You have the right to change your Doctor/Surgeon/Oncologist

You do! even in Canada where healthcare and cancer care (for the most part) are "free".

In a nutshell - If you don't like one of your Doctors ask for someone different. Cancer treatment is an exhausting and overwhelming ride, make sure you have the right people on board with you. You do not need to go into a meeting with one of your oncologists and come out of it feeling like shit, treatment will handle that part for you. They should make you feel empowered, safe, comfortable and calm. If they do not, see ya. This is too hard to do with assholes.

 The fist time I had cancer, I was too afraid of dying to even give a shit who my oncologists were. This time around, I care. I care a LOT. I have fallen into the hands of the most incredible cancer care team that I could ever imagine. They just so happen to all be a power ranger squad of female super hero's. However , I did have to make a minor adjustment to make It so. And this time around, I had no problem voicing that.

I was not comfortable radiation, not the first time around and not the second either. The first time, I had the pleasure of having the esteemed head of radiation oncology advising me. He was lovely and brilliant and I wish I could have lunch with him. He gave me the choice. I opted not to  do it. I will always stand by that choice. I will never ever blame my reoccurrence on not having done radiation 11 years ago, that is absurd to me. And if you don't understand that, you are in the wrong place sister. This time, I was an adamant NO to radiation, but I appeased my surgeon by having a meeting with a new radiation Oncologist as Dr. Olivoto had retired. My Husband was with me for the meeting. I learned nothing. I was not reassured, I was more confused, I left feeling annoyed and angry. I was like NOOOO Way, and certainly not with him. 

During a phone call with my Oncologist, I told her I would not be doing radiation, and that I didn't gain anything from my meeting with him. She didn't push me. When a third tumour was recently discovered, after surgery I was on the phone to My Oncologist again, and she asked if she could set up another meeting with Him (the radiation Oncologist), I said No. "I didn't like him". She said, "Ok, I'll set it up with someone different, is a Woman ok? YASSS. She set me up with the new head of radiation Oncology. Everything about me meeting with her, made me ok with changing my stance on radiation. I left feeling at peace at ease and confident in my new position. 

I call this act "the new Amy". I didn't like something or someone, so I asked to change it. I never would have 11 years ago, even one year ago. Its empowering and its comforting. This is your ride, your oncologist doesn't have cancer, you do. They have NO idea how you ate feeling inside. The BEST thing you can do for yourself is be aware that you have choices and options.