How To Choose An Oncologist

In addition to your own criteria, common wisdom is that you will have the best outcome if your oncologist meets the following criteria:

• Is board certified. Certification by the American Board of Medical Specialties certifies that a doctor has completed training and passed an exam in a particular specialty. (You can check whether a doctor is board certified at www.abms.org )
• Has a good deal of experience with your particular cancer and stage -- and has a good success rate.
• Works with a high quality hospital that has a lot of success with people with your type of cancer. (A doctor's connection with a hospital is known as an "affiliation"). You may receive treatment in the hospital. If you need to be hospitalized for other reasons, it will likely be in that hospital as well. (For information about how to choose a hospital, click here.)
• Is someone who is open to new ideas and keeps up-to-date on the latest research.
• Is willing to do and explore everything available to fight for you, just like a close friend would who has your back
• Is not biased against your sex, ethnic group, race, or sexual preference.
• Is someone you trust
• Is someone with whom you feel comfortable. It is likely that he or she will be your oncologist for a long time - possibly the rest of your life. 
• Is someone with whom you can develop a rapport. Studies indicate that a rapport with a doctor can be important. Not being liked by a doctor can affect your health care. It's also interesting to note that doctors tend to talk more to the patients they identify with and like. 
• Is respected by his or her peers. (This can be hard to determine. Your primary care doctor may have an opinion or a suggestion about how to learn what other doctors think. It is a good sign if the doctor is affiliated with a top quality hospital.)
• Cares about you as an individual yet can remain objective. One way to determine this is during an initial interview.
• Is patient. One indication: does the doctor give you the time to tell your story and to thoroughly evaluate your condition?
• Is thorough. Thoroughness is important to be sure important details aren't missed.
• Is willing to share his or her reasoning process about treatment suggestions and can give you thoughtful explanations in language you can understand.
• Is open to questions and will answer you thoughtfully and understandably.
• Can schedule you reasonably soon. 

It is also helpful if the doctor treats your Patient Advocate and family members with consideration and is available in a reasonable time frame both during and outside of office hours and who delivers test results without delay. Waiting for test results can be particularly maddening and stressful.
 
If you look at a doctor's training, the medical school is often less important than where the doctor took postgraduate or specialty training. The best training is usually at large, university-affiliated hospitals (often called "teaching hospitals").

We haven't seen any studies on whether a doctor's bedside manner relates to outcomes. It's up to you whether bedside manner is important or not.

NOTE: If your situation is the least bit out of the ordinary, consider looking for an oncologist connected with one of the country's National Cancer Institute (NCI) designated comprehensive cancer centers or a hospital connected with a medical school. If one is not nearby, at least consult doctor at such a hospital for a second opinion. You can implement their advice locally. For a list of NCI comprehensive cancer centers, click here.  

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