Guest blogger Yelak talks about leading and directing your medical team
Who is Goliath? Goliath, in the Bible, was a giant who couldn’t be defeated because of his huge size and power. In our world of myeloma today, Goliath is the might of medical care, medical insurance, treatment options, clinical trials and all the daunting tasks of living and dealing with myeloma.
You and I, the myeloma patient or family members, are David. Unlike the story in the Bible, if we go up against Goliath one on one we’re likely to be flattened. So, we don’t do battle with Goliath; we learn to deal with Goliath. Over the last 20 years, since I was diagnosed with myeloma at age 25, I have just done that. Let me note that I am not a medical professional. I am a patient and would like to be considered a “customer” of Goliath.
When I was first diagnosed, I hadn’t even heard of multiple myeloma. I almost certainly didn’t have any idea about what treatment would be best or even what the options might be. Even physicians who come to our support group diagnosed with myeloma rarely know much about the disease -- at first. Thus, initially, I relied on what my oncologist/hematologist said I must do. Before long though, I became educated enough to form an opinion about the treatment I wanted.
Doctors are trained to take charge, and most patients, alas, don’t really want to know much. They just want to be fixed! But, if you want to lead and direct the medical team that “fixes” you, here is what I think you should do.