Oncologist Recommendation

[dddave]

I opened a topic last month requesting hospital and physician options for a friend dealing with mouth cancer. Sheryl replied with one of her always thorough and helpful responses for which I am grateful.

My friend has been presented with a confusing array of surgical options, all very expensive and physically debilitating by several surgeons at different hospitals and he is having difficulty deciding what course of action to take.

I spoke with a friend who is a retired physician and he suggested that my friend consult with a non-surgical Oncologist who could help my friend determine what is best for him. He made the point that surgeons tend to focus on surgery and that other options might be available that a non surgical oncologist might be aware of.

I'd appreciate any recommendations for such an Oncologist in Bangkok.

Thanks, as always.

[Sheryl]

First of all, your friend needs to get a clear indication from the surgeons of the likelihood of the various surgical approaches achieving a full cure...in percentages. If there is no reasonable likelihood of a complete cure then yes, looking at non surgical options may make sense. but need to understand these will nto be curative, just buy some time. Of course it is possible that the surgical options would also not lead to a cure and certainly they would be traumatic to go through, but your friend needs to get a clear handle on that.

i suspect that the usual reluctance of Thai doctors to give bad news or be blunt is part of the problem here. Your friend needs to ask very specifically, and if he gets evasive responses, ask again along the lines of "how much percent chance is there that this surgery will succeed in completely removing the cancer?"

He will need to be similarly direct with the oncologists. As to these, i suggest one of the following. This is based on qualifications only, but communication style is at least as important, so your friend should nto hesitate to shop around until he finds one he feels is sufficiently direct and clear in his communication, and with whom he feels comfortable:

St Louis; http://www.saintlouis.or.th/clinic/doctor.php?dr_id=465

Bumrungrad: http://www.bumrungrad.com/doctors/Harit-Suwanrusme

http://www.bumrungrad.com/doctors/Narin-Voravud

The one at St Louis has a specific specialty in oral cancers and looks very well qualified. Only there Tuesday evenings.