2nd opinion on pathology results?

ayr1016

Another recent post made me ponder this (getting a 2nd opinion on pathology results). Is this common/uncommon thing to do and/or has anyone done it (and why did you chose to get a 2nd opinion on your results and was there a difference)? Actually, I believe all of my pathology results from the initial lab have not all come back yet (as of yesterday anyhow). Just curious. I want to leave NO stone unturned.

farmerlucy

I alway wished I'd had my results sent to Johns Hopkins who has that type of service. Finally just a couple months ago I called up my hospital's pathology department to see about getting it sent out to JH. I spoke to the AMAZing head of department and he volunteered to take a second look at my slides. (He was not the original pathologist). He answered all my questions to the point I didn't need a formal second opinion. I think pathologists in general are amenable to speaking to patients since they do it so rarely.

I also submitted a question to cellnetix's "Ask a Pathologist" page and received an excellent answer.

I am four years out and I know that I'll always have questions, many that don't have an answer. However, I highly recommend gathering as much info as you can now. Best wishes!

BarredOwl

Hi Ayr:

You can seek a second opinion about any one or more of your imaging, pathology and/or treatment plan.

Here is some; general information about second opinions from this site. There are a couple of sections (see list at upper left), so be sure to review them all.

http://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/second_opini...

I sought a second opinion after I had received an initial recommendation for unilateral mastectomy. The second opinion included a review of all imaging, pathology slides from all biopsies (benign and malignant), and advice regarding treatment. I was mostly interested in confirming the initial recommendation for unilateral mastectomy plus sentinel node biopsy (SNB) (due to widespread DCIS), so I was surprised when they recommended further diagnostic mammogram. That led to another biopsy, diagnosis of bilateral breast cancer and change in treatment plan to bilateral mastectomy with SNB. Even if a second opinion confirms the first, there is value.

BarredOwl

Brutersmom

All my pathology reports state diagnosed by one pathologist and verified by a second pathologist. I still sent mine to the hospital which was a Cancer teaching hospital where I got my second opinion. I wanted everything reviewed before I agreed to any type of treatment. It was the best think I did. No errors were identified but it helped me make educate me to make the choices that I needed to make.

ayr1016

Thank you ladies for responding. I am trying to get my ducks in a row and all my questions ready and things I want to do (get 2nd opinion or not) all in order before next week when I meet with the surgeon.

Thanks again!

ayr

windingshores

My biopsy results were eventually looked at by 4 pathologists and my post surgery results were looked at by 3. Treament changed, yes.  I got to know all the lab staff all around my city because I had to talk to them to make sure all the right slides and blocks were being sent properly to the right place, and promptly. Believe me, I caught a mistake or two. Sometimes the specimens were downstairs somewhere and the doc couldn't find them either, so I called around then too. I learned that being passive is not an option!