The Importance of Having a Relationship with Your Oncologist

The relationship between a patient and an oncologist needs to be a very open one, says oncologist Heather Wakelee, associate professor of oncology at the Stanford University Medical Center.

"It's important that it's a partnership," she says. In her own practice, she welcomes and encourages patient input into their own care.

She also recommends that patients talk to their oncologist if they are exploring alternative therapies, because some types of complementary and alternative therapies can interact with traditional cancer treatments.