Second opinion or not?

littlesnail · June 2020

Stage 2, no family history. Cannot decide if a second opinion is needed or not. Asked around my friends, 50% said yes, 50% said no need. One friend said that getting a second opinion will end up with more confusing. I'm wondering if you got second opinion or not, what made you to decide? Were you happy if you did or did not?

Beesie · June 2020

Are you comfortable with and happy with your current team? Do you communicate well with them and have they been available and responsive?

Have they addressed all your questions?

Have you been presented with different treatment options and do you want to get other opinions before you decide what to do?

Are there treatment options that you are thinking about that haven't been discussed with you, or are you wondering if there may be other options that haven't been presented to you, or is there anything about your treatment plan that you are unsure about?

Some people get second opinions, some people don't. There is no right or wrong, it's a question of whether you, in your situation with your diagnosis and your treatment team, feel that there is a need for more information or another opinion.

Do you feel the need to get a second opinion?

MinusTwo · June 2020

Great post Beesie. LittleSnail - be sure you like your team? It's an easier road if you consider the things Beesie has listed.

Cowgirl13 · June 2020

I'm glad I got a second opinion because the first oncologist I interviewed was a little hard for me to feel comfortable with even thought she was the head of oncology and had an excellent reputation. She wasn't rude or anything so I mentioned this to someone and was given a referral to a second oncologist who I just loved, right from when he walked in the door. Everyone in his office was wonderful, including the person who did the blood draws.

BCat40 · June 2020

I loved my BS from the get-go and while many people told me to get a second opinion on surgery I knew I wanted to go with her so didn't. However I did not feel the same about my MO or the treatments she was suggesting and ended up getting a 2nd and 3rd opinion.

msphil · June 2020

yes sweetie I got 2nd opinion suggested by my oncologist and I'm pleased with my decision because it sealed the fact I did indeed have breast cancer for I didn't wanna believe I had it. Praise God I am this yr a 26yr Survivor and my 26yr Wedding Anniversary also. Was planning our 2nd marriages when diagnosed. Hang in there sweetie. msphil idc stage2 0/3 nodes 3mo chemo before and after Lmast then we got married then 7wks rads and 5yrs on Tamoxifen. And no family history of breast cancer

JDB1965 · June 2020

littlesnail: If you are questioning whether or not to get a second opinion then I would seek one for several reasons. First, it will ease your mind knowing that more than one group agrees on a diagnosis and treatment plan. Second, peace of mind, you will always wonder if you made the right decision. And last but not least, your first diagnosis may be incorrect. I live in the Midwest, city of around 250,000 people so not small, but far from a big city, I was told one thing in my home town so I went to MD Anderson in Houston. Best decision ever. Not only was my cancer in both breasts, in one breast it was further down the path than told, they also discovered a couple of other things, but in the end I chose not to do a double mastectomy, but instead do a partial mastectomy bilaterally and not put implants in my body. As my breast surgeon told me (and it is GREAT advice) there is no wrong or right answer, doctors are there to give you as much information as you need to make the best decision for you and nobody can make that decision but you...not your doctors or family."

Good Luck

PAKNC · July 2020

Echoing what has been said above - are you comfortable with the quality of care at your current provider? If this becomes a tougher battle than you initially thought, is this the provider that you want to partner with?

After my initial diagnosis at a local facility, a little voice inside of me told me to stop moving forward with them - because all of a sudden, the radiologist wanted to do a biopsy of the other breast after stating a few weeks early that it was ok to wait. There was something about the look on her face that made me feel that they were beginning to realize that they may have made a mistake. Right then, I decided - I need to go to a specialized cancer center and not mess around here. At the cancer center - they found a second DCIS that the first facility missed. Although this was not life and death at this point, it certainly would have had an impact financially and on my quality of life. My new treatment center told me - aren't you glad you came here? We saved you a second surgery. She was right. And had I opted for whole breast radiation and the second DCIS was not discovered until years later... I would have had no choice but a mastectomy. I'm currently delaying surgery due to a clinical trial but expect to move forward when ready.

BlueGirlRedState · July 2020

Beesie had great ideas about getting a 2nd opinion. Especially for treatment options and how you feel about your "team" This last time, while I did not doubt the diagnosis, it was the 3rd time BC, and I started to feel and still do, that "conventional treatment/ standard of care" just was not working. My MO gave me a reference for a couple of clinics outside the State that might have clinical trials and sent my records to them. At that time, they had no trials for people in my situation/history, but also said their treatment advice without seeing me, would probably be the same. So I now take Ibrance and Arimidex.

BrooksideVT · July 2020

If you are comfortable with the recommendations you have now, I'd say go ahead and schedule treatment. You'll have a few weeks before anything gets started. During this time, you can both revisit MD team #1 for more detail (possibly through a superconvenient remote video call) and fit in a second opinion. If you prefer treatment plan/MD #2, you can cancel the original plan.

windingshores · July 2020

I got a third opinion! Keep going until you feel totally comfortable with your plan. If you already do, then it's fine to stop.

I found there were differences of opinion for me among the three docs, and then I decided. There were contradictory tests and the way was not clear. But if your path is totally clear, then a second opinion may not be needed.

Aniza · July 2020

it is a very personal choice. It's valid if you just need to place your trust in your team and go forward. It's also valid if you want the confirmation that they are on the ball. In my case I was shocked at the difference between my second opinion and what my oncologist was proposing. When I asked (politely) for him to explain the reasoning, he got snippy and defensive like a 14-year old. But in the end (and during Covid everything is more complex) my team decided themselves to go with the approach I was asking about (starting with surgery, not chemo, for hormone +ve HER2 negative stage 2 (at least) cancer with 3.5cm tumour). In my case I am VERY glad i had a written second opinion, but it's so personal. You have to ask yourself what you need given your own context.

Second opinion or not?

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