Second Opinions Don't Significantly Delay Breast Cancer Treatment
By Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
TUESDAY, May 6, 2025 (HealthDay news) -- It’s natural to feel a wave of anxiety following a diagnosis of breast cancer.
But women shouldn’t let worries about delaying treatment deter them from seeking a second opinion on their diagnosis and treatment, researchers say.
Patients who got a second opinion following their initial biopsy still proceeded promptly to treatment, researchers reported Friday at the annual meeting of the American Society of Breast Surgeons in Las Vegas.
“Time from biopsy to first treatment fell well within the Commission on Cancer (CoC) guidelines,” researcher Dr. Pooja Varman, a general surgery resident at the Cleveland Clinic, said in a news release.
For the study, researchers tracked 226 patients newly diagnosed with breast cancer between January and July 2024 and treated at the Cleveland Clinic.
Patients who sought a second opinion at the Cleveland Clinic began treatment after an average 41 days, compared with 35 days for those who started treatment at the clinic, results show.
The average time from the first appointment with a cancer surgeon to first treatment was 21 days, with no statistical difference between those who came to the clinic first or came for a second opinion.
The Commission on Cancer (CoC) guidelines call for treatment initiation within 60 days, researchers noted.
Radiologists often recommended additional workup for people arriving for a second opinion, 68% versus about 26%, results show.
However, surgeons tended to recommend additional workup at similar rates between the two groups, 61% versus 64%.
Researchers said people who came for a second opinion required additional imaging and biopsies about 90% of the time, compared with 68% for those who started treatment at the clinic.
“Breast cancer is a life-altering experience,” Varman said. “For patients, exploring all treatment options and finding a physician and clinical team they are comfortable with is crucial.”
She noted that patients seek second opinions for a "wide variety" of reasons.
“Cancer treatment is a physically and emotionally difficult journey and feeling comfortable with the path chosen is extremely important," Varman said. "This study should reassure patients that a second opinion need not impact all-important timeliness of care.”
Findings presented at medical meetings should be considered preliminary unless published in a peer-reviewed journal.
Sources
- American Society of Breast Surgeons, news release, May 1, 2025
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted May 2025
Read this next
Salmonella Outbreak in 6 States Tied to Backyard Poultry, CDC Says
TUESDAY, May 6, 2025 — A salmonella outbreak tied to backyard poultry has made at least seven people sick across six states, U.S. health officials reported Monday. The U.S...
1 in 10 Doctors is Burned Out
TUESDAY, May 6, 2025 — Next time you see your family physician or a hospital doctor, be extra kind and patient — they could be on the verge of burning out, a new study...
Follow-Up Test For High Blood Pressure Condition Not Worthwhile, Researchers Say
TUESDAY, May 6, 2025 — A test commonly used to confirm a condition linked to high blood pressure is often inaccurate, causing doctors to skip treatment that might improve...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.