When Symptoms and Complaints Are Ignored or Dismissed
I will say that when my former Primary Care Physician of many years made me feel like I was just complaining too much and that my symptoms were not real or my concerns were not important. I realized it was time for me to find a doctor who would listen.
I think my diagnosis was delayed by about a year and a half. He told me it was chronic sinus or bronchitis and I knew it was not just that because of all of the additional symptoms.
Finding a new doctor
So I found a new PCP. She sent me for a chest x-ray in early 2019 and in mid-Sept. 2019 I got the diagnosis of Small Cell Lung Cancer limited stage.
Then came the 4 rounds of chemo with Cisplatin and Etoposide, and 33 rounds of chest radiation and subsequent side effects, mostly the fatigue and peripheral neuropathy by far the worst.
In a nutshell, you are the patient you have a right to be heard and listened to and taken seriously. If your current doctor makes you feel bad or you don't think he or she is listening then find another doctor. I am glad I did. Take care everyone and stay safe.
What symptoms did you experience before being diagnosed with lung cancer? How do you feel about your care team?
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