Cancer Fighters Thrive

SUMMER 2012

Cancer Fighters Thrive is a quarterly print and online magazine bringing readers practical, innovative and inspirational information about cancer treatment and survivorship.

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COVER STORY He sees the patient/physician rela- tionship as one based in mutual respect. Although he may be the cancer expert, his patients are experts regarding their own lives and needs—and the patient is the fo- cus. "The patient's welfare is paramount. That is the most important element," Dr. Citrin insists. "I listen, answer questions, and offer support—and the relationship evolves from that." Terrece Crawford, a busy single Terrece Crawford and Dr. Citrin with Dr. Kazmi, and Dr. Kazmi says this might be the most important part of the patient/physician relationship. "If you're not comfortable with a physician, don't feel like it's rude or insulting to switch," she urges. "It's your life. They're not go- ing to get offended and, frankly, if they do, who cares?" Communication Is Key As is clear in the case of Pam and Dr. Kazmi, a healthy patient/physician re- lationship requires a desire on the part of both parties to listen and to be heard. Dennis Citrin, MD, PhD, a medical on- cologist at CTCA in Zion, Illinois, believes that this type of communication is the key to fostering healthy relationships with pa- tients. "A patient/physician relationship is like any relationship: there has to be good and honest communication between the people involved, " Dr. Citrin says. This communication forms the cor- nerstone of Dr. Citrin's relationships with patients. "I always encourage patients to ask questions and really understand the answers they get," he explains. "The more they understand about their situation, the easier my job becomes." 28 cancer fighters thrive | summer 2012 mom and an art teacher from Kenosha, Wisconsin, is a patient of Dr. Citrin's, and she has seen firsthand the positive experi- ence of solid communication built on a foundation of respect. When she was diagnosed with stage II invasive ductal carcinoma, Terrece says she initially felt as though her life came to an abrupt halt. All she could think about was her children. "I didn't even care about myself at that moment," she recalls. "I just thought, I have to be here for my children." The sense of fear she felt was overwhelm- ing—until she met Dr. Citrin. "Dr. Citrin was so kind and compas- sionate. He told me I had hope, but I didn't believe him," Terrece recounts. "But he is a wise doctor. He understands people. He leaned in closer, looked me in the eye, and said, 'You do have hope, and you are going to be okay. ' That was a turning point for me." "Terrece had early-stage breast cancer, so her prognosis was excellent, but her treat- ment and follow-up is a long journey, " Dr. Citrin explains. This long journey provid- ed the opportunity for the two to develop a solid patient/physician relationship. "Some patients are more guarded, but Terrece came to look on the team here as being a very important resource for her in terms of support," Dr. Citrin says. "The environment we provide here is pretty unique. We encourage patients to express themselves, ask questions, and understand the answers they get." By empowering Terrece as a patient, Dr. Citrin opened the door to building a solid working relationship. "Dr. Citrin took time with me, and I did not feel rushed," Terrece says. "I opened up to him because it would help him understand me. He wanted to know that I was okay as a person, and that helped me feel like I mattered. It was not just about cancer: as his patient, it was about being a person." At the beginning of her cancer journey, Terrece painted a self-portrait and showed it to Dr. Citrin. "He told me, 'That's what I like to see: patients doing something posi- tive about their journey,'" Terrece recalls. She had been feeling shy and insecure about her talent, but the positive feedback from Dr. Citrin encouraged her. By the end of her treatment, Terrece had created 25 works of art, including self-portraits to document her journey. "My relationship with my doctor com- pletely affected my outcome," Terrece insists. "I really believe that. Dr. Citrin always encouraged me. He is an amazing person, and I trust and respect him. He saved my life. " In It Together Your doctor knows cancer, but you are more than your cancer. When you reveal the real you and ask questions and share your hopes and fears, you give your doc- tor an opportunity to know you—and this can help guide treatment. Remember that you're both on the same team, and you both have the same goal: to beat cancer. Keep it real, communicate clearly, and es- tablish a level of mutual respect. Together you and your doctor can navigate cancer. No case is typical. You should not expect to experience these results. ® cfthrive.com

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