When the Oncology Doctor Who Watched Over You Is Two Hours Away

For more than five years, the doors of my cancer treatment center led to a place of both fear and comfort. I walked through them carrying questions, memories, test results and the quiet hope that each appointment would bring good news. The physicians, nurses, technicians and other medical professionals who cared for me were not simply people doing a job. They became part of my cancer journey, and over time, I learned to trust their knowledge, experience and ability to recognize what I could not.

Then life changed. My husband and I moved to a city two hours away. At first, I told myself it would be fine. I am no longer receiving active treatment. I am fortunate to be in the surveillance stage, which means I need to return to my cancer center only once a year. Surely driving two hours for an annual appointment is manageable. But lately, I have realized that distance feels different when the word "cancer" is involved.

I do not want my cancer to come back. After everything I have been through, I want to know that if cancer ever tries to find its way back into my life, someone qualified is watching closely. I want to know that the person interpreting my scans and test results understands my history. I want to feel confident that if something concerning appears, I am already in the right hands. And that is where my dilemma begins. I am left wondering which choice will give me the greatest peace of mind without sacrificing the quality of care that has protected me for so long. Do I continue traveling two hours to the cancer treatment center that has cared for me for years, or do I find an oncologist closer to home? On paper, the answer seems simple. Find a good doctor nearby. In reality, it is anything but simple.

My cancer treatment center is exceptional. It is a comprehensive facility where medical professionals are accustomed to treating many different types of cancer. Their collective knowledge, experience, technology and resources gave me confidence during some of the most frightening years of my life. I never had to wonder whether my doctors had access to current information or whether another specialist could be consulted when necessary.

Now I wonder what would happen if I transferred my care to an individual oncology practice. What if my cancer returned and the treatment required was complicated? Would the doctor have the same resources? Would I be referred quickly enough to a comprehensive cancer center? Would I receive the same level of expertise and coordinated care that I had before? These questions keep circling through my mind, especially at night when the practical details of survivorship seem much larger than they did during the years of treatment.

There is another layer to this decision that many survivors may understand: insurance. Now that I am on Medicare, finding a physician who accepts my insurance and is also someone I feel comfortable trusting has become more complicated. It is not enough for me to find a name on a list. I want to know what happens if my needs become more complex than the local office can manage.

That may sound demanding, but cancer changes the way you think about medical care. I have learned that survivorship is not simply about finishing treatment and moving forward. It is also about making thoughtful choices that help us feel secure, informed and confident in the years ahead, even when those choices are uncomfortable, even when there may be no perfect answer. Before cancer, I might have chosen a doctor based primarily on convenience. After cancer, convenience is much farther down my list.

I also recognize that I cannot live forever waiting for cancer to return. Surveillance is meant to allow me to live my life, not spend every day looking over my shoulder. Yet there is a difference between living with vigilance and living in fear. Part of survivorship is learning how to hold both realities at once: I am grateful to be here, and I am still afraid of losing what I have fought so hard to keep.

Maybe the answer is not an either-or decision. The more I sit with this dilemma, the more I realize I may need a plan that honors both trust and practicality: keeping my relationship with the cancer treatment center that knows my history while establishing care with a trusted oncologist closer to home. If those two physicians can communicate, share records and coordinate quickly if my health ever changes, then I may not have to choose between experience and accessibility.

I am still trying to determine what is right for me, and I suspect many survivors have stood at this same uncomfortable crossroads.

What I do know is that any survivor facing this decision deserves clear answers before making a change. We should ask how much experience a physician has with our particular cancer, what happens if a recurrence occurs, which cancer centers or specialists they work with, whether they accept our insurance, how quickly records and test results are shared and how comfortable we feel asking difficult questions. These are not minor details. Together, they form the framework for deciding whether a new doctor can provide not only convenience but confidence.

Most importantly, we should remember that advocating for ourselves is not being difficult. It is being responsible.

If you are newly diagnosed, I hope you learn this lesson early: the doctor who treats your cancer may become an important part of your story, but your voice must remain part of the treatment team. Ask questions. Seek second opinions when you need them. Learn about your options. And if circumstances ever force you to find a new doctor, give yourself permission to be cautious. You have every right to seek someone whose knowledge and care give you confidence.

As for me, I am still standing at this crossroads. I am grateful for the doctors who carried me through the hardest part of my journey, and I am learning that protecting my future does not have to mean letting fear steal the present.

This piece reflects the author’s personal experience and perspective. For medical advice, please consult your health care provider.

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