You can’t get very far with your healthcare team if you doubt whether you’re getting good advice. It’s natural to doubt and second-guess any scary diagnosis – like cancer. You want to be sure nothing important is being overlooked.
Getting a second opinion at the beginning can go a long way to putting those worries and second-guesses behind you, so you can focus on the road ahead. If the thought of a second opinion ever occurs to you, go ahead and ask for one.
How your doctor reacts to a request for a second opinion is also a good test of whether they’re trustworthy. Medicine is supposed to be collaborative, and any good doctor will be more than willing to have the diagnosis and recommendations reviewed by someone else. If your doctor is reluctant or annoyed about getting a second opinion, you should probably work with someone else.
