Cancer second opinion

A cancer care specialist’s second opinion is an expert conclusion that contains a general assessment of the medical situation. Depending on the given circumstances, it may include comments on the known facts of the patient's history and/or current clinical condition, confirmation or denial of the existing diagnosis with justification of the expert's point of view, comments on available imaging studies.

An important aspect of cancer second opinion is the review of therapeutic options and recommendations for further treatment strategy. If it could be surgery, the expert will share an opinion regarding the best type of the procedure, its volume and technology. In cases where drug antitumor therapy is being considered, remote advice may suggest its regimen, specifying the medication and course of administration. The patient may also receive a follow-up plan, i.e. the description and frequency of diagnostic tests to control the disease course.

If appropriate to the consultation issue, in some second opinion providers will  find it appropriate to cite data from scientific studies and clinical trials dedicated to new anticancer substances or surgical techniques, as well as statistics from their own practice.

In general, the informative value and consistency of both a written report and an online consultation in cancer care depends primarily on the qualifications and expertise of the specialist, and whether there is sufficient health data available for an external evaluation. However, some things depend on the patient. Namely, the shared data (progress notes, test results, imaging) should be delivered to the expert in a structured, easy-to-use form. It is also important to clearly formulate the main issue (the purpose of your consultation) and make a careful list of additional questions. It is the mission of specialized services to help you sort it all out for you, ensuring the most effective second opinion.

Unfortunately, not all cancer issues can be handled at a distance. This applies especially to acute conditions where care must be provided immediately, as in the case of intestinal obstruction in bowel cancer or other critical conditions. It may be possible and necessary to seek a second opinion at a later date - in particular in order to ensure the necessary measures to prevent similar situations in the future.

In the advanced stages of malignant diseases, the choice of therapy options is usually limited and depends largely on the patient's state of health and the severity of associated comorbidities, which unfortunately are frequently associated with progressive cancer. Of course, such patients do need qualified advice, but even the most experienced physicians are not always in the position to adequately assess all the parameters at a distance, when the patient is not under their direct care. The possibility of obtaining a second opinion in such cases is significantly limited.