What To Do When a Loved One Is First Diagnosed With Cancer
Make sure you have a clear and accurate diagnosis.
How to Get a Clear and Accurate Cancer Diagnosis
You and your loved one will need the clearest possible picture of the condition in order to make critical decisions in the coming weeks and months. The key to that is getting an accurate pathology report, based on biopsies, blood tests, exploratory surgery, and other screening tools. If the first pathology report is inconclusive or even if you'd just like to be sure you're getting the most current scientific analysis, get a second opinion -- preferably from a top cancer research center such as MD Anderson, Johns Hopkins, or the Mayo Clinic, or from a respected university hospital. One of the best and most respected pathology consultation services is offered by the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, which serves civilians as well as veterans and members of the military.
Many cancer experts believe strongly in the value of getting what's known as a <i>multidisciplinary second opinion</i>, which means that doctors from several specialties review the pathology report and weigh in on the treatment plan. Ask your doctor if your hospital or clinic offers multidisciplinary review, also sometimes called a <i>tumor board</i>, and if your loved one's case can be presented. The R.A. Bloch Cancer Foundation maintains a comprehensive list of institutions that offer multidisciplinary second opinions.
Start by asking the doctor which screening tests have already been conducted, and which additional tests are anticipated. Make it clear that you prefer to err on the side of more information rather than less. Depending on how your loved one's insurance works, these tests may already have been scheduled, or you may need to schedule them. If the doctor has suggested that you bring prior medical records to any of these appointments, you'll want to request copies of those in advance.
Once all the test results are in, insist that the doctor go over them carefully and thoroughly, and request copies, which you'll need if you seek a second opinion. Prepare for this appointment by making a list of questions ahead of time and bringing them with you. If, as often happens, you think of questions just after leaving an appointment, write them down, then call afterward and request a follow-up conversation.
