A strong sense of urgency comes with a breast cancer diagnosis and many women want to get treatment right away. However, there is value in doing research and seeking a second opinion. Having an additional radiologist look at your imaging tests can help determine whether any additional imaging or biopsy is needed for follow up. It also helps breast specialists with treatment options in the future.

By looking at your tissue, a pathologist can change your treatment plan based on the type of breast cancer you have. Another surgeon reviewing your diagnosis can offer you alternatives to standard surgery. The doctor may suggest chemotherapy before surgery, or reconstructive surgery at the same time as the breast cancer surgery. Having access to another medical or radiation oncologist reviewing your treatment plan can help provide other options or access to novel clinical trials and faster or more specific treatment options.

Having a second opinion on your breast cancer diagnosis can be vital to your recovery and doctors are used to hearing this request. Some insurance companies even require it before treatment begins.

Jessica’s Story: Second Opinion – A Piece of Advice

“Everything happens so quickly while you are still trying to wrap your head around having cancer.  Your mind is overwhelmed and foggy” she says

Just days after a suspicious mammogram in 2014, Jessica was scheduled for a stereotactic breast biopsy.  At the last minute, the procedure was aborted in favor of a wire-guided breast biopsy. The pathology report from the wire-guided breast biopsy showed a breast cancer.

A sentinel lymph-node biopsy was performed a week later by a local general surgeon who had also treated her father for colon cancer.

“You see so many people – a surgeon, an oncologist, a radiation oncologist that you feel like you are already getting a second opinion” she remembers.  Experts say that it’s best to go outside of your local group for a second opinion, because physicians in the same group/practice most likely share similar or the same theories on treatment options.

After suffering a painful complication of her biopsies the result was raised cords from her breast and lymph nodes.  This eventually cleared with intense physical therapy.  Because her sentinal lymph nodes eventually cleared, she did not have to undergo chemotherapy, but she went through 32 rounds of radiation therapy.

A follow-up mammogram the next year unfortunately showed another suspicious area in the same breast.  Jessica was now faced with another round of decisions to make.  Thankfully, she got up enough courage to tell her doctor that she would like another opinion of her options.

Contact one of our professionals at Second Opinions for the best care. We are available 24/7 by phone – 855-5-SECOND | 855-573-2663 as well as online via live support chat at www.secondopinions.com