Every Scan and Lab Test is Important

I don't think the importance of lab and imaging results can be overstated, especially for a patient with cancer. 

I was reviewing patient charts last night for today's clinic. Part of this involves checking for new labs and scans. Some people had great responses to treatment, while others did not. I took notes and prepared mentally for the conversations we might have in clinic today. I tried to imagine what it would feel like to be the recipient of this news, both good and bad. I tried to anticipate the answers to questions they might ask, which inevitably and appropriately includes "What's next?" 

 I like to start each conversation by asking "Have you seen your report of your recent scans?" In the era of open access to the electronic chart, many patients have. In which case then I ask, "What questions do you have about it?" I pull up the scans and walk my patient (and their family members) through the pictures. We discuss the newest labs, too. I cannot imagine how challenging it is to live with a diagnosis of cancer, and I can only hope that seeing what's happening in the body provides some relief, especially when things are going well. I imagine it can feel like a big setback when things change for the worse, unexpectedly.

I've only been doing this a short time, but I do appreciate that interval scans and labs are incredibly important to my patients. I work hard to be prompt in relaying results, and I spend time reviewing each patient's case thoroughly so that I can put the latest information into perspective and plan for the next step in care.

NSC Lung Cancer, courtesy Cancer Imaging Archive