This is scary, My doctor just called me, told me to come see him now and he wouldn't say why.

[fightforfreedom]

Last year I had a small cyst removed from my cheek bone. Everything went well, they tested the cyst no problems. A couple of weeks ago I went to my doctor because a hard bump had formed under the incision. It was scar tissue, he removed it.

He sent the scar tissue for testing and that's why he called today. He would not tell me the results. All I can do is to hope for the best.

[essaynnc]

1. Good luck. We can only hope for the best.

[JuJuChen]

2. holy crap keep us posted that's never a good sign

[Wicked Blue]

3. Wishing you the best of luck

[OAITW r.2.0]

4. Best wishes....hope it's a case of the Dr. just wanting to explain the situation in person, rather

than on the phone.

[PoliticAverse]

5. Best wishes to you! n/t

[Vinca]

6. That's scary. Let us know what happens.

[wryter2000]

7. Maybe it's a relatively harmless skin cancer

Wishing you all the best.

[dameatball]

8. This has only happened to me once. I doubt it is great news, but not necessarily anything to panic

about either. I'm sure your doctor wants to lay things out and make sure you understand your options. Do what you need to do. Wishing you well. Been there.

[NJCher]

12. I used to teach a course in health communication

The course was for doctors, nurses, and other practitioners in the healthcare field. You wouldn't believe how often they don't take into account how the patient on the other end of the line might feel.

The purpose of the course was to teach them to consider that before calling. The numerous stories I heard about needless anxiety on the part of the patient surprised me. It seems like such a simple thing, but I think they are so bombarded with work that they don't often think about communication unless they're called out on it.

Let's hope that's the case for fightforfreedom.

[dameatball]

15. Yes, over the phone communication is important and some are better than others. I also

think it makes a big difference how well you know your doctor. Coincidentally, I just had a checkup yesterday and it was with my third different doctor in the last three visits. He is a very young guy and seems capable enough. I just don't know him yet. No rapport at this point, so I am glad it was just a checkup.

[NQAS]

23. What been your experience re health care gender?

Are women practitioners better at communication? Men?

Thankfully, I've never had to receive bad medical news over the phone, so I have no way to judge.

I've been pretty fortunate with communications with practitioners and have found men and women equally mostly okay.

[Mr.Bill]

26. For six years I worked as a volunteer at our local hospital.

My job was to sit at the desk in the surgery waiting room and greet people arriving for surgery, and to notify the department that they were here. Of course, I was not supposed to discuss anything medical with them.

It is a simple job, yet an important one. I was their first contact and the face of the hospital. I simply treated them as if today was the most stressful day of their life, and did my best to make sure they were informed and comfortable.

To the OP, any doctor that would refuse to tell me why he wanted to see me would become my former doctor.

[mgardener]

33. Thanks for volunteering!

I did too at our local hospital.
You are so right.. First impressions are so important.

Not so sure.
I worked as a school nurse.
One of the teachers was told she had breast cancer on the phone in my office. In the middle of the school day.
It was so traumatic for her.
I think in their office where he can answer questions is better.

[Mr.Bill]

34. Yes, calling someone at work to tell them

wouldn't be a good idea. I guess I'm a throwback to the days when the landline number would mean they were at home. I'm a dinosaur. I don't even have a landline anymore.

[NQAS]

9. Well that's scary

There’s really no reason not to tell you on the phone and then ask to come in to discuss treatment.

Good luck.

[NJCher]

13. oh yeah, there is

at least in their minds.

See my post above.

[I_UndergroundPanther]

10. I hope it is no big deal

And he just got a scare.

I have had doctors call me in suddenly before it was not anything seriously bad. It was something he saw in my lab results he had to fix fast. Needed me to pick up a prescription.
This is back when you needed paper scrips.

[Dial H For Hero]

11. Wishing you the best.

[AngryOldDem]

14. Sending good thoughts.

[PlanetBev]

16. Boy, do I understand what you're going through

This happened to me in 2005, except my doctor called me at work and told me that the harmless rash on my arm was melanoma. I promptly walked down the hall to the bathroom and barfed. I wish he had asked me to come in, instead.

That said, it was an early melanoma on my arm, but it took two surgeries to get rid of it.

Please keep us informed.

[fightforfreedom]

18. Melanoma is bad news. Good thing you caught it early.

Usually cysts are not cancerous. What is bothering me is this is on my face, my cheekbone. If this is some type of cancer they may have to cut open my face again, which could scar my face. I will tell my doctor I want a cool looking scar.

[PlanetBev]

21. You're right, freedom

Being a cyst, I would be very surprised if it was cancer. It would be very rare.

Anxious to hear what the doctor says.

[lagomorph777]

30. Maybe some kind of infection that needs immediate treatment?

[FakeNoose]

17. Good luck with everything - but don't forget ...

... you can always see another doctor and get a 2nd opinion. Sometimes it it's the best course of action, just for your own peace of mind.

[Floyd R. Turbo]

19. Right you are! A guy I played baseball with in the eighties was diagnosed with neck cancer. His

physician told him to get his affairs in order as he has only a couple of years to live at best. Our teammates convinced him to get another opinion. He did and after surgery and radiation therapy he was deemed cancer free.

The team bought him a sweatshirt and cap to wear to his treatments. The sweatshirt read “I Will Survive” The cap “Fuck Cancer”.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

20. You will be in my prayers

Good luck

[whathehell]

22. Best wishes, fightforfreedom..

Hope it turns out to be no biggie.

[irisblue]

24. Best hopes fightforfreedom.

[Boomerproud]

25. Please share an update with us, if you choose.

[mizogan]

27. Breath deep

I hope you are able to take someone with you for support and another set of ears to help get the whole picture. Sending love and light

[MLAA]

28. Fingers crossed and sending good vibes!

[homegirl]

29. A few years

ago the dermatologist took a scraping from a suspicious spot on my leg. In less that two days, she called, arranged a follow up, over Labor Day weekend. And it was removed. All subsequent scrapings of spots I now know if I don't hear within two days everything is fine.

You have a quick acting, caring doctor. If there is anything serious you are getting the best of care and attention..

Wishing you the best result.

[Ohioboy]

31. It's certainly scary, but it sounds like you are on top of things and taking care of yourself

I hope your doctor at least gets you in soon so you don't have to worry for long.

[TygrBright]

32. Holding you in my heart for strength and hope. Keep us posted. n/t

[cate94]

35. Very scary

Please keep us posted.

[electric_blue68]

36. Oh, dear. Good luck!

[Danmel]

37. Wishing you the best

We're all here for you.

[TheRickles]

38. In the meantime, do your best to "be here now".

[ProfessorGAC]

39. To Minimize Anxiety...

...couldn't you insist he tell you what's up?
Personally, I wouldn't take no for an answer. IMO, the doctor works for the patient. They're experts, but they're answerable to the patient, not the other way around.

[Peregrine Took]

40. 100% agree. I would not hang up til he gave me an ideas what he was talking about.