second opinions-please share

If I could offer one advice to someone newly diagnosed or facing a recurrence, it would be to seek a second opinion.  I believe it will give a patient more information to make an informed treatment decision.  

i didn't realize some docs don't like their patients getting 2nd opinions.  i'm not sure i could stay with that doc in fact.  my patient navigator offered to set up a 2nd opinion anywhere i wanted during our very first conversation - within 1/2 hour after i got the diagnosis. 

i too encourage 2nd opinions at any time.   knowledge is good!  options are good!  confusing sometimes, but good! 

Dear Donna,

Thank you very much for the link to LBBC's second opinion info.

The hallmark of an outstanding oncologist, in my opinion, is a physician who welcomes and even encourages a second opinion as long as that second opinion is from another source that is considered knowledgeable.

There is no place, especially here, for oncologists who arrogantly tell a patient that they have all the answers. With TNBC, unfortunately, no one has all the answers. I have seen, as an example, ACT work for my daughter for over ten years now. Other women, with what appeared to be an identical diagnosis were not so fortunate and for others various protocols have worked.

As the years go by we are confronted with new information that TNBC is not just one disease and eventually as we learn more, I believe, the various subtypes of TNBC will be further identified with, hopefully, eventually more tailored treatment that will be efficacious. 

In the meantime, it is on us as a community to advocate for ourselves. To try to become more knowledgeable and question our physicians and to try to learn more facts from conferences, peer reviewed research studies and by trying, if possible, to expand our horizons by reaching out to other Breast Medical Oncologists. 

For many here, our healthcare system remains broken and it is almost impossible for many here to have the ability to seek a second opinion. HMOs strongly discourage second opinions. The economics of traveling, cost of consultations, time away from work, child care, etc. etc. make it extremely difficult for most to expand their network of care. So, I do understand the difficulties, all too often, and I am totally sympathetic to the challenges many here face regarding second opinions BUT if you can manage to reach out and if your primary Breast Medical Oncologist is caring, nurturing, understanding and wise sometimes new information/possibilities will unfold. 

I think it is worth the effort to at least, explore, the possibility that a second opinion from a qualified BMO with a new perspective might be feasible.

And, again, unfortunately, at times there is no magic but I have also seen many cases where outcomes were improved. 

The strength of this forum is the dedication of women like Donna, Beth, mainsailset and many, many others (my apologies to names not mentioned) who continue to research for all of us and generously share their thoughts/time and offer encouragement to all here. And the dedication of the TNBC Foundation and the research efforts they are supporting with grants is so crucial, as well. By the way LBBC is a wonderful organization and I commend TNBC Foundation for working together with them on different projects such as Metastatic Breast Cancer. It is this spirit of cooperation that will help our community become more knowledgeable, in the long run. 

My heart remains with all here,

Steve