How to Prepare for an Online Second Opinion?

A second opinion plays a crucial part in making the patient more knowledgeable to take an appropriate decision. A second opinion educates a patient on their illness and provides treatment options accordingly.

When a patient acquires proper knowledge on their condition it gets easier for them to take an appropriate decision. They gather enough knowledge to communicate with their medical team to get a better treatment plan. Cancer is a complex disease and to understand the outcome of the treatment it is important to understand the course of treatment properly.

Getting prepared for an online second opinion

• Assemble all the medical and diagnosis reports for review – It is important to send all the medical and diagnosis reports to the second opinion doctor before the appointment. The second opinion doctor can review the reports and gather information on the condition of the patient and come to a conclusion. It becomes easier for the doctor to communicate with the patient effectively.
• Make a list of all the queries on the disease and its treatment – Before the appointment write down all the questions related to the disease and its treatment options. Take confirmation on the diagnosis made by the initial physician. Enquire about the treatment options available according to their health condition. Ask about the side effects of the treatment options. Ask for a second opinion doctor’s advice on the original treatment option.
• Plan beforehand to have a trusted family member during the consultation – It is not possible for a person to remember each and everything said during the consultation. It is important to have someone beside to discuss the key points and listen to the whole conversation. The other person can also provide some input and opinion.
• Record the conversation – Take permission from the doctor if the conversation can be recorded to track the conversation later on and understand it properly. It helps not to miss any critical discussion.

To remain prepared ahead of time of appointment helps in having a fruitful conversation. A cancer patient may have many doubts and it is important to get clarity on their course of treatment.

If the patient gets confident in their line of treatment then only a better outcome can be achieved. A second opinion plays an important role to come to a conclusion regarding the treatment plan. A second opinion improves the quality of life and provides peace of mind.