I had a check up this past week. All is good!! The best news of all is that I have a new oncologist!!
In my last blog post I mentioned my displeasure with Dr. H. I went to this appointment prepared to give him a piece of my mind...but I was greeted with a letter stating that Dr. H is idling into retirement and job sharing with another oncologist until that time. His patients were split between two oncologists and I would now be seeing Dr. Salib. YeeHaw!!! Even before I met my new oncologist I was giddy with happiness!!
Dr. Salib is a new addition to Niagara Health Services. She just finished her internship in Toronto with experience in haematology at Sunnybrook and Princess Margaret. She is young and full of vim and vigour! She took the time to ask me questions about my history - even though she had read it in the medical file.
When she learned that I was getting over another chest cold, she checked out my lungs to make sure there was no residual congestion. Wow...Dr. H told me "That is not my job. That is your GP's job" when I asked him to check me out when I had pneumonia at my last visit to him. What a difference. She was also quite supportive of my decision to maintain Dr. Kouroukis at Juravinski a co-manager of my file. Wow!!! I lucked out!
I have a few tests to complete before my next appointment to ensure that I have no issues with my liver. I had mentioned to Dr. H, as did another oncologist filling in for him once at least a year ago, that my liver tests consistently come back as abnormal. Dr. H scoffed at his colleagues concerns and said that it was normal for someone on chemo to have abnormal liver results. Dr. S noticed that they were continuing to rise and suggested that we should check into it just to rule out any issues. I wholeheartedly agreed. Peace of mind is gold when there is so much else going on!!
So...no need to worry. I will have an ultrasound and then I don't go back until my next regularly scheduled 3 month appointment. :)
What a difference a doctor can make!! What a relief!
