The answer to this question can be deeply personal. There are various factors to consider.
An individual diagnosed with a rare form of cancer should probably seek a second opinion. For those with the more common forms, however, the nature and stage of the disease, the treatment options available, the severity of side effects that may be expected, and the confidence a patient has with regard to a doctor’s recommendations, are important considerations that will determine the need or desire for the opinion of another doctor.
Cancer is a very serious disease. It would serve patients well to make decisions based on as much information as possible.
Doctors themselves may welcome a second opinion, as this could serve as a confirmation of their own findings and recommendations. Doctors could even help by providing the names of other physicians whom their patients could consult.
Other sources of second opinions are doctors from regional cancer centers and local hospitals, and those identified in cancer-related websites.
Having two concurring opinions should help a patient approach the recommended treatment with more confidence. It is possible, however, that conflicting opinions could be raised, in which case the patient will have to weigh how she or he feels about the recommended treatment and its side effects.
Patients need not even seek a second opinion immediately. They may, instead, get more information from other sources, such as books, magazines, individuals who went through the same experience, and the Internet, before seeking the advice of another doctor.
In the end, experts point out, it may all come down to how a patient feels about the treatment being recommended and the possible side effects. If a patient has any misgivings or apprehensions about the recommended treatment by one doctor, the answer to whether or not to seek the opinion of a second doctor should be a definite ‘Yes’.
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