Second Opinions...Just to be Sure
http://www.countywomanmagazines.com/articles/366/1/Second-OpinionsJust-to-be-Sure/Page1.html
Website Manager
By Website Manager
Published on March 31, 2011
A second opinion can be very helpful in deciding among various treatment
options.
Should I consider getting a second opinion?
A second opinion can be very helpful in deciding among various treatment options. Physicians often give patients options based on their biases. This can create difficulty for some patients who may choose to pursue other options that their doctor may not favor. When getting a second opinion, the other doctor is more likely to give an unbiased opinion since he or she is not your treating physician. At The Center for Cancer and Hematologic Disease, we offer patients the broadest spectrum of treatment choices. Much of the time spent in consultation is for explaining the pros and cons of each approach. Most insurance companies allow coverage for getting second opinions.
Will my doctor be upset with me for getting a second opinion?
Most doctors welcome second opinions. They are not afraid that the other doctor will give you different advice or may take you away from his or her practice. I often recommend that my patients seek a second opinion.
I have heard that there are different kinds of second opinions?
Yes. The most common type is getting a second opinion related to your treatment options. There is also a less common type of second opinion and that is getting a second opinion regarding the diagnosis. Most of the time, the second opinion will confirm the initial diagnosis. However, sometimes there are disagreements among pathologists as to the specific diagnosis. It is most important to consider seeking a pathological second opinion in cases of rare diseases, for which most pathologists have infrequently seen such a case. This is also important when the treatment options may change depending on the initial diagnosis.
Should I go to a “big” center for a second opinion?
Sometimes going to see local community-based doctors can be more helpful. They work in the “real world” and are more able to balance the results of various research studies and the current standards of care. The major medical centers are often research-oriented. This can be very valuable if you are interested in being part of a clinical trial or when you are running out of treatment options. Our practice is community-based, but we also participate in national research studies. Therefore, I feel that we are most suited to offering a balanced approach between giving patients treatment options based on the latest research studies, as well as long-standing and successful treatment protocols. We are also very open to alternative treatment options.
How valuable is it to get a surgical second opinion?
Although surgery has been around since the beginning of time, we are constantly making advances in this field. Most physicians have been trained to perform surgery using standard open incisions. Recently there have been major advances in the use of minimally invasive surgery, although some patients are not candidates for this type of surgery. Getting a second opinion to see if you may be a candidate may be very valuable for you. Our practice has been on the forefront of performing minimally invasive surgery for many benign and cancerous conditions. Recovery may be much quicker with less pain, with a shorter time for return to normal activity. Robotic surgery is a very advanced from of minimally invasive surgery. It allows for very precise control using robotic instruments to extend the surgeon’s reach. At The Center for Cancer, we have been fortunate to not only be part of this exciting technology, but also to teach other doctors these techniques.
Are there any dumb questions that I shouldn’t ask my doctor?
No. The only dumb questions are those that you did not ask. It is easy to forget an important question while you are in the doctor’s office, so I encourage patients and their family members to try and write down questions ahead of time and ask them as they pop in to your mind. Don’t ever be afraid to ask.
Questions? Dr. Saul welcomes your questions on any area of gynecologic oncology. Email him at: HMSAUL@centerforcancer.com.
Howard M. Saul, DO, FACOOG is a board certified gynecologic oncologist. He serves as Director of Gynecologic Oncology for The Center for Cancer and Hematologic Disease. Dr. Saul has been treating women with gynecologic cancer in South Jersey for over 20 years. His philosophy of practice is to deliver the latest in cancer treatment to the women of South Jersey in the region in which they live. He is on the staff of many area hospitals. Dr. Saul has been involved in many pioneering cancer treatment studies, and is an active invited speaker at many medical meetings and cancer support groups. He is also experienced in the use of the daVinci Robotic Surgical System. Most importantly, Dr. Saul believes in giving knowledge, hope, support, compassion and a friendly smile to the many women and their families facing cancer.
A second opinion can be very helpful in deciding among various treatment options. Physicians often give patients options based on their biases. This can create difficulty for some patients who may choose to pursue other options that their doctor may not favor. When getting a second opinion, the other doctor is more likely to give an unbiased opinion since he or she is not your treating physician. At The Center for Cancer and Hematologic Disease, we offer patients the broadest spectrum of treatment choices. Much of the time spent in consultation is for explaining the pros and cons of each approach. Most insurance companies allow coverage for getting second opinions.
Will my doctor be upset with me for getting a second opinion?
Most doctors welcome second opinions. They are not afraid that the other doctor will give you different advice or may take you away from his or her practice. I often recommend that my patients seek a second opinion.
I have heard that there are different kinds of second opinions?
Yes. The most common type is getting a second opinion related to your treatment options. There is also a less common type of second opinion and that is getting a second opinion regarding the diagnosis. Most of the time, the second opinion will confirm the initial diagnosis. However, sometimes there are disagreements among pathologists as to the specific diagnosis. It is most important to consider seeking a pathological second opinion in cases of rare diseases, for which most pathologists have infrequently seen such a case. This is also important when the treatment options may change depending on the initial diagnosis.
Should I go to a “big” center for a second opinion?
Sometimes going to see local community-based doctors can be more helpful. They work in the “real world” and are more able to balance the results of various research studies and the current standards of care. The major medical centers are often research-oriented. This can be very valuable if you are interested in being part of a clinical trial or when you are running out of treatment options. Our practice is community-based, but we also participate in national research studies. Therefore, I feel that we are most suited to offering a balanced approach between giving patients treatment options based on the latest research studies, as well as long-standing and successful treatment protocols. We are also very open to alternative treatment options.
How valuable is it to get a surgical second opinion?
Although surgery has been around since the beginning of time, we are constantly making advances in this field. Most physicians have been trained to perform surgery using standard open incisions. Recently there have been major advances in the use of minimally invasive surgery, although some patients are not candidates for this type of surgery. Getting a second opinion to see if you may be a candidate may be very valuable for you. Our practice has been on the forefront of performing minimally invasive surgery for many benign and cancerous conditions. Recovery may be much quicker with less pain, with a shorter time for return to normal activity. Robotic surgery is a very advanced from of minimally invasive surgery. It allows for very precise control using robotic instruments to extend the surgeon’s reach. At The Center for Cancer, we have been fortunate to not only be part of this exciting technology, but also to teach other doctors these techniques.
Are there any dumb questions that I shouldn’t ask my doctor?
No. The only dumb questions are those that you did not ask. It is easy to forget an important question while you are in the doctor’s office, so I encourage patients and their family members to try and write down questions ahead of time and ask them as they pop in to your mind. Don’t ever be afraid to ask.
Questions? Dr. Saul welcomes your questions on any area of gynecologic oncology. Email him at: HMSAUL@centerforcancer.com.
Howard M. Saul, DO, FACOOG is a board certified gynecologic oncologist. He serves as Director of Gynecologic Oncology for The Center for Cancer and Hematologic Disease. Dr. Saul has been treating women with gynecologic cancer in South Jersey for over 20 years. His philosophy of practice is to deliver the latest in cancer treatment to the women of South Jersey in the region in which they live. He is on the staff of many area hospitals. Dr. Saul has been involved in many pioneering cancer treatment studies, and is an active invited speaker at many medical meetings and cancer support groups. He is also experienced in the use of the daVinci Robotic Surgical System. Most importantly, Dr. Saul believes in giving knowledge, hope, support, compassion and a friendly smile to the many women and their families facing cancer.