Tips for finding the oncologist who is right for you

Receiving a cancer diagnosis can be scary, and you may feel a little helpless at that moment. But you have control over how you respond to this news – and you have the power to pick who will treat you and how. 

Getting started

Everyone’s situation is different, so the best provider for someone else may not be the best provider for you. Recommendations from people who have been through cancer treatment are a great resource, but your research should not stop there before making a decision. You want to start treatment as soon as possible, but you need to balance that concern with your need to find the right fit, too.

So, how do you pick the oncologist who is best for you and your needs? First, ask the doctor who diagnosed you, who would they go to if they were in your shoes? That’s a good place to start. But before you make a selection, you need to decide what’s important for you to have in a doctor.

Experience

Ideally, your oncologist will have a board certification in the subspecialty that deals with your specific type of cancer. A board-certified provider has passed a high-level exam relating to your cancer type, and a cancer doctor who has been practicing for a long time and has treated several patients will have developed first-hand skills and acquired knowledge that is best acquired with experience.

“You want an oncologist whose expertise you trust,” said Srilata Gundala, MD, a hematologist, oncologist, and founder of Hope and Healing Cancer Services which offers chemotherapy and infusion services at both of its locations in Hinsdale, Illinois. “Your oncologist should make you feel like you are in the hands of someone who is steady and understands what you’re experiencing.”

Is the doctor providing educational opportunities for their peers? A doctor who provides education to others is likely to be respected in their field. Plus, this doctor may regularly interact with other experts, knows about the latest treatments, and may even have access to clinical trials, which could provide you with access to new treatment improvements.

Cost

Make sure whomever you select to treat you accepts your insurance plan. 

If you don’t have insurance, find a provider that has support services, like a patient navigator or social worker, who can help you find cost solutions.

Facilities

Location is important. Cancer treatment can require a lot of visits. If you have to travel far and pay for overnight accommodations, your care can get costly and eat up a lot of time. You also may have preferences for a certain hospital for any number of reasons – it’s close by, you’ve had good experiences there, it routinely receives great patient satisfaction scores. If you do have a preference, you’ll want to find a doctor who has privileges and is allowed to practice there.

Comfort-level

You’re likely going to spend a lot of time with your cancer doctor, and this person will be guiding you through what is likely to be a very vulnerable time in your life. So, it’s important that you pick a doctor you’re comfortable with. 

What is important to you in a doctor? Is gender important? How about education, bedside manner or personality? Do you prefer a doctor with a business-like approach to your appointments, or someone with a gentler touch who prioritizes empathy and shows concern for your emotional health? Everyone is different, so find out what kind of person you want to be your doctor. No matter your preference, though, you should be able to communicate in a healthy way with your doctor.

“You should feel comfortable asking questions and expecting thoughtful answers,” Dr. Gundala said. “You should feel supported by your oncologist, and know they’re serving your best interests, even if you might not always want to hear what they have to say.”

The American Cancer Society suggests that you ask yourself the following questions after your first meeting with a potential doctor:

• Did the doctor give you a chance to ask questions?

  • Did you feel the doctor was listening to you?

  • Did the doctor seem comfortable answering your questions?

  • Did the doctor talk to you in a way that you could understand?

  • Did you feel the doctor respected you?

  • Did the doctor mention treatment options and ask your preferences about different kinds of treatments?

  • Did you feel the doctor spent enough time with you?

If you want some more help selecting a doctor, the American Cancer Society also has a useful worksheet to help.

Written By: Ken Harris

Reviewed By: Srilata Gundala, MD