It’s been a while since I needed to advocate for my own care. A decade ago, I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer, and a lot has changed since then. Thyroid cancer today is treated differently, and patients have more options than I had. But one thing has remained the same, and perhaps has become even more significant nowadays. And that’s the importance of being your own advocate.
My thyroid cancer diagnosis is what led me to become a Board-Certified Patient Advocate in 2020. Going through my journey with cancer taught me how to speak up for myself, ask smart questions, and become a team member when it came to my health. By nature, I’m inquisitive, so the research part and learning everything I could about my diagnosis came naturally to me. However, feeling that I had a seat in the room when it came to making healthcare decisions with my doctors did not. Over time, my confidence grew and I was more willing to assert myself when needed. These skills came in handy during many medical appointments and also when I was a caregiver to my grandmother.
Recently, I’ve seen one of my providers for several pelvic ultrasounds. Back in October, I underwent a minor procedure and have been followed ever since. But, it wasn’t until my appointment last week that I felt the need to escalate the decision-making process and asked to see another specialist to get more answers. This provider had been thorough and helpful, but we were having the same conversation over and over again, and I was leaving no clearer than when I arrived. In short, I felt like I needed to have a consult with someone who could give me my options and help me chart a path forward.
The other day, I had a consult with an interventional radiologist. Before my appointment, I read up on possible procedures that I might be a candidate for and wrote up two pages of questions to discuss with him. When the appointment came, I was ready to have an intelligent conversation and leave with more clarity. Fortunately, I found a radiologist who was more than happy to sit and engage with me. He reviewed my recent MRI results, let me take photos of slides, and allowed me to ask as many questions as I needed to. While the appointment was relatively brief, I felt heard and left with my questions answered and more knowledge than I walked in with.
Being an advocate doesn’t need to be scary or overwhelming. It starts with the confidence to take an active role in your care. After all, who knows your body better than you? If you are working with a caring provider, they should welcome the participation and be open to your involvement. While I haven’t needed to flex my patient advocacy muscle for my care in a few years, it was nice to know I had the tools to do so and that I found a provider who appreciated my insight.
The moral of the story is that if something doesn’t feel right to you, you need to speak up. And, sometimes, that means asking for a referral or getting a second opinion.
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