Selecting a Doctor

After being trained and certified as a specialist, a physician may choose to become a sub-specialist. Doctors who achieve this have at least one additional year of training, which aims at increasing the physician's expertise in a specific field. For example, a surgeon who is board certified in a surgical specialty, has completed years of residency training in his or her specialty and has demonstrated knowledge and competence by successfully completing a very difficult examination.

In some specialties, many years of experience are required before the physician can take the certification exams. If a physician practices at a cancer center where the medical staff is sub-specialized, it is likely that they have developed significant expertise and skill in treating a particular kind of cancer, even if they are not yet board certified. So, make sure you also consider the experience level of the physician.

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Experience is extremely important. Years in practice are significant but so is the number of procedures performed or patients treated for cancer. You need to determine how much experience the doctor has with your specific type of cancer. If you need a surgeon, consider that a surgeon who has performed many similar operations is likely to be familiar with complex procedures related to your disease, and be better able to handle unforeseen challenges. This is particularly true for uncommon or rare tumors.

A doctor from a hospital that specializes in cancer or where there is a large practice devoted to cancer treatment is likely to have more specialized expertise than a general oncologist. Doctors who are very focused on specific kinds of cancer or treatment are more likely to be familiar with the best and most advanced treatments. Sub-specialized physicians often work in disease-management teams that combine the expertise of several medical professionals that plan treatment together.

Look for doctors who have written about your cancer and whose work is most often cited. At larger cancer centers, research findings may be published by a group of investigators whose findings influence the way the disease team treats your illness. If your doctor or group has done research and been published, ask to see copies of those articles. By doing so, you will learn about their approach to cancer treatment. To find articles that your doctor may have published on his or her research or on your type of cancer you can search online databases such as PubMed, which is maintained by the National Library of Medicine. Some doctors include a list of their publications with their biographies, often found online or in hospital directories or physician referral guides.

Cancer-Related Resources Informative and helpful resources on other Web sites for cancer patients and their caregivers more

With Which Hospitals Is the Doctor Affiliated?

Where you receive your cancer care will be determined by where your doctor has admitting privileges. If the doctor practices at more than one hospital, you should think about where you want to be treated.

Is the Doctor Affiliated with any Medical Schools?

Teaching affiliation with a prestigious medical school may indicate a doctor is a leader in his/her field. Academic physicians who also practice medicine are often in contact with medical experts from around the country, and they may be more knowledgeable about the latest therapies.

Other Questions to Ask the Doctor You Are Considering

• Are you or others in your practice involved in research studies of new treatments?
• What are your office hours?
• How can you be contacted after hours?
• Who will see me when you are on vacation?
• Who else will be on my health care team?
• May I bring someone with me to my appointments?
• Do you accept my type of health insurance?

Other Questions to Ask Yourself

• Does the doctor listen to me and treat me with respect?
• Does the doctor explain things clearly and encourage me to ask questions?

Here are some other Web sites where you can get additional information about how to select a doctor: