Patient Experience
I'd been to three other doctors with this weird, persistent pain, and they all said it was stress. Dr. Ravel was the first one who actually looked skeptical at that answer. He ordered a different set of scans, the kind the others hadn't thought of. It took a couple of weeks to figure it out, but he called me himself with the results—it was a rare type of abdominal tumor. Scary, yes, but finally having a real answer, and a plan from him, was what I needed to start fighting it.
Had to get a suspicious mole removed from my back. Honestly, I was more nervous about the procedure than the results. Dr. Ravel's clinic at Apollo was running late that day, but once I got in, he made it so straightforward. He explained exactly what he was doing as he did it, the local anesthetic worked perfectly, and it was over in what felt like ten minutes. The stitches were so neat my regular GP commented on them later. Just a really smooth experience from start to finish.
The Apollo Cancer Centre can feel like a big, intimidating place when you're scared. What stood out, besides Dr. Ravel, was his team. The nurse at the front desk remembered my name on my second visit and asked how my daughter's school play went. The phlebotomist who took my blood was actually gentle. Even the person who helped me find a free spot in the crowded parking lot was patient. It didn't make the treatment easy, but it made the environment feel less cold.
Look, doctors are smart, but sometimes they talk *at* you. Dr. Ravel is different. When he came into the room, he'd sit down, not hover by the door. He asked about my job and how the commute was before diving into the heavy stuff. When I got confused about the treatment options, he drew a simple diagram on his notepad and tore it out for me. He has a calm way of listening that makes you feel like you're the only patient he has that day, even though you know he's incredibly busy.