I can see going to my oncologist after i am done with treatments for checkups. But why do i need to go to my?

I see both my oncologist and radiation oncologist. They had different focuses during treatment, and they have different focuses during recovery and follow up. I expect to stop seeing my radiation oncologist long before I stop seeing my regular oncologist.

There are some long term side effects from radiation treatment, including some delayed reactions. The radiation oncologist will specifically look for these issues. If seeing him becomes a financial or time burden, talk to him about what he is looking for, and how you can wind down the visits and have your regular oncologist do the follow up.

Imaging studies are the way we monitor for recurrent disease.

You would not necessarily need to go back to your oncologist.

I was so busy that I often sent the patient back to his or her

primary care physician for follow-up.

At that time there were only three medical oncologists in all of western North Carolina.

We could not treat people who needed a specialist if we did the primary care

for all of the people in complete remission. Not enough hours in the day.

As it was our work weeks were 80 to 100 hours with no vacations

and only three days off every thirty days.

Even so we did not make the money you might expect.

50% of the hours I worked was for people with no insurance

who could not afford to pay their bills. These I treated at my own expense.

We turned no one down. How can you say no to an acute leukemia patient ?

Plastic surgeons can refuse cosmetic surgery patients who have no money,

but their patients do not have life threatening diseases.

Breast implants, nose jobs, liposuction saves no lives.

Plastic surgeons insist on payment before doing surgery.

Cancer and leukemia specialist docs are lucky to be paid

months after rendering care if we are paid at all.

If a high salary and an easy work week is your goal,

do not go into hematology / oncology.