Getting a Second Opinion

If you have cervical cell changes, your health care provider may want to do a series of tests or treatments, or may refer you to another provider.

• Tests help your health care provider learn more about the changes in your cervix (see Table 2).
• Treatments remove or destroy cells with changes so that healthy cells can grow back (see Table 4).

You should always feel at ease asking your health care provider about the reason for a test or treatment and what you should expect during and after it.

"When I learned that my Pap test results were abnormal, I wondered just what the doctor meant by 'abnormal.'" NANCY, AGE 42

Here are some questions you may want to ask:

• What do my test results mean?
• What care is best for me?
• Is this a test designed to help you learn more about the changes in my cervix? Or is it a treatment to cure the changes?
• What are the possible results? Will I need more care afterward?
• Are there any risks or side effects? How can I manage them?
• Do I need to do anything special to prepare for this test or treatment?
• Do I need to do anything special to care for myself afterward?
• Will this affect my ability to get or stay pregnant?
• Will my health insurance pay for the treatment you suggested?

Getting a Second Opinion

If you are concerned about your Pap test results and don't feel right about your health care provider's recommendations, you may want to get a second opinion. Changes in the cervix happen very slowly. Most of the time, they take several years to become cancer. Waiting a few months before follow-up care usually does not affect the success of the care you choose. You may want to use this time to:

• Ask your health care provider to have another pathologist review your test results.
• Ask another specialist or gynecologist to review your care plan. (A gynecologic oncologist, a doctor who specializes in female cancers, is someone you might want to see.)

Many women feel uncomfortable asking for a second opinion. They may feel that they are being a bother or that they will offend their health care provider, but it is very common for women to seek one. And doctors often expect patients to ask for one. A second opinion may help you feel more sure that you have made the best choices about your health.

If you have health insurance, many insurance companies will pay for a second opinion if you ask for one.

Most of the time, your health care provider will suggest the name of another specialist if you want a second opinion. You may choose to visit this second health care provider. Or you may get names of specialists from your local medical society, a nearby hospital or medical school, or your friends or family members.

The NCI Cancer Information Service (see Resources) can help you find qualified doctors and programs through cancer centers and other cancer programs.

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