Tag Archives: second opinion

Getting a Breast Cancer Second Opinion

12/24/2015

 

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

How Good Is a Virtual Doctor?

8/27/2015

The increased usage of internet-enabled mobile devices is changing the way that we communicate. One of the most cutting edge and dynamic niches within mobile communications is health care. Today individuals don’t need to sit for hours in a medical waiting room or wait days for an appointment with their family doctor. Now individuals can simply “tap” themselves into a virtual doctor’s office.

A Preferred Way for Consultations

In May 2014, MDLive conducted a study that revealed how welcomed virtual doctors are.

• 82% of individuals aged 18 to 34 would prefer consulting with a doctor through their mobile device than attend an appointment
• 27% of patients would be willing to give up shopping for one month, skip their next vacation and even refrain from bathing for a week if it meant being able to speak to a health care professional through their phone

Virtual doctors and health care consultations are becoming the ideal solution for our overburdened health care system. But how good are these virtual doctors? Is this the style of treatment that’s right for you and your symptoms?

Not For All Symptoms and Treatments

Virtual doctors do come with a set of limitations. These e-visits are ideal for handling a number of common and non-emergency situations, such as:

• Colds
• Flues
• Stomach pains
• Allergies and rashes
• Sports injuries

What virtual doctors are not helpful for are potentially life-threatening issues, including:

• Breathing problems
• Chest pains
• Uncontrolled bleeding
• Broken bones
• Seizures

Given their inability to perform a physical examination, they are also not able to conduct annual check-ups and shouldn’t be used to manage chronic illness.

Can Virtual Doctors Prescribe Medications?

At this time, federal law prohibits virtual doctors from prescribing any controlled substances such as stimulants and opioid painkillers. Other companies won’t prescribe “lifestyle” drugs such as Viagra or other drugs like anti-depressants.

What a virtual doctor can prescribe includes:

• Antibiotics
• Antihistamines
• Anti-inflammatory drugs
• Topical medications

Is a Virtual Doctor Right for Me?

Being unable to perform a physical examination and not having a patient’s medical history do raise some important questions concerning the validity of an e-visit. Many professionals are concerned that virtual doctors may miss more serious underlying conditions by not being able to see a patient in person. Because of this, a virtual doctor may be best for those of already good to excellent health, have no chronic issues, and whose symptoms indicate a mild illness or irritation.

Second Opinions Prevent Unnecessary Surgeries

1/14/2014

Recently a patient, Ella, came to us because she was told that she needed spine surgery and was concerned about subjecting herself to such a difficult surgery. Ella had been in a car accident and suffered from severe pain in her spine after the accident. Her job required her to sit at a computer for many hours a day and this was becoming a problem because it was very painful.

Ella went to see a spine surgeon who recommended she get an MRI to determine the cause of the pain. When she returned to the spine surgeon with the results of the MRI, she was told that surgery was indicated to fix her spine problem and that the surgery could potentially leave her with some mobility problems. Ella knew that she was not about to undergo surgery with the risk of having additional problems. She decided to seek another opinion.

Ella did not know of any other spine surgeons and felt uncomfortable telling her surgeon she wanted a second opinion so she elected to go on the internet to research other physicians who could assist with a second opinion. She came across secondopinions.com and she read all about our services. Board certified physicians, easy upload of the MRI DVD to a HIPPA secure website and second opinion report received within hours of submission at very affordable prices.

Because Ella had a spine problem, a specialized neuroradiologist read her MRI and she also consulted with an in-network spine surgeon. Both physicians concurred that Ella did not need surgery; all she needed was a physical therapy plan and exercise. The SecondOpinions.com doctors referred Ella to a physical therapist who was able to help her and she has responded very well. No more pain, no more problems sitting at her desk, and the best part, No surgery!

It is important to have trust and faith in your doctor, but it is also important to be open minded and educate yourself about the potential healthcare options that may be available to you. In Ella’s case, she was fearful of having surgery, especially a surgery that could potentially leave her with disabilities. Ella realized the importance of educating herself and learning more about her condition so that she could make the best decision regarding her treatment.
Always get a second opinion. In certain situations, get a third opinion if necessary. An educated consumer is one who has the greatest ability to make the most objective decision. Ella sure did.

Second opinions save lives, decrease medical errors, and prevents unnecessary surgeries and procedures. Don’t think twice before you get your second opinion. It could be a matter of life or death.