received the proposed plan from your oncologist, you may still have questions or concerns. You may wonder if the treatment proposed is the best option or if there are other treatments available that you should consider. Many people facing a cancer diagnosis are increasingly opting to get a second opinion.
Why would you consider getting a second opinion?
• The second opinion may be to confirm a cancer diagnosis.
• To learn more about the cancer.
• To hear different opinions on the best treatment options.
• Even if the second physician agrees with the first one, that affirmation can bring peace of mind.
• Availability of clinical trials.
Many patients worry about offending their doctor if they seek a second opinion, but most doctors understand the importance of a second opinion and are not offended. Your current doctor may even be able to recommend another doctor to you if you want.
Patients often ask if the second opinion is covered by insurance. Most insurance providers pay for a second opinion when cancer is suspected or diagnosed. However, before making an appointment, ask your insurance provider about coverage, and ask if you are required to select from a specific group of doctors. Some insurance providers even require a second opinion before they will pay for cancer treatment.
Resources to Find a Specialist for a Second Opinion
• Your current doctor may be able to recommend another doctor or specialist or you may prefer to locate one independently.
• Local hospitals, medical clinics, or cancer centers.
• Medical associations, such as the American Board of Medical Specialties, the American Medical Association, or the American College of Surgeons. These all have websites with searchable databases of doctors.
• Friends and family members.
• Cancer organizations and patient advocate groups.
If you are seeking a second opinion, you want to be sure that the doctor you will be seeing has access to all of your records from your original diagnosis. This means all information, including pathology reports, test results, treatment records, and doctor’s notes. You will want to take any X-ray or scan images (PET scan, CT scans, MRIs). These images can be downloaded onto a CD by the radiology department of the facility where they were done. You would bring the disc to the appointment. If a review of pathology is to be done, bring the pathology slides so they can be given to the pathology laboratory for processing and review by the pathology specialist. As always, bring a list of your medications and dosages and your insurance cards.
As we discussed earlier, when going to any doctor’s visit, remember to ask for the following:
• Information in terms that you can understand. If something is said that you do not understand or doesn’t make sense, it is okay to ask for clarification. This is also a good opportunity to clarify some lingering questions you may have.
• Ask for their recommendations in writing for your personal records, and also let them know if you would like them to be shared with your other doctors.
• Be sure to ask whom you may call if you have questions after you leave.
Once you’ve gathered information from your healthcare team, from your own research, and perhaps even from a second opinion, you will be best informed to start to evaluate options and make decisions about your treatment. In the chapter that follows, we will discuss those treatment options a bit more.
Website Resources
General Information
www.cancer.gov—This is the central website for the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the U.S. government’s principal agency for cancer research. NCI is mandated by U.S. law to disseminate information about cancer and cancer research.
www.cancer.net—Cancer.Net provides timely, comprehensive, oncologist-approved information from the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), with support from the Conquer Cancer Foundation.
www.cancer.org—The American Cancer Society is a nationwide, community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem.
www.cancerandcareers.org—Cancer and Careers empowers and educates people with cancer to thrive in their workplace by providing expert advice, interactive tools, and educational events.
Specific Cancers
www.breastcancer.org—Breastcancer.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing the most reliable, complete, and up-to-date information about breast cancer.
www.LLS.org—The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is the world’s largest voluntary health agency dedicated to blood cancer. LLS funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world and provides free information and support services.
Internet Reliability
www.healthonnet.org—Health On the Net Foundation
www.ftc.gov—Federal Trade Commission
Second Opinion
www.abms.org—American Board of Medical Specialties
www.ama-assn.org/ama—American Medical Association
www.facs.org—American College of Surgeons
Many quality resources exist for specific cancer types and patient needs—so many, in fact, that we could list only a few here. See pages 22–27 for online research guidelines.
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