Breast Cancer Second Opinions

Feeling confident in your diagnosis and treatment plan is key to your cancer care. If you or someone you love is facing cancer, a second opinion can help you make sure your diagnosis is accurate and that you’re aware of every treatment and clinical study available to you. 

Virginia Mason Franciscan Health is here to help: We're home to world-renowned specialists in a wide variety of cancers, from the most common to the most rare. Our experts can evaluate your condition and give you the best opportunity for a healthy outcome.

Second opinions are where a second doctor, often one who specializes in a particular cancer, evaluates your diagnosis and looks for potential therapies. It’s very common for individuals to seek second opinions, and some insurance providers even require them before treatment. 

You may be concerned that seeking a second opinion will offend your provider who diagnosed you, or result in worse care. But it’s generally viewed positively if a patient looks to get confirmation or more information on their diagnosis.

People request a second opinion because:

• It offers a clear view of whether cancer has spread and confirms what stage it is.
• It helps them learn about other available treatments, including clinical trials of new therapies.
• It gathers input from specialists like radiation oncologists, medical oncologists, and surgical oncologists who can look at cancer from many angles to make sure other options are considered.

At Virginia Mason Franciscan Health, we use the latest technology to evaluate each person and confirm their diagnosis or refine it based on what we find. Then our doctors explain their findings in clear terms and discuss which treatments they think are right for you. This outside perspective helps you completely understand your condition and your options.

To learn more about second opinions at Virginia Mason Franciscan Health or to make an appointment, find a specialist near you.