{"id":11243,"date":"2020-10-23T15:41:37","date_gmt":"2020-10-23T20:41:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.osfhealthcare.org\/blog\/?p=11243"},"modified":"2026-03-09T15:35:53","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T20:35:53","slug":"cancer-always-ask-for-a-second-opinion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/osf-blog.live.imagescape.com\/blog\/cancer-always-ask-for-a-second-opinion\/","title":{"rendered":"Why you should get a second opinion on cancer"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you receive a cancer diagnosis, one of the first things you should do is ask for a second opinion.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t worry about offending the physician who diagnosed you. In fact, you shouldn\u2019t be surprised if your doctor suggests a second opinion before you ask.<\/p>\n

\u201cI would say that 75% of the time, I bring it up first,\u201d said Ismael Shaukat, MD<\/a>, a medical oncologist with OSF HealthCare. \u201cMany times, patients are afraid they will insult their doctor by asking for a second opinion about diagnosis and treatment. But speaking for myself and my colleagues, we are never insulted by that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Doctors support a second opinion<\/h2>\n

In fact, physicians often want a second opinion as much as the patient.<\/p>\n

Not all cancers are alike, nor are they always straightforward. They can be tricky and present themselves in different ways. Depending on the type, some are more complicated than others and require additional testing for the diagnosis to be certain.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

A provider needs to put all the pieces of the physical exams, the screening test and imaging tests, like a CT scan, into a complete picture.<\/p>\n

\u201cNumber one, I want to confirm my original diagnosis is correct,\u201d Dr. Shaukat said. \u201cGetting another perspective is good. Within our group, we bounce ideas off each other all the time.<\/p>\n

\u201cI might look at it one way, and someone else might look at it another. It\u2019s not always about being right or wrong. It\u2019s about getting a complete picture. If someone has a different opinion, we want a chance to reach out and discuss it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Increase comfort and confidence in your treatment plan<\/h2>\n

The same holds true when developing a plan for different types of cancer treatment.<\/p>\n

If you are diagnosed with cancer, it\u2019s normal to experience some fear and anxiety<\/a>. You might feel overwhelmed by the barrage of information. Getting a second opinion on the diagnosis and treatment options can provide clarity and help reduce uncertainty, giving you peace of mind.<\/p>\n

Dr. Shaukat stressed the importance of arming patients with as many resources as possible to battle the disease. People with cancer need to know their care team is confident that they have identified the cancerous cells and what treatment will minimize the side effects.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s about empowering you to ask questions<\/a>, weigh options and make good decisions. The more engaged you become in the process, your comfort and confidence increase.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe want to do what\u2019s best for the patient. That\u2019s always our intent,\u201d Dr. Shaukat said. \u201cWe want the patient to have complete confidence that we are doing the right thing, and having a second opinion helps that, too. If the patient is second-guessing themselves, it makes treatment difficult.<\/p>\n

\u201cA patient\u2019s comfort level is vital in cancer treatment. If the patient is confident and comfortable, they will have a positive outlook they can feed into \u2013 and patients do better with a positive outlook.\u201d<\/p>\n

Once you are confident of the diagnosis, you can access online resources provided by organizations like the American Cancer Society<\/a> and National Cancer Institute<\/a>.<\/p>\n