Jonee and her husband Harvey were living a full life when Jonee’s physician found some suspicious lymph nodes in her neck, which led to the diagnosis of stage 4 lung cancer.
A neighbor referred her to me; I work as a private physician advocate. In my role as an advocate, I get to know my clients with serious illness through several structured conversations. I learn their goals and fears about their situations and assist them in seeking care that aligns with all of it. When we first met, I didn’t shy away from asking about Jonee’s fears about the end of her life. These are conversations that I’ve worked hard to master.