Seeking Second Opinions
Julie Larson, LCSW - www.julielarsonlcsw.com
Questions are normal Information
can provide more clarity
Learning more can feel grounding
Broadening your team can feel reassuring
Seeking Second Opinions: Why?
A desire to learn more or “cover all the bases”.
Communicating with your doctor is hard and you want your options explained by someone else.
Seeking confirmation of the treatment options presented to you by your current team.
The opportunity to connect with someone who specializes or is involved in research for your cancer
Julie Larson, LCSW - www.julielarsonlcsw.com
Seeking Second Opinions: Why?
When the cancer is rare or challenging to stage/grade
When multiple treatment paths exist
When you want to explore clinical trials
Insurance requirements
Common Fears
• Offending the medical team
• Delaying treatment
• Adding more complexity and uncertainty by receiving conflicting information
• Logistical hurdles – gathering medical records and images, navigating insurance, finding a specialist, travel
Julie Larson, LCSW - www.julielarsonlcsw.com
What to expect
• Review of your records
• Examine all diagnostic scans and images
• Analyze lab results
• Discuss diagnosis, prognosis and treatment options
Thinking Critically About The Options:
Where are these options coming from?
• Established treatment guidelines based on research and used throughout the country.
What about new scientific developments?
• Ask about and learn more about clinical trials and eligibility requirements.
Beyond my oncology team, where can I learn more?
• Reputable websites and organizations to research in more depth.
• National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) –www.nccn.org
• SHARE Cancer Support – www.sharecancersupport.org
• Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance – www.ocrahope.org
• Ovarcome – www.overcome.org
• Foundation for Women’s Cancer –www.foundationforwomenscancer.org
Identify Pros & Cons
• What do you know about the reasons to choose an option (benefits)?
• What do you know about the reasons to avoid an option (side effects, risks)?
• Consider the benefits and risks from many angles: medically, physical health, mental health, personal factors…
What is the Goal of Treatment? Curative Control
What matters to you?
• Review your Pro & Con lists and place a value (1-5) on each point.
• What benefits are most important TO YOU?
• What risks do YOU most want to avoid?
Julie Larson, LCSW - www.julielarsonlcsw.com
Who is involved in this decision?
• Who else has an opinion that adds value to this process?
• Who has knowledge that can help provide information?
• Will anyone be impacted by your decision? How much does that influence your choice?
• Is anyone pressuring your one way or another?
• Could others support you in any specific way?
Are there any gaps? “Decisional conflict”
• Do you have enough information to make a choice?
• Do you know where to get more information?
• Are you clear about what benefits and risks matter most to you?
• What type of unknown feels easier to tolerate?
• Have you connected with others who have a personal understanding of this type of decision?
• Do you know the logistical next steps involved with moving forward?
Julie Larson, LCSW - www.julielarsonlcsw.com
After the Decision is Made
• Outline how to discuss decision with medical team and loved ones.
• Revisit and review the values identified that helped you come to a decision.
• Maintain open communication and an ongoing dialogue with important individuals
• Continue to list questions and address them regularly with your team
Julie Larson, LCSW - www.julielarsonlcsw.com