. In fact, many patients report that building a healthy patient/physician rela- tionship had a positive impact on their treatment. But how can you cultivate a solid relationship with a busy
doctor who has an endless list of patients to see? Actually, it's not all that different from any relationship; a little respect and com- munication go a long way.
The Patient/Physician Relationship Once upon a time, the medical system operated on the premise that "doctors know best." Patients visited doctors, doctors gave orders, and patients generally followed those orders without ques- tion. The doctor was an authority figure, and the patient/physician relationship most often resembled a child/parent relationship.
But a new era has dawned: a look at patient/physician relation- ships today shows us that we are shifting from a model wherein the doctor is the authority to one in which he or she occupies the role of expert consultant and, ideally, partner, alongside an empowered and educated patient. This evolution places the patient firmly in the driver's seat, an active participant on the treatment journey.
People Relating to People Shayma Kazmi, MD, a hematologist-oncologist and medical on- cologist at Cancer Treatment Centers of America® (CTCA) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, strives to encourage this new model of partnership in her work with patients. Key to this effort, Dr. Kazmi says, is building relationships
with her patients. "It's important to try to get to know the pa- tient," she explains. "They're not just about the cancer. There is so much more going on that may not have anything to do with cancer. The more you learn, the better you can treat them."
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