Trust Instincts When Searching for the Right Cancer Care Team

Samantha Gonzales-Russell, a three-time cervical cancer survivor, encouraged patients with cancer to be thorough and proactive when searching for the right care team, especially if their local providers seem to run out of options. She says advocacy starts with trusting yourself, both as a person and as a patient, and believing you deserve thoughtful, attentive care. Listening to your instincts can help guide important decisions about where to go next.

She described having many conversations with different doctors and learning to pay attention to how each one responded. Sometimes answers came through medical guidance, but other times it was simply the feeling that a provider was truly listening, taking time and validating her concerns. Those moments helped her recognize who was the right fit.

Ultimately, that persistence led her to the team that saved her life. Her message to others is to keep asking questions, explore multiple opinions and continue searching until you find clinicians who hear you and fully support your needs.

Transcript

What is your advice for patients on how to “shop for a yes” when their local team gives up?

My advice is to be thorough, to advocate for yourself as a person and as a patient, first and foremost, on both of those fronts, and to trust your instincts. I think our gut, a lot of the time, will lead us the right way. I had to have a lot of conversations with different doctors, and sometimes the answers would present themselves to me, but other times it was really just meeting a provider who was truly listening to what I was saying, taking the time and validating and supporting how I felt. That led me to the right team, the team that saved my life. So I would say definitely trust your instincts and be really thorough, because you deserve that.

Transcript has been edited for clarity and conciseness.

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