FAQs

FAQs on Second Opinions

FAQs

New York Times: "Surfing for a Second Opinion"

An article featuring new ways that patients can find second opinions online was recently written by the NY Times. In this article, they detail web tools, websites, and disease specific online resources that can help patients obtain a second opinion or more information about your condition, symptoms, or procedure.

Read the full article at the NYTimes here.

Cancer Second Opinion: How To Find a Doctor or Treatment Facility If You Have Cancer

How To Find a Doctor or Treatment Facility If You Have Cancer

Key Points

Resources are available to help you find a doctor who specializes in cancer care (see section on Finding a Doctor).
Once you receive your doctor's opinion about the diagnosis and treatment plan, you may want to get another doctor's advice before you begin treatment. This is known as getting a second opinion (see section on Getting a Second Opinion).
Resources are available to help you choose a treatment facility for scheduled and ongoing care (see section on Finding a Treatment Facility for Patients Living in the United States).
If you live outside the United States, resources are available to help you locate a facility in or near your country (see section on Finding a Treatment Facility for Patients Living Outside the United States).
Citizens of other countries who are planning to travel to the United States for cancer treatment generally must first obtain a nonimmigrant visa for medical treatment from the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in their home country (see section on Finding a Treatment Facility for Patients Living Outside the United States).

If you have been diagnosed with cancer, finding a doctor and treatment facility for your cancer care is an important step to getting the best treatment possible. Although the health care system is complex, resources are available to guide you in finding a doctor, getting a second opinion, and choosing a treatment facility. Below are suggestions and information resources to help you with these important decisions.

Physician Training and Credentials

When choosing a doctor for your cancer care, you may find it helpful to know some of the terms used to describe a doctor’s training and credentials. Most physicians who treat people with cancer are medical doctors (they have an M.D. degree) or osteopathic doctors (they have a D.O. degree). The basic training for both types of physicians includes 4 years of premedical education at a college or university, 4 years of medical school to earn an M.D. or D.O. degree, and postgraduate medical education through internships and residences. This training usually lasts 3 to 7 years. Physicians must pass an exam to become licensed (legally permitted) to practice medicine in their state. Each state or territory has its own procedures and general standards for licensing physicians.

Specialists are physicians who have completed their residency training in a specific area, such as internal medicine. Independent specialty boards certify physicians after they have fulfilled certain requirements. These requirements include meeting specific education and training criteria, being licensed to practice medicine, and passing an examination given by the specialty board. Doctors who have met all of the requirements are given the status of "Diplomate" and are board-certified as specialists. Doctors who are board-eligible have obtained the required education and training, but have not completed the specialty board examination.

After being trained and certified as a specialist, a physician may choose to become a subspecialist. A subspecialist has at least 1 additional year of full-time education in a particular area of a specialty. This training is designed to increase the physician's expertise in a specific field. Specialists can be board-certified in their subspecialty as well.