| The radiologist/mammographer has examined your | | | | distinct recommendation dependent on experience |
| mammograms, the surgeon and/or a mammographer | | | | and info. Listen carefully to each of the |
| has carried out your biopsy, and the pathologist has | | | | doctor-specialists. |
| looked at your biopsy specimen under the | | | | If your situation isn't particularly complex, all three |
| microscopeand given you the final analysis. These 3 | | | | ought to agree, at least in principle, about the suitable |
| specialists constitute your diagnostic group. Even | | | | remedy for you personally. Even if a particular |
| though you may have met the first two and will | | | | modality (surgery, radiation, or systemic therapy) isn't |
| most likely in no way meet the third, each specialist is | | | | included in the recommended remedy, it is important |
| critically important toyour care.A mistake by any 1 of | | | | to get the viewpoint of every from the three |
| them could have profound consequences for you | | | | specialists who constitute your treatment team. Each |
| personally. | | | | brings a different perspective dependent on his or |
| That's why it is essential to select well-trained, | | | | her specialty. If you, the patient, have any questions |
| experienced physicians as well as an exceptional | | | | or concerns about their recommendations, you ought |
| hospital where, for example, high-quality pathology is | | | | to look for an additional viewpoint from an additional |
| carried out. Your really life could depend on the | | | | reputable group. If the opinions of the two teams |
| interpretation of the biopsy by the pathologist, the | | | | differ, look for a third viewpoint from nevertheless |
| specialist you in no way see. Should you don't have | | | | an additional reputable group. |
| tumor, your care really likely will end here. But if | | | | Two from the 3 opinions should agree, not |
| you're diagnosed to have cancer, another team of | | | | necessarily in detail but definitely in principle, regarding |
| professionals, the treatment team, will take over | | | | which treatment or treatments are needed and also |
| your care. | | | | the sequence that ought to be followed. Let's say |
| Do You need a 2nd Opinion? | | | | that you have been diagnosed with infiltrating ductal |
| Be sure you are satisfied that you've the correct | | | | carcinoma, t2, n0, m0 (stage II). "Infiltrating" is the |
| diagnosis before you make the transition to | | | | pathologist's word for "invasive." Thus, you've a |
| treatment. When a diagnosis of cancer is involved, in | | | | breast area tumor measuring between two and five |
| no way fear that you will hurt the feelings of any of | | | | centimeters-say 2.3 centimeters. Your bra cup is size |
| your doctors if you ask for a second opinion. | | | | A or B. The surgeon says you need a mastectomy |
| Competent physicians will in no way object, as long | | | | (removal of the breast area) because the tumor is |
| as the second opinion is obtained from a reputable | | | | too large relative to the size of your breast area; the |
| physician (or group of physicians). Actually, | | | | radiation oncologist says you could possess a |
| competent physicians appreciate having their | | | | lumpectomy followed by radiation (breast |
| viewpoint verified by outside physician-experts. | | | | preservation); and also the medical oncologist says |
| Pathologists, for example, are frequently asked by | | | | you require chemotherapy to make the tumor |
| treating physicians to send their specimens to other | | | | smaller prior to you've any surgery (neoadjuvant |
| pathologists for confirmation from the analysis. At | | | | chemotherapy). |
| any time during your care, if you have questions or | | | | Your team does not agree; you require a second |
| doubts about your analysis or about treatment | | | | viewpoint from an additional competent, experienced |
| recommendations, you ought to ask for a second | | | | group. Even if you've to travel out of town for it, |
| opinion. Your life is at stake and you need to be | | | | and even if this second viewpoint is not covered by |
| certain you are producing appropriate decisions | | | | your health insurance, do not be deterred. Get a |
| dependent on an accurate diagnosis. | | | | competent second viewpoint from an experienced |
| Your Treatment Group: | | | | group. And if this 2nd viewpoint is not satisfactory, |
| Once you are satisfied with the diagnosis, you ought | | | | seek a third opinion. If your situation is complex, even |
| to go over all the options of your remedy with each | | | | if your initial remedy team's recommendation is |
| member of the treatment team. This team consists | | | | unanimous, you may still wish to get a second opinion |
| of a breast area surgeon (possibly the same 1 who | | | | to have that recommendation confirmed by another |
| carried out your breast area biopsy), a radiation | | | | group. |
| oncologist (1 who treats tumor with radiation), and a | | | | Most cases are straightforward and members from |
| medical oncologist (one who treats cancer with | | | | the initial remedy team generally will agree and come |
| chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, or | | | | up with a unified recommendation. If their conclusion |
| biologics-systemic therapy). Be certain that your | | | | seems reasonable to you, you may decide not to |
| treatment group has designed an approach | | | | seek further opinions. The essential thing is to |
| specifically for your remedy. Although you may feel | | | | become nicely sufficient informed that you're |
| you already know which course of remedy you | | | | confident in your own decision producing. |
| prefer to undertake, your remedy group may have a | | | | |