Breast Cancer and Getting a Second Opinion
After you have been diagnosed with breast cancer, you
will want to take part in deciding on the treatments you will
receive. You may need time to recover emotionally before some of
the decisions need to be made. Shock and stress can make it
difficult to think clearly about all you are hearing and you may not
be able to think of all the questions you want to ask your doctor.
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Make a list of the questions you and your
family need answered. You will have it when you visit your
doctor’s office and you may want to take notes or record the
answers on a tape recorder so you can refer to them later.
A family member may go with you. Many times
when you are under stress, a family member can help you stay
calm, help you in your discussion with your doctor, take
notes, or even just listen. We hear statements differently
and our understanding can be skewed by stress and emotional
upheaval. If you don’t get all of your questions answered
on the first visit, there will be other opportunities to
talk to your doctor or nurse for further explanations.
You may also consider getting a second
opinion about your treatment plan and your first diagnosis.
There may be a delay in starting treatment if you or your
doctor requests a second opinion. |
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Medical records, mammogram films, pathology
reports, and biopsy slides will need to be gathered so the
second doctor will have all available tools to allow them to
make a diagnosis. Though your treatment may be delayed, it
won’t usually make that treatment less effective. Your doctor
will tell you if you are one of the patients that need to start
treatment right away.
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Some doctors may refer you to a specialist,
or a cancer center where doctors work together as a team.
Local hospitals, medical schools, or a state and local
medical society can provide specialists’ names. You will
also find a list of specialists by referring to the National
Cancer Institute at 1-800-4-cancer or through LIVEHELP at
their web-site
http://www.cancer.gov/cis.
Other sources for finding specialists are,
The American Board of Medical Specialties. This list can be
found at most local libraries or at the web-site
http://www.abms.org.
By clicking on the “Who’s Certified” tab, you
will find a list of Board Certified Medical Specialists.
The National Cancer Institute also has a fact sheet on how
to find a doctor or treatment facility if you have cancer.
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At this stressful time in your life, if you
have any doubts or questions about your proposed treatment
or your diagnosis, it is best to get a second opinion. Most
insurance companies will pay for second opinions if one is
requested.
Information about your disease is also important
in your decision making about treatment choices. Arm yourself
with information about the disease and the treatment choices
that you will have. Education is the key to understanding and
coping with breast cancer.
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