Wellness

Why People Hesitate—and Why You Have Permission to Ask

It’s normal to worry that asking for a second opinion might offend your doctor or slow your care. In cancer care, second opinions are common and often encouraged. They help confirm the diagnosis, double-check the plan, and surface options you may not have heard yet.

Think of it as adding another expert to your team. Most doctors welcome this and will share your records to help you move forward with confidence.

What a Second Opinion Is (and Isn’t)

A second opinion is a fresh, independent review of your diagnosis and treatment plan. It can:

• Confirm what’s already planned
• Offer different options or a different sequence of options
• Catch details that change staging or eligibility for surgery or clinical trials

It is not starting over, doctor shopping, or a commitment to switch care. You can keep your current doctor and still use what you learn.

Mini-dialogue you can use:

• You: “I want to be sure we’ve seen every option. Can we get a second opinion?”
• Doctor: “Yes. I’ll send your scans and pathology so you can be seen quickly.”

Why Timing Matters—Especially for Pancreatic Cancer

Early review can change the path ahead. For pancreatic cancer, small differences in imaging, tumor location, or lab results can shift whether surgery is possible now, after treatment, or at all. A second opinion before starting therapy can:

• Keep you eligible for more clinical trials (most require no prior treatment)
• Optimize sequencing (for example, surgery vs. chemo or radiation first)
• Speed up decisions by getting multidisciplinary input at once at a tumor board dedicated to pancreatic cancer
• Prevent delays if your plan needs to change

If you’re newly diagnosed, try to seek a second opinion as soon as possible—ideally before the first treatment—so every option stays on the table.

How to Ask Your Current Doctor (Scripts You Can Use)

It’s completely normal to feel unsure about how to ask for a second opinion—or even what words to use. These scripts can help you start the conversation in a clear and respectful way.

• “I value your care. I’d like a second opinion to feel confident in my plan. Can you suggest a center?”
• “Before I begin treatment, I want another perspective. Would you share my records with the second-opinion team?”
• “Could we review clinical trials I might qualify for if I am evaluated now?”
• “What timeline do you recommend for getting a second opinion so my care does not slow down?”

However you choose to ask, your questions are valid, your voice matters, and your care team wants you to feel confident in your plan. There’s no “right” way to say it, what matters is that you feel supported.

At the University of Cincinnati Cancer Center, if you contact us for a second opinion, we’ll arrange the transfer of your medical records from your current providers as quickly as possible—so your care stays on track.

What to Bring (and How to Prepare)

A second-opinion visit goes smoother when you arrive ready. Use this checklist:

• A short list of goals (for example, surgery candidacy, trial options, pain control, nutrition help)
• Write your top two questions and put them first
• Note important dates: first symptoms, diagnosis and any treatment given
• Plan how you will decide: what matters most to you (cure, life length, comfort, time at home)
• Arrange transport and support for the day of the visit

What Happens at a UC Health Second-Opinion Visit

Your care is reviewed by a team. You meet with specialists who focus on pancreatic cancer. They look at your scans, pathology, and lab results. They may ask for repeat imaging or a re-read by a pancreatic radiologist. You leave with clear next steps.

What the visit may include:

• A review by surgical, medical and radiation oncology
• Input from genetics, nutrition and palliative care if helpful
• A discussion of surgery, chemotherapy, radiation or a combined plan
• A check for clinical trials that fit your stage and health
• Time for your questions and a written summary of the plan

Will a Second Opinion Delay My Care?

Usually, no. Records can be shared fast. Many centers offer quick scheduling or virtual visits. A short pause now can prevent bigger delays later. If you are newly diagnosed, getting a second opinion before starting therapy can preserve access to trials that do not allow prior treatment.

What helps avoid delay:

• Ask your current doctor to send all records and images right away
• Tell schedulers if treatment is set to begin soon

Insurance, Costs and Access

Most health plans cover second opinions for cancer. Some plans need pre-authorization. Call the number on your card and ask, “Is a second opinion covered for pancreatic cancer?” Keep the reference number for the call.

Ways to manage costs:

• Ask for in-network options first
• Request an estimate for the visit and any tests
• Ask about financial counseling and payment plans

When to Get a Second Opinion (Checklist)

Use this list to decide if now is the right time:

• You have a new diagnosis of pancreatic cancer or a high-risk cyst or lesion
• You are being advised to have major surgery such as a Whipple
• You are about to start chemotherapy or radiation
• Your cancer is not responding, or it has come back
• You want to ask about clinical trials before any treatment
• You feel unsure and want more options or clarity
• You want your plan checked by a high-volume center
• You need help understanding side effects or quality-of-life issues

Questions to Ask at Your Second-Opinion Visit

Bring this list and check off as you go:

• What stage do you think I have, and why?
• Am I a candidate for surgery now, or after treatment?
• What treatment plan do you recommend first, and what is the goal?
• What clinical trials could fit me before I start any therapy?
• If I begin treatment now, which trial options would I lose?
• How many pancreatic surgeries does your team do each year? What are the outcomes?
• Should I have genetic testing or tumor profiling?
• Will a radiologist re-read my scans and a pathologist review my biopsy here?
• What side effects are most common, and how do you prevent or treat them?
• How soon should I decide? What is the safe window to start?
• If your plan differs from my first plan, what is the key reason?
• Who will coordinate with my current doctor, and how do I reach them between visits?
• What support can I access now (nutrition, pain, social work, palliative care)?

After the Second Opinion: How to Decide

Use a side-by-side comparison. Write the plan from each team, the goal, the steps, and the timing. Ask both teams to explain any major differences in plain language. Check trial windows and deadlines first.

Helpful steps:

• List pros and cons that matter to you
• Confirm what happens if you wait one or two weeks
• Ask for a written summary and a point of contact
• You can keep your current doctor and use the second opinion’s ideas
• If plans conflict, request a joint review or tumor board discussion
• Once you choose, ask both teams to share records so care continues without delay

Urgent Next Step for Potential Clinical Trials

If you have not started treatment, get a second opinion now. Some trials do not allow prior therapy. An early review can keep more options open. Ask to be screened for trials at the same visit as your second opinion.

How to act today:

• Tell the scheduler you are newly diagnosed and have not begun treatment
• Ask for the first available visit or a virtual visit
• Request a trial screening at the same time
• Make sure imaging and pathology are sent before your appointment

Ready for a Second Opinion? We Can Help

You deserve confidence in your plan. A second opinion can confirm the path, reveal new options, and keep clinical trials on the table—especially before treatment starts. Act now, bring your records, and ask your questions. We will help coordinate every step.

If you’d like to schedule a second opinion consultation with the UC Health Pancreatic Disease Center or University of Cincinnati Cancer Center, call us today at 513-585-8222.