Second Opinion
Before starting treatment, you might want a second
opinion about your diagnosis and treatment plan. You
may even want to talk to several different doctors about
all of the treatment options, their side effects, and the
expected results. For example, you may want to talk to
a urologist, radiation oncologist, and medical
oncologist.
Some people worry that the doctor will be offended
if they ask for a second opinion. Usually the opposite is
true. Most doctors welcome a second opinion. And
many health insurance companies will pay for a second
opinion if you or your doctor requests it.
If you get a second opinion, the doctor may agree
with your first doctor's diagnosis and treatment plan.
Or, the second doctor may suggest another approach.
Either way, you have more information and perhaps a
greater sense of control. You can feel more confident
about the decisions you make, knowing that you've
looked at your options.
It may take some time and effort to gather your
medical records and see another doctor. In most cases,
it's not a problem to take several weeks to get a second
opinion. The delay in starting treatment usually will
not make treatment less effective. To make sure, you
should discuss this delay with your doctor.
There are many ways to find a doctor for a second
opinion. You can ask your doctor, a local or state
medical society, a nearby hospital, or a medical school
for names of specialists. NCI's Cancer Information
Service at 1-800-4-CANCER can tell you about
nearby treatment centers. Other sources can be found
in the NCI fact sheet How To Find a Doctor or
Treatment Facility If You Have Cancer.
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