Getting a second opinion for cancer

Key takeaways

• Second opinions are common in cancer care.
• They can be useful when diagnosis, stage, biomarkers, or treatment choices are complex.
• Bring pathology, imaging, lab results, treatment history, and medication lists.
• A second opinion may agree with the first plan, and that can still be valuable.

When it may help

A second opinion can be helpful after a new diagnosis, before major surgery, when treatment options differ, when a cancer is rare, or when biomarker results suggest specialized choices.

It can also help if you feel uncertain about the goals, risks, or alternatives of a plan.

Records to gather

• Pathology reports and, if possible, pathology slides.
• Imaging reports and scan images.
• Lab results and biomarker testing.
• Treatment summary and medication list.
• Questions and goals you want addressed.

How to frame it

You can tell your current team that you want to make sure you understand all reasonable options. Good clinicians are used to second opinions, especially for serious diagnoses.

Sources

• NCI: Questions to Ask about Your Diagnosis — Includes asking about second opinions and diagnosis questions.
• UCSF Health: Questions to Ask Your Cancer Doctor — Patient questions for evaluating treatment recommendations.