By Dr. J. Eric Turner
Beaufort Memorial Oncology Specialists
If you’ve been diagnosed with cancer, you may wonder what to do next. A good first step is to find an oncologist to guide you along your journey.
An oncologist specializes in diagnosing and treating cancer. Having the right oncologist by your side gives you confidence and clarity about what to expect and puts you at ease every step of the way.
These eight considerations can help you find an oncologist who’s right for you.
The right oncologist for your cancer
There are many different types of oncologists. To find out which type of oncologist you need, determine the following information about your diagnosis:
- Cancer name
- Cancer stage
- Cancer treatment plan — Common treatment options include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy and immunotherapy.
Reputation matters
Once you know the type of treatment you may need, you can start looking for a radiation oncologist, medical oncologist or surgical oncologist.
When seeking recommendations, it’s important to be specific. Ask your friend or health provider why they believe a particular oncologist is a good fit for you. Additionally, looking at online reviews can provide valuable perspectives, and exploring potential referrals from trusted sources can further guide your decision-making process.
Investigate your oncologist’s training
All oncologists go through rigorous training in medical school. After graduation, some continue their education. This helps health providers gain further insight into cancer care. It also provides specialty expertise.
Some of the training they may pursue includes:
- Board certification — To earn board certification, an oncologist must pass exams that prove deep understanding. They must then participate in ongoing education to maintain certification.
- Fellowship training — Some oncologists specialize in treating specific cancers in pediatric or adult patients. This type of specialized expertise often comes during fellowship training. Fellowships last between one and three years and give oncologists focused expertise in their field of choice.
Real-world experience improves your experience
Education is vital to prepare an oncologist. However, experience is just as vital. More experienced oncologists lead to better outcomes.
The benefits of working with an experienced cancer specialist include:
- Access to a wide range of resources that offer community support and ongoing education.
- Established relationships with other experts to provide comprehensive care.
- Knowledge of potential treatment side effects and ways to reduce them.
- Understanding all available treatment options and when to use each approach.
An oncologist’s personality and approach
Over your journey, you’ll meet with your oncologist many times. Therefore, it’s important that you get along and like how your chosen provider approaches cancer care.
Whatever your preference, a pre-treatment consultation can help you decide if a specific oncologist is right for you. If not, keep looking until you find one with the personality and communication style you prefer.
Your oncologist’s team
Your care comes courtesy of a cancer care team, which may include:
- Advanced practice providers (nurse practitioners and physician associates)
- Dietitians or nutritionists
- Genetic counselors
- Nurses
- Nurse navigators
- Occupational, speech or physical therapists
- Pain management specialists
- Social workers
Insurance: in or out of network
Cancer care is expensive, especially if your insurance provider doesn’t lend a hand. Before scheduling a consultation, find out if the oncologist is in your insurance network. If not, you may need to find another care provider, though you do have options.
If there’s a good reason to go out of network, your insurance company may cover your care. However, out-of-network coverage is a rare exception, so you should always check and double-check with your carrier to ensure coverage.
World-class oncologists in your area
Finding an oncologist you can trust can feel overwhelming. Beaufort Memorial makes it easy. Our well-rounded cancer care services give you immediate, easy access to advanced therapy approaches, clinical trials and caring experts who put you at the center of every care decision.
We’re here to help our community members who need quality cancer care. They deserve the best experiences and outcomes, and we go out of our way to provide both every day.
J. Eric Turner, M.D., is a board-certified, fellowship-trained medical oncologist with Beaufort Memorial Oncology Specialists. He treats patients with a wide variety of cancers at the Keyserling Cancer Center in Beaufort, employing therapies such as chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, biological therapy, immunotherapy and targeted therapy.
