If you’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer or suspect you may have the disease, you might wonder whether you should consult a different doctor than the one you may have seen thus far, sometimes referred to as a second opinion. There are many reasons a person may decide to seek a second opinion, and each of them is valid.
You might still be in the diagnostic process, or may have already received treatment and are having doubts that the method is right for you. Regardless, getting a second opinion can help provide you with more information to help you feel more comfortable with your care plan.
Confirm your diagnosis
A number of tests can be used to diagnose breast cancer, including imaging, biopsy and blood testing. While not extremely common, it is possible to receive an initial misdiagnosis. A screening test could miss signs of cancer or detect cancer when none is present.
The exact rate of misdiagnosis is unknown but varies by cancer subtype and test used. Mammography, for example, is estimated to miss around one in eight cases of breast cancer. At the same time, mammograms can also give false-positive results.
Read more about breast cancer testing and diagnosis
If you have any concerns about your diagnosis, you can always choose to bring your imaging results to another doctor for a second opinion.
Consider new treatment options
There’s no “one-size-fits-all” when it comes to cancer treatment. You need to consider not just the effectiveness of different treatment plans but also your personal preferences, weighing the risks and benefits of each option. While surgery is common, patients can also receive radiation, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or newer, targeted therapies.
If your doctor suggests a treatment plan that you don’t agree with, or you just want to learn more about what other choices you might have, you can seek a second opinion.
Even if you’ve already started a treatment regimen, you can meet with a new doctor to decide if you want to make any changes or try a new treatment altogether.
Second opinion programs
Many hospital systems have specialized programs and services designed to offer second opinions. These include:
- Breast Imaging Second Opinion Review Program at Memorial Sloan Kettering Center
- Columbia Doctors Second Opinion Service
- Second opinion services at UCLA Health
- Second opinion services at Northwestern Medicine
While you don’t need to go to a second opinion program in particular, these doctors are well-equipped to understand your unique circumstances and concerns.
What to do when doctors disagree
Sometimes, you will get a second opinion that agrees with the initial doctor’s advice. However, there are times when your doctors may disagree. This doesn’t necessarily mean that one is right and the other is wrong; they may simply have different perspectives.
While you can always seek a third opinion, be aware that this could lead to more uncertainty if the third doctor has an entirely different viewpoint from the first two. You can also try meeting with different kinds of providers, such as a primary care provider, who may be able to help you come to a decision.
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