Super Bowl weekend and again, my “teams” are home watching with their own chips and guacamole. Hence, I am usually rooting for the underdog. Good that we have Olympic teams for excitement. Not just USA, but within the sports. Hockey, curling, downhill, even luge relays (wait, really what’s the concept of sliders lying on top of each other? Who came up with this idea of a ‘relay’ team?) But I digress. What I want to discuss is the concept of teams. The coaches’ hugs- winning or consoling, the families at home cheering, the fellow competitors’ good sportsmanship all combine for the bonding necessary for the team approach to success.
In cancer care, teams are an absolute requirement. Behind the scenes of your journey from biopsy into treatment, physicians create a team from several specialties. They come together for the best plan of care. They tap into others’ research in their fields and guidelines for best practices. No one doctor sets the plan for your management. As President of the American College of Radiation Oncology, I assure you first hand that our members work diligently to educate, research and empower for one purpose: your best outcome. Wherever you receive treatment, we are also dedicated to ensuring that you remain the center of that team and you are the ultimate decision maker.
Even the best state of the art recommendations, however are just that. “Doc, I have a special needs daughter and so I will only do what is most economical and not jeopardize her financial security”. Bruce is right to advise so that treatments are chosen with cost in mind. Charlie has a new younger wife and refuses hormone therapy for prostate cancer. Shirley cares for her mother and so refuses chemo for her own reasons. I encourage you to speak up and remember, our plan is a recommendation. Trust me, we do have your interest at heart even when we seem passionate about our suggestions.
It is imperative that you also have your own team. Meg is taking notes diligently for her husband who is still shell shocked. Tom lovingly assists his sister in the wheelchair, offering sips of water. The businessman turned nurse is healing his own heart. Kathy brought her mother in for a second opinion with me. I recognized immediately what this issue was. The other physician came up with exactly the right decisions for her breast cancer treatment, but they didn’t get buy-in from the patient. Frustrated, she is doctor shopping. You can avoid this if you hold your ground and speak up or have someone champion your decisions. Lucy comes with her granddaughter every visit and it is a blessing to both of them. She can just tuck into the process, knowing someone else has her interest at heart.
That my friends is the crux of getting the most from your journey. Build your own team. Find a friend, perhaps someone who has been through this, or a relative (Dwight roles his eye, but chuckles, “Hey Doc, I am living with mom til this is over can you speed it up?” ).
When Nick Baumgartner, the most senior Olympian at 40, won the gold this week, it was because of his team. Watching his cheers for Lindsey Jacobellis as she barrelled down the slope we held our breath for both of them. The snowboarding duo had skill, they had perseverance but mostly they had each other. I encourage each of you, whatever life’s issues, do not go it alone. Speak up for yourself to be part of your treatment team and reach out to bring others into your journey.
During this week of competition, it is the faces that I find most fascinating- not the race times or commentators. It is the sheer joy of people giving their all in a challenge that inspires. What everyone of these athletes from Superbowl to Olympics has is belief in themselves as well as devoted people around them. Let’s borrow their example. A team approach is always in the formula for winning.
My heartfelt wishes for a Happy Valentine’s Day!