What do you think is the best way to choose an experienced and quality surgeon? Some researchers think it's by reputation. That's how I got mine. A friend told me who he'd use if his wife or mother developed breast cancer and then more and more people began recommending the same surgeon. It seemed logical I'd use him too. And I'm glad I did.A study published in the January 20 Journal of Clinical Oncology reveals that women who actively choose their surgeons by reputation are more likely to be treated by experienced surgeons in hospitals with comprehensive cancer programs. Reputation even beat out accepting referrals from other doctors or health plans.
1. My wife and I used to think we would get a good cancer surgeon at a major NCI cancer center or university hospital. Local hospitals would be much more iffy, especially if the surgeon is not board certified in surgical oncology. For her first recurrence surgery, we did have one of the best thoracic surgical oncologists at a NCI cancer center. Two years later, we began thinking much differently when the cancer center told us they didn't have a neurosurgeon on staff for a brain met. They were losing their surgeons. We then began to rely on word of mouth referrals by reputation. Many times, we don't make right or wrong decisions, just informed decisions.
Posted at 3:51PM on Aug 27th 2007 by Gregory D. Pawelski