On 9 January 2009, the cancer site of Cancerstory.com became dormant.
However, the web contents can still be read like a book without further update.
Healing Setback
- Means Test
- Are you ready to "take on" your doctor?
- Can you "fire" your doctor?
- Manage your expectations
- Lack of oncology nutritionists
- Nutrition Maze
- Extravagant claims
- Rare Cancers
- TCM - Controversy
- TCM - Book Review
- Reflection
- Magic Cure
- Man-made Rules
- It's about money
Understanding Cancer
- What is Cancer?
- Stage of Cancer
- Dictionary of Cancer Terms
- Tumour Marker
- Self Examination
- Symptoms of Various Cancer
- Healing & Curing
- Human Papilloma Virus
Cancer Challenge
Diagnosis
   - Cancer's Victim Experience
   - The 8 Overcoming Tools
   - Motivational Message
   - Counselling/Cancer Helpline
   - Financial Issues
   - Cancer Checklist
   - Living With Cancer
   - Free Transport/Financial Aid
Acceptance
   - Seek Second Opinion
   - Learn About Your Illness
Treatment
   - Conventional Treatment
   - Clinical Trials in Singapore
   - Complementary Treatment
   - Coping With Side Effects
   - Coping With Hair Loss
   - Sexuality and Cancer
   - Hospitals/Cancer Organisations
Surviving Cancer
   - Importance Of Support
   - Support Group
Hospice Care
   - Cancer's Victim Experience
   - Living Fully in the Face of Death
   - Types Of Hospice Care
   - Home Help Service
   - Directory Of Hospices
   - Pain Management
   - Advance Medical Directive Act
Special Corners
- Leukemia
- Kids' Corner
- Children with Special Needs
- Women's Corner
- Cancer Prevention Tips
- Products recalled by HSA
- Fundraising for cancer organizations
- Stroke
- Used Medical Appliances
- Will & Estate
- Water Cures, Drugs Kill
- Jurong Health Connect
- Mesothelioma
Art transforms into compassion
Acknowledgement

Are you ready to "take on" your doctor?


In late February 2008, I met up with a senior management staff of a local hospital. In our meeting, she explored on the possibility on educating patients on being more pro-active and learning how to pose questions to their doctors. Indeed, I was taken aback by her thoughts. I shot the following question at her: "Are your doctors ready for it?"

I went on to share with her some cancer patients' and their caregivers' unpleasant experiences with their doctors. Being subsidized patients, they were just too afraid to "antagonize" their inhospitable doctors when things went wrong.

Therefore the greatest challenge is for those steely-cold doctors to behave more compassionately and cultivate patience to listen and address patients' queries and concerns with a human touch.

In addition, the present KPI-oriented public healthcare system should extend subsidized patients the privilege to have longer consultation sessions with their doctors. In view of the present shortage of healthcare professionals, especially senior oncologists in public hospitals, this will remain as wishful thinking on my part.

Generally patients have trust and confidence in their doctors' skills and competency. After all, they are laymen and rely on the medical experts to manage their illnesses diligently and professionally.

In reality, there are cases of medical negligence that kills lives. Therefore, it is important for pro-active patients and caregivers to understand how doctors think in order to achieve a desirable medical treatment, and amicable patient-doctor relationship.

At the close of our meeting, I was recommended the book - "How Doctors Think" by Jerome Groopman to read. This book is available at the National Library. Owing to my work commitments, I did not read it until May 2008. It is an insightful book even though some doctors gave it an unfavourable book review. In order to gain more insights into how doctors think, I will be reading another book - "How Doctors Think : Clinical Judgment and the Practice of Medicine" by Kathryn Montgomery when I receive it in August 2008.





Updated on 30 July 2009





GENERAL DISCLAIMER
CancerStory.com only provides information and bears no responsibility for its contents.
It is not engaged in rendering medical advice or professional services.

The contents of this website are not to be quoted or reproduced in any form without the permission of CancerStory.com
Copyright © June 2000 CancerStory.com All rights reserved.

This website is kindly hosted by w.e.f. 1 Jan 2023.