The Importance of a Second Opinion
- Rita Wilson says getting a second opinion saved her life.
- Wilson was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015. She underwent a mastectomy, followed by reconstructive surgery, to treat her cancer.
- The actress and singer's specific diagnosis was invasive lobular carcinoma.
Wilson reflected on the importance of a second opinion in an interview with The New York Times, saying, “For me, this is about telling people, ‘You can get a second opinionyour insurance will pay for it, even Obamacare, God bless it, will pay for it.”
Read More“…a second opinion is critical to your health.”Wilson says, “A friend who had had breast cancer suggested I get a second opinion on my pathology and my gut told me that was the thing to do. I share this to educate others that a second opinion is critical to your health. You have nothing to lose if both opinions match up for the good, and everything to gain if something that was missed is found, which does happen. Early diagnosis is key,” she explained.
Rita Wilson's Breast Cancer Journey
Wilson was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015. She underwent a mastectomy, followed by reconstructive surgery, to treat her cancer. The actress and singer's specific diagnosis was invasive lobular carcinoma.
This type of breast cancer is named for its point of origin: the lobules. Invasive lobular carcinoma begins in the milk-producing glands, called lobules, of the breast. For this kind of cancer that's invasive, cancer cells have "broken out" of the lobule where they began and they may spread to other areas of the body.
Invasive lobular carcinoma only represents a small portion of breast cancers. The most common type of breast cancer starts in the breast ducts.
Treatment options for breast cancer include surgery (via a mastectomy or lumpectomy), chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. Some people also get preventative mastectomies if there's a history of breast cancer in the family and thus an elevated risk of developing the disease.
When Should You Consider a Mastectomy?
Advocating for Your Health
We love how Rita Wilson supports people taking charge of their health and asking for second opinions. It’s so important to advocate for your health. You are your best healthcare advocate.
When working with your medical team, tell them precisely what you feel and raise anything that may feel off to you. Every symptom should have a plan to address it, and if you feel like you are not being heard, continue to push and seek a second opinion if your concerns are not being addressed.
The only way to know this is to continue to push for answers, telling your medical team exactly what you are experiencing and demanding that you receive the best treatment for your specific situation.
"Every appointment you leave as a patient, there should be a plan for what the doc is going to do for you, and if that doesn't work, what the next plan is," Dr. Zuri Murell, director of the Cedars-Sinai Colorectal Cancer Center, told SurvivorNet in a previous interview. "And I think that that's totally fair. And me as a health professional that's what I do for all of my patients."
Be Pushy, Be Your Own Advocate… Don't Settle
Getting a Second Opinion
If you're experiencing symptoms that might be caused by cancer, it's critical to know for sure whether or not you have the disease. To do that, you should always get multiple opinions on your diagnosis.
Related: Second Opinions on Your Cancer Diagnosis or Treatment: Do You Need One?
Doctors are not always in agreement about whether your symptoms might merit further testing and whether specific treatment methods might work best for you. Sometimes, what your first doctor says might fall short of fact, and a second or third medical professional might be able to catch cancer before it grows and spreads.
Dr. Steven Rosenberg, chief of surgery at the National Cancer Institute and one of America's most renowned cancer doctors, agrees.
"If I had any advice for you following a cancer diagnosis, it would be, first, to seek out multiple opinions as to the best care, because finding a doctor who is up to the latest of information is important," Rosenberg previously told SurvivorNet. "And it's always important to get other opinions so that you can make the best decisions for yourself in consultation with your care providers."
Cancer Research Legend Urges Patients to Get Multiple Opinions
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