My Experiences Searching for a New Clinic

When I needed to call a new cancer clinic to set up an appointment, I found that my state-funded health insurance coverage wasn't sufficient for the care I required.

The staff at the new clinic told me that they "only accept major insurance" through full-time employment.

Searching for a new cancer clinic

Right now, full-time employment is impossible for me. I was employed full-time before my metastatic breast cancer diagnosis, but I can't return to my previous line of work. So, basically, the Mayo Clinic was out of the question for me.

I did some digging and contacted a fellow cancer friend about the clinic that she goes to. She suggested I explore her clinic because she loves it, for all the right reasons!

In the past, the clinic I went to in Seattle was always incredibly busy. Appointments often ran late, and it was constantly very loud inside the building.

A new oncologist

This cancer clinic here in Phoenix is tranquil and quite relaxing. During my most recent scan day, I set myself up in a little corner to drink my contrast and watch a true crime Netflix documentary. It was great.

The oncologist I saw at first was a little difficult. It's not anyone's fault, but I bring this up because knowing who's in charge is important. It isn't the provider; it's you. Knowing that is a game changer.

You want to be excited to visit with your oncologist and other doctors and enthusiastic about the teamwork that goes into your health care. Not only did I not vibe with his style of care, but he also misgendered me and violated my boundaries quite a few times.

This was something new for me to experience.

Being misgendered by my doctor

A lot of my voice in my writing is gender neutral, and that is because I myself am gender neutral. I am proudly non-binary and just now embodying what I have always dreamed of but have never pursued. My advocacy focuses on the voices of the few because, most of the time, we are often misgendered and left behind in medical care.

That is flat-out not acceptable.

Inclusive care should be the standard

Cancer care needs to be compassionate and inclusive. I shouldn't be afraid to tell a doctor I want to pursue flatness for comfort and mental health. Nobody should be afraid to seek care for something that they are born with. Nobody should deny health care to others based on who they are under any circumstance.

At the end of the day, we are all humans. We are all here, trying to survive. For a lot of us, it's already hard enough to be chronically ill and live a "normal" life. If you add in any other health problems, forget about that normalcy. On top of that, we have people out here living authentically themselves only to be told they don't deserve a seat anywhere.

You can find a new doctor that meets your needs

The moral of the story here, folks, is that if a doctor violates your boundaries, please find a new one. If you can't advocate for yourself, contact a social worker. If you need an interpreter, the clinic should be able to provide you with one. You do not have to suffer in silence. Nobody deserves inhumane treatment while trying to live.

If one thing makes you feel unsure or uncomfortable, say something. It's time to change how folks with cancer receive medical care!