Second Opinion - Did you? Are you getting one?

teaka123
teaka123 Member Posts: 95
edited May 2019 in Just Diagnosed

How important is it to seek out a second opinion on a DCIS diagnosis? Did you get one or if you are newly diagnosed do you plan on getting a second opinion? I feel as though that is the smart thing and what I should do, but ......

My future holds a lumpectomy w/ radiation or (most likely) a mastectomy.

Me - DCIS left breast / Stage 0 / Grade 3 / ER & PR negative / 5.6 size large and dense

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Comments

  • Ingerp
    Ingerp Member Posts: 2,624
    edited April 2019

    If you trust your medical team there's no reason to get a second opinion. If lumpectomy is an option for you (I had a large one in 2016--8cm x 6cm x 3.3cm), then the decision between that and mastectomy is yours.

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  • dtad
    dtad Member Posts: 2,323
    edited April 2019

    IMO it is important to get a second opinion. Preferably at a major university teaching hospital. You would be surprised how different it could be. Of course all decisions made are our own but gathering as much information as possible helps us make informed ones. You are asking so I'm telling you what I think. Of course I would never tell someone this if they didn't ask!

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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited April 2019

    I think whether to seek a second opinion depends on a number of factors - it depends on who your first opinion was from, and the specifics of your cancer and how much variation there is in treatment decisions that may be recommended. My first, and only, surgical opinion was from the previous head of breast surgery at the NCI center less than 10 miles from my house, who is now the head of a university based program. I trusted his surgical recommendation, he was very flexible and attuned to my wishes, communicative and collaborative, attentive to my family, and genuinely concerned for my well-being. His broad experience and interest in cutting edge technology and up to date surgical techniques combined for an optimal experience. My surgeon, after getting to know me and the details of my cancer, referred me to an oncologist with experience specific to my cancer and a plastic surgeon who did the type of recon I wanted. He felt both best fit my medical needs and personality - docs who would answer questions and take their time with explanations, and who appreciated an assertive and inquisitive patient.

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  • kber
    kber Member Posts: 394
    edited April 2019

    I got one, but tbh, partially because the center I am at (MD Andersen) made it so very easy.  I pretty much filled out a form asking where I wanted a second opinion and they sent over all the info to an Oncologist at Sloan who would do a phone consult.  It was almost a check box exercise and took little effort on my part.

    Their opinions on diagnosis and treatment pretty much matched other than MD Andersen recommended a slightly more aggressive chemo protocol (adding carboplatin to taxol), but even at MD Anderson, they made it clear the decision was mine after listing out all the potential side effects.  

    I decided to stay with my original MO because we are both data geeks and he does not mind at all explaining the details of various medical studies, etc.  Plus he has just as much access to clinical trials as MO #2, so if I needed to go that route someday, I have an established relationship.  Finally the facility is close to my home while Sloan would have been a bit of a hike.

    Since my insurance covered it and it was easy, I'm glad I did it, but I didn't feel it was 100% necessary as I was already pretty comfortable with the team I was at.  

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  • teaka123
    teaka123 Member Posts: 95
    edited April 2019

    I will get a second opinion. I will have peace of mind knowing I "dotted my i's and crossed my t's". I know I would advise anyone to get a second opinion and I need to follow my own advice. Keber, it would be great if all offices made getting a second opinion this easy. Thank you all for the responses.


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  • Kissy72
    Kissy72 Member Posts: 7
    edited April 2019

    Happy to find a recent thread on this topic. I just returned from a visit to MDAnderson Houston to get a second opinion on my DCIS diagnosis. I had a unilateral mastectomy in 12/18. Pathology revealed pure DCIS high nuclear grade 3 ER & PR negative and Paget's disease. While I trust my team at The University of Alabama at Birmingham, I felt that it was wise to get another set of eyes to view my slides to rule out any micoinvasion given the extent of my DCIS. I have had little cooperation from UAB. The process has been very difficult. During my consult with the breast oncologist at MD Anderson, I learned that not only didn't they fail to send all of my slides to MD Anderson, they also made obvious measurement errors on my breast specimen. I don't know how this will work out but I am glad I am at least trying to get the second opinion

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  • Rrobin0200
    Rrobin0200 Member Posts: 433
    edited May 2019

    I definitely suggest a second opinion, especially when it pretains to one’s health. What’s the worst that could happen?

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  • AliceBastable
    AliceBastable Member Posts: 3,461
    edited May 2019

    I liked and felt confident in my surgeon and my oncologist, so I did not seek second opinions.

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  • teaka123
    teaka123 Member Posts: 95
    edited May 2019

    Kissy72, getting the measurements right is pretty darn important, but then again all of this is.

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