Second opinion
Asking for a second opinion before cancer surgery is normal and sensible. A careful review can confirm a plan, or raise a question worth asking.
01When it helps
Good reasons
to ask.
- You have been told you need a major cancer operation and want to be sure of the plan.
- You have been given more than one option and are unsure which suits you.
- Your diagnosis is rare or unusual, or the reports seem to disagree.
- You want to know whether keyhole, minimally invasive or robotic surgery is suitable for you.
- Treatment has finished elsewhere and you want a review of follow-up.
02How it works
How a second
opinion works.
- 01
Bring everything
All reports, scans with films or CDs, biopsy slides and blocks if available, and the written advice you were given.
- 02
A full review
Your history is reviewed, you are examined, and your reports are read.
- 03
A plain answer
The doctor explains his view of the plan and the options available to you.
- 04
Your choice
You decide where to be treated. A second opinion carries no obligation to be treated here.
03What to bring
The more you bring,
the better the review.
A second opinion is given in person, after examination. Please do not send detailed records through the website. If the clinic asks for a report in advance, it can be shared on WhatsApp.
- Biopsy report (a biopsy is a small piece of tissue checked under a microscope)
- Biopsy slides and blocks, if they were given to you
- All scans: CT, MRI or PET reports, with the films or CDs
- Recent blood test reports
- Discharge summaries and notes from earlier hospitals
- A list of the medicines you take now, including medicines for sugar, blood pressure or the heart
- The treatment plan or advice you were given, in writing
Next step
Bring your reports.
Ask your questions.
A second opinion does not replace your current doctor. It helps you and your family decide with confidence.