[[{"@type":["BlogPosting"],"@id":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/news\/two-rcca-oncologists-explain-when-and-why-cancer-patients-should-obtain-a-second-opinion\/#BlogPosting","@context":{"@vocab":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","kg":"http:\/\/g.co\/kg"},"url":["https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/news\/two-rcca-oncologists-explain-when-and-why-cancer-patients-should-obtain-a-second-opinion\/","https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/news\/two-rcca-oncologists-explain-when-and-why-cancer-patients-should-obtain-a-second-opinion\/"],"publisher":[{"@id":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/"}],"author":[{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/news\/two-rcca-oncologists-explain-when-and-why-cancer-patients-should-obtain-a-second-opinion\/#BlogPosting_author_Organization","name":"Regional Cancer Care Associates"}],"inLanguage":"en-US","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/news\/two-rcca-oncologists-explain-when-and-why-cancer-patients-should-obtain-a-second-opinion\/#BlogPosting_image_ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Screen-Shot-2022-05-11-at-12.37.53-PM.jpg"}],"headline":"Two RCCA Oncologists Explain When and Why  Cancer Patients Should Obtain a Second Opinion","dateModified":"2022-05-11T17:10:43+00:00","datePublished":"2022-05-11T16:45:10+00:00","description":"To paraphrase the old saying about making a first impression, people facing cancer never get a second chance to choose their first therapy. They do, however, always have an opportunity to obtain a second opinion, regardless of whether that consultation concerns their diagnosis, the critically important choice of an initial treatment, the best approach to take if cancer progresses, or any other aspect of their care","articleBody":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMay 11, 2022\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\nTo paraphrase the old saying about making a first impression, people facing cancer never get a second chance to choose their first therapy. They do, however, always have an opportunity to obtain a second opinion, regardless of whether that consultation concerns their diagnosis, the critically important choice of an initial treatment, the best approach to take if cancer progresses, or any other aspect of their careIt\u2019s an opportunity that Denis Fitzgerald, MD, thinks many patients should pursue. \u201cCancer is a major health challenge for everyone it affects, and a life-or-death illness for many of those people. From that standpoint alone, it is worth seeking a second opinion if a patient has any questions or concerns about the diagnosis or recommended course of treatment,\u201d says Dr. Fitzgerald, a board-certified medical oncologist and hematologist who practices in Little Silver, NJ.Iuliana Shapira, MD, agrees. \u201cCancer is a complex disease, and its diagnosis and treatment also can be complex. We have seen the number of available therapies expand dramatically in recent years, which is a wonderful development in terms of our ability to individualize treatment strategies to optimal effect, but it also makes decision-making much more complicated. Seeking a second opinion can help you learn as much as you can about your illness and your treatment options so you can make informed decisions about your health,\u201d notes Dr. Shapira, the chief medical officer of Regional Cancer Care Associates (RCCA), one of the nation\u2019s largest networks of oncology specialists.\nDr. Fitzgerald, who serves as RCCA\u2019s chairperson, notes that RCCA\u2019s 90+ cancer specialists regularly provide second opinions to people diagnosed with all types of solid tumors and blood-based malignancies. What\u2019s more, he adds, his RCCA colleagues are very supportive when patients under their care want to obtain a second opinion from another physician.\u201cSome people are reluctant to seek a second opinion for fear of offending their oncologist. I am never bothered or insulted when one of my patients wants such a consultation. Their health, even their life, is at stake, and I want them to have the benefit of various expert perspectives, and to have confidence in their treatment plan rather than any lingering concerns,\u201d Dr. Fitzgerald says. He adds that if a physician doesn\u2019t support a patient\u2019s request for a second opinion, it might be a sign to seek care elsewhere because \u201cnobody has all the answers. If a doctor is offended when a patient seeks a second opinion, you have to question the reason for that.\u201dDr. Shapira says, \u201cMost doctors encourage consulting with another doctor regarding cancer management and are accustomed to having their patients involve another physician.\u201d The board-certified medical oncologist and hematologist adds, \u201cIn fact, your doctor might recommend seeing another physician before you have the chance to broach the topic.\u201d\n\nThe two cancer specialists add, however, that it is important to tell your primary oncologist that you are obtaining a second opinion because your doctor\u2019s practice will need to provide copies of your records to the physician you will be consulting.\n\nWhen to seek a second opinion\n\nDr. Fitzgerald notes that it can be particularly helpful to obtain a second opinion after you receive a pathology report but before you start treatment, so that you can benefit from different perspectives on the choice of initial therapy. However, he emphasizes, people can get a second opinion at any point during their cancer journey, including after undergoing treatment.\n\nDr. Shapira and Dr. Fitzgerald say that obtaining a second opinion can be valuable when:\n\nTests to determine your cancer type, location, or stage show unclear or uncertain results;\nYou\u2019re uncomfortable with your initial diagnosis;\nYou want to confirm your primary oncologist\u2019s initial assessment so you can be reassured you\u2019re on the right track;\nYou think your oncologist might have overlooked something or made a mistake;\nYou want to gain more knowledge about the benefits and risks of a proposed therapy, such as potential complications, adverse effects, toxicity, or effects on fertility;\nYou can\u2019t decide which of several available treatment options to choose;\nYou want to learn whether there are better or newer treatment options;\nYou want to find an alternative to a current treatment that\u2019s causing complications or that isn\u2019t effective;\nYou\u2019re hesitant when your oncologist suggests switching or adding to your current therapy;\nYou\u2019d like to know whether you might be a candidate for a clinical trial;\nYou have a rare cancer;\nYour oncologist has limited experience with your type of cancer;\nYou are dissatisfied with or had a negative experience with your doctor; and,\nYou have difficulty communicating with or understanding your doctor, or think someone else can better explain your illness and its treatments to you.\n\nWhen opinions differ\n\nWhat if the doctor providing a second opinion disagrees with the primary oncologist\u2019s diagnosis or treatment plan? \nYour options include:\n\nReviewing the consultant\u2019s recommendations with the primary oncologist;\nAsking both doctors to explain how they interpreted the test results and came to their conclusions \u2013 and whether their recommendations are based on current clinical guidelines;\nSuggesting that the doctors discuss your case with each other to try to come to a consensus;\nConsulting with your primary care physician, who might be able to better interpret both oncologists\u2019 opinions and help you with your decision-making; and,\nGetting a third opinion\u2014after checking that your insurer will cover another visit.\n\nObtaining a second opinion from an RCCA specialist\n\nIf you want to obtain a second opinion from one of the 90+ cancer specialists at RCCA, call 844-928-0089 to schedule a consultation. You also should confirm that your health insurance plan covers second opinions, which most plans \u2013 including Medicare \u2013 do.\n\nBefore your visit, the RCCA staff will coordinate with your healthcare providers to have relevant medical records and test results forwarded to RCCA. An RCCA oncologist then will evaluate the documents and, if necessary, consult with a pathologist or radiologist to interpret test results.\n\nDuring the visit, the RCCA oncologist generally will take a detailed medical history and perform a physical examination. In most cases, additional testing will not be needed. The RCCA oncologist will talk with you about your primary doctor\u2019s diagnosis and treatment plan, and make his or her own recommendations. The RCCA oncologist will also send a copy of the consultation report to your doctor.\n\n\u201cDon\u2019t hesitate to seek a second opinion at any time\u2014or multiple times\u2014during your cancer journey,\u201d says Dr. Shapira. \u201cGetting another opinion is a normal part of cancer management for both you and your oncologist. There is more than one way to solve a problem, and RCCA is here to help guide you through life-changing decisions and give you peace of mind.\u201d\n\n******\nDrs. Fitzgerald and Shapira are among the 90+ cancer specialists who treat patients at more than 25 RCCA care centers in New Jersey, Connecticut, Maryland, and the Washington, DC, area. Those oncologists see more than 23,000 new patients each year and provide care to more than 225,000 established patients, collaborating closely with their patients\u2019 other physicians. They offer patients the latest in cutting-edge treatments, including immunotherapies and targeted therapy, as well as access to a wide range of clinical trials. In addition to serving patients who have solid tumors, blood-based cancers, and benign blood disorders such as anemia, RCCA care centers also provide infusion services to people with a number of non-oncologic conditions\u2014including multiple sclerosis, Crohn\u2019s disease, asthma, and rheumatoid arthritis\u2014who take intravenously-administered medications.\n\nTo learn more about RCCA, call 844-928-0089 or visit RCCA.com.  \n\nResources on second opinions for cancer care decisions\n\n\nAmerican Cancer Society. Seeking a second opinion. https:\/\/www.cancer.org\/treatment\/treatments-and-side-effects\/choosing-your-treatment-team\/seeking-a-second-opinion.html\nYour cancer diagnosis: Do you need a second opinion? https:\/\/medlineplus.gov\/ency\/patientinstructions\/000930.htm\nGetting a second opinion before surgery. https:\/\/www.medicare.gov\/publications\/search?field_publication_category_value=Coverage%20and%20payment&field_publication_language_value=English&keywords=org. \nWhen to get a second opinion. https:\/\/www.cancercare.org\/publications\/264-when_to_get_a_second_opinion\nThe importance of getting a second opinion. https:\/\/news.cancerconnect.com\/newly-diagnosed\/the-importance-of-getting-a-second-opinion.\nNational Foundation for Cancer Research. How to get a second opinion. https:\/\/www.nfcr.org\/blog\/how-valuable-is-a-second-opinion\/\n\nwe are here for you\nFor more information or to schedule an appointment, call (844) 301-4158. You can also schedule an appointment by calling the RCCA location nearest you.\nRELATED ARTICLES\nRegional Cancer Care Associates is one of fewer than 200 medical practices in the country selected to participate in the Oncology Care Model (OCM); a recent Medicare initiative aimed at improving care coordination and access to and quality of care for Medicare beneficiaries undergoing chemotherapy treatment.\n\u00a9 2022 Regional Cancer Care Associates. 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