about us video series our stars funding resources news order         faq's what is a second opinion and should i get one?   FAQ's   Am I going to survive this illness? Is breast cancer an automatic death sentence?   How did I get breast cancer?   What can I do to prevent recurrence of breast cancer?   Will I lose my hair from whatever treatment my doctors recommend?   Will people treat me differently because I have breast cancer?   What is a second opinion and should I get one?   Does a lumpectomy cure breast cancer as effectively as a mastectomy?   How quickly must I make decisions regarding treatment?   How can I tell if a lump in my breast is cancer or not?   Can I become pregnant if I have had breast cancer?   What is a clinical trial?   Should I participate in a clinical trial? What is a second opinion and should I get one? When a physician recommends a treatment for you, you should ask your doctor to give you names of other doctors who can give you their opinions about which one you should choose. You need not worry that you will offend the first doctor. All doctors are used to hearing about other doctors' opinions, and to giving second opinions themselves. You want to be sure you are making the best choices for you, and you will feel easier in your mind if you have opinions from several doctors and they confirm what your first doctor suggests. Health plans are required to cover a second opinion following breast cancer diagnosis.