As a radiation oncologist, I have the privilege of walking alongside my patients through their cancer journeys. While I certainly won’t dismiss anything I learned during medical school, there is something to be said for real-world conversations, many of which have served as my greatest teachers. During my 20 years of medical experience, I’ve had several conversations with both peers and patients that have influenced my approach to care; causing me to refine and improve my approach. There are virtually endless examples, however, I’ve selected a few of the most common conversations I’ve had and how they have shaped my practice.
One of the most important lessons I've learned is the critical role that confidence plays in a patient's journey. This is often the red thread in almost every conversation when it comes to care.
Patients want to be assured that their clinician prioritizes their best interests when selecting a treatment. Building trust between patients and clinicians involves several factors. Some of these factors are within the clinician's control, while others are not. Clinicians need to consider and address these factors when working with patients.
Establishing trust is crucial, particularly when caring for minority patients. For instance, Black men often exhibit higher levels of mistrust towards their doctors during cancer care, largely due to a history of medical racism in the U.S. Unfortunately, this troubling history often deters doctors from deviating from standard care practices when treating Black patients. Research illustrates significant disparities, such as Black prostate cancer patients being less likely than their White counterparts to receive innovative hormonal therapies, even after........