Diagnosis Consultation
Second Opinion Services
A careful review of symptoms, reports, scans and treatment recommendations to help patients move forward with clarity and confidence.
A careful review of symptoms, reports, scans and treatment recommendations to help patients move forward with clarity and confidence.
When patients begin to experience symptoms or have an abnormal test result or have been referred by another doctor, the first step in the journey is often a diagnosis consultation. Dr. Sneha examines your symptoms, medical history and any previous tests to identify what further testing is necessary such as imaging, a biopsy, blood tests or referral to another specialist.
The focus of this consultation is to get an accurate and confirmed diagnosis. Once cancer is established, treatment planning can commence without delay and if not, the patient has the peace of mind that they do not have cancer. Either way, patients are given a clear understanding of what was discovered, how it will impact them and what steps they should take next.
Every consultation is designed to provide clarity, remove uncertainty and help patients move forward with confidence, whether treatment is required or not.
The first step toward cancer treatment will always be a significant step in a person's life. Even in the case of the same cancer, there are usually different treatment methods to consider depending on the stage of the disease, the biological characteristics of the tumour and the general health condition of the person.
Getting another point of view does not mean questioning the initial one. Getting a second opinion means that your case will be carefully analyzed again so that after treatment, you could be fully satisfied with your treatment choice.
In the process of second opinion consultation, the correctness of the first opinion will be checked, the correct assessment of the stage and reports will be ensured, possible alternative therapies will be considered and all uncertainties will be resolved. Patients who received a second opinion state that they felt much better psychologically.
A diagnosis and opinion consultation is a thorough examination of all medical reports that are relevant to your case in a structured format. This will include biopsy and pathology reports, tumour grade and stage, hormone receptor status where relevant, HER2 and other molecular markers, previous treatment recommendations, CT, PET and MRI scans, blood investigations.
These reports are examined in detail and correlated together to create a comprehensive and accurate picture of the disease, not a single report at a time. The current or planned treatment approach is then compared to the current guidelines for oncology and the most clinical evidence.
Biopsy findings, pathology reports, scans, blood investigations and treatment recommendations are reviewed together to provide a comprehensive understanding of the diagnosis and available treatment options.
At the conclusion of the consultation, the patient will be provided with a clear diagnosis, the stage of the disease, the actual treatment options they have, what might occur and what steps they should take next and not in medical shorthand.
Dr. Sneha at Medicover Cancer Institute, HITEC City, Hyderabad is a doctor patients seek out due to her clinical approach and compassion for patients. All consultations are based on evidence-based oncology decision making, even in the most complex or unusual cases. Reports are carefully considered, explanations are provided in a manner which patients and families can understand and recommendations are specific to the individual and not just applied from a protocol.
The objective of all consultations is to enable patients to leave with an understanding of their diagnosis but also why a certain treatment option is suggested for them.
Although getting a second opinion may prove useful in any case, some scenarios in which obtaining it becomes important include being recently diagnosed with cancer, having been advised different things by various healthcare providers, having rare or complicated cancer, finding yourself faced with ambiguous findings regarding pathology results, dealing with recurring cancer having advanced or multiple-stage cancer and undergoing chemotherapy or surgery soon.
Each cancer journey is unique and each cancer patient has their own set of questions, fears and circumstances. At the consultation, patients are encouraged to ask questions and to talk about what they really are concerned about, there are no questions too big, too small or too difficult.
This is because the idea is to eliminate confusion, give true clarity and help patients move on, no matter what that next step will be for them. In fact, such a dialogue approach will help patients build the trust they need to receive genuine support throughout their journey.
Consultations generally take about 45-60 minutes, although this depends upon the complexity of the case and the number of reports required to be reviewed thoroughly.
In most cases, it results in only a small delay, a delay that often means that the right treatment is selected from the start, saving much more time and trouble during the journey.
Yes. Patients can get another opinion at any point in their treatment experience, even while they are undergoing treatment like chemotherapy or biological therapy, especially if they do not feel right about the present treatment course.
Bring biopsy reports, pathology slides, if available, scans like CT, PET or MRI, blood reports and summaries of any previous treatments you may have had to the meeting so that the big picture can be discussed together.
Yes, sometimes. If your current plan is correct, a second opinion may provide you with important reassurance or it may provide you with a different plan that is better suited to your medical evidence or that is a different interpretation of your existing reports.