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Our highly trained specialists are available 24/7 via phone and on weekdays can assist through online chat. We connect patients, caregivers, and family members with essential services and resources at every step of their cancer journey. Ask us how you can get involved and support the fight against cancer. Some of the topics we can assist with include:
For medical questions, we encourage you to review our information with your doctor.
As you face cancer treatment, it’s normal to wonder what another cancer doctor might say about your case. Could they provide more information or a different treatment plan? You might want to have another cancer doctor review your test results, talk to you about your case, and maybe even offer a new point of view on it. Getting a second opinion can help you feel better about your treatment plan.
Treatment decisions should be made after you have learned all you can about your cancer, how serious it is, and treatment options. This can take time, depending on the type of cancer you have. For a few cancers, you might need to make some treatment decisions right away. But usually, you can take some time to think about them, and decide what is best for you. If you are concerned about waiting to start treatment, you should talk to your doctor.
Reasons for getting a second opinion include:
It might be hard to get a clear sense of information when you are anxious or afraid. And sometimes, without knowing it, doctors use words that you don’t understand. If you don’t understand something, ask your doctor to explain it to you.
Even if the doctor carefully explains things, you may not hear or remember all that is said. Here are some ways to help you remember what your doctor tells you.
Even after a thorough discussion with your doctor, you still may decide to get a second opinion.
Some people find it hard to tell their doctors that they’d like a second opinion. Some doctors might be OK with it and others might not. Remember, it’s common for people to get a second opinion. It’s your choice to make. If you aren’t sure how to talk to your doctor about it, here are a few ways to start the conversation:
Before you start looking for a second opinion, contact your insurance company to find out what your policy covers. In some cases, you may have to get a second opinion from another doctor who is part of your health plan before insurance will pay for your treatment.
It’s important to be able to give the second cancer doctor the exact details of your diagnosis and planned treatment. Make sure you have the following information handy:
You can ask your current doctor’s office for copies of your records or to have your records sent to the second doctor’s office. If you have had treatment or tests in a hospital or clinic, you may need to contact their medical records department to find out how to get copies of those records. Sometimes, you can request your records through an online portal, if your doctor's office, treatment center, or hospital has one. Be sure to always keep copies of your records for yourself, as well.
When you let your doctor know you want to get a second opinion, they may be able to recommend another doctor.
Other resources that can help you find an oncologist are:
While people with cancer seem to be asking for second opinions more often, studies show the benefits of getting one are unclear.
If the second opinion you get differs from the first, these tips may be helpful.
You also might need to consult with another specialist to discuss the two opinions you’ve been given. Specialists you might talk to include pathologists, surgeons, medical oncologists, or radiation oncologists.
You may need to do your own research on the latest treatment guidelines. Two good sources are the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Treatment Guidelines (www.nccn.org) and the National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) PDQ® Cancer Treatment Summaries (www.cancer.gov). Both are available in versions for health professionals (which use medical language and terminology) and patients (which use everyday language).
Developed by the American Cancer Society medical and editorial content team with medical review and contribution by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).
Amann J, Vetter D, Blomberg SN, Christensen HC, Coffee M, Gerke S, Gilbert TK, Hagendorff T, Holm S, Livne M, Spezzatti A. To explain or not to explain?—Artificial intelligence explainability in clinical decision support systems. PLOS Digit Health. 2022 Feb 17;1(2). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pdig.0000016
McCranie A, Lee AD, Leonard L, Vemuru S, Huynh V, D'Angelo J, D'Angelo AL, Ahrendt G, Kaoutzanis C, Fisher C, Gleisner A. Exploration of Patient Retention in Seeking a Second Opinion: A Retrospective Cohort Study. Journal of Surgical Research. 2025 Feb 1;306:588-603. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jss.2024.04.025
Shah AP, Shi S, Shah S. Characterization of remote second-opinion oncology patients and associated changes in management. J Clin Oncol 40, e18563-e18563(2022).https://doi.org/10.1200/JCO.2022.40.16_suppl.e18563
Last Revised: July 31, 2025
American Cancer Society medical information is copyrighted material. For reprint requests, please see our Content Usage Policy.
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