Two Essential Steps For An Accurate Cancer Diagnosis
Synopsis: Receiving a cancer diagnosis can be extremely stressful for patients and their families as they navigate the medical system and learn new medical terms within a short time frame. Amid the confusion and overwhelm, there are two essential steps you can take to ensure an accurate cancer diagnosis.
1) See A Specialist In Your Cancer
Once diagnosed, be sure to find a specialist in your specific cancer. There are more than 100 types of cancer, and a general surgeon or oncologist may not be familiar with the intricacies of your type of cancer.
A specialist would have seen many more cases like yours. This means they have more experience with everything that relates to your situation, and are more up to date with the latest medical research and treatment options.
This is true for oncologists, surgeons, and radiologists. The more specialised they are, the more frequently they would have worked with cases like yours. Take the time to research them and understand how many patients they see per year with your cancer type.
If surgery is potentially involved, ask the doctor how often they operate and how many surgeries they have performed that are like yours. An important thing to look for in a doctor is how willing they are to listen to your concerns and answer your questions.
2) Seek A Second Or Third Opinion
Get second and preferably third opinions. Even the best doctors might not have all the information, as cancer is so multi-faceted. Therefore, knowing the views of several of them will almost always lead to a better decision.
If more than one doctor confirms your diagnosis and treatment options, you can proceed with greater peace of mind. If doctors disagree on either the diagnosis or treatment, it is even more important that you hear from multiple parties. This will help you to understand your cancer better and make a more informed decision.
Research has shown that, while most second opinions confirm the initial diagnosis, 10–60% of second opinions result in a change to diagnosis, treatment, or prognosis. Although potentially confusing, this is incredibly important and can make huge differences to treatment outcomes.
Why These Two Steps Matter
According to a breast cancer focused article from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre, taking time to get a second opinion on a diagnosis results in substantial changes to the patient’s treatment in 1–10% of cases.
In a separate Japanese survey, 51% of women expressed some regret over their breast cancer treatment decision making process. The top regrets were related to not gathering sufficient information, not consulting with others, not considering which hospital to go to, and not taking time to consider options.
Case Study 1: Ray Dalio
This is a true story about hedge fund billionaire Ray Dalio. In his book Principles, he tells the story of initially being diagnosed with an inoperable precancerous growth, and eventually concluding via consultation with multiple experts that the tissue in question was actually not precancerous.
In this case, following the advice of a single doctor could have left Dalio unnecessarily preparing for the likely terminal cancer indicated by the first medical opinion or undergoing the risky, disfiguring surgery proposed by another professional.
The distinctive step that made the difference (perhaps between life and death) was seeking advice from credible experts and having multiple opinions.
Case Study 2: Annie Dennison
Our second case study references this article about a California woman named Annie Dennison. Annie felt that she may have been overtreated for her breast cancer because she was offered only a six-week course of radiation when a three-week course may have been another viable option.
Depending on one’s diagnosis, there could be various treatment options available (including new, cutting-edge treatments that some doctors are not aware of) with different success rates, side effects, and other trade-offs.
In addition to helping guard against following an initial treatment recommendation that is erroneous or misguided, taking the two-step approach can help patients like Annie build a more comprehensive understanding of their treatment options before deciding how to proceed.
Conclusion
We believe that these two essential steps will significantly help you gain more confidence to make better-informed decisions in your cancer journey. If you feel overwhelmed in your situation, bring a companion to your doctor appointments or book a free-of-charge introductory meeting with one of our coaches. We are here for you.
