Getting a Second Opinion After Breast Cancer Diagnosis Doesn’t Delay Treatment Commencement

It is very natural to feel immense anxiety and fear after receiving a breast cancer diagnosis. Most people don’t consider seeking second opinions and would rather begin treatment right away. After all, breast cancer is one of the deadliest types of cancer in women, second only to lung cancer in terms of fatalities. The Breast Cancer Research Foundation estimates that slightly over 42,000 women will die from the condition in 2025, making it one of the most prolific killers in the USA.

However, researchers say that getting a second opinion after the first breast cancer diagnosis does not delay the commencement of treatment. Despite the understandable wave of anxiety that comes with receiving a breast cancer diagnosis, researchers are encouraging patients to seek second opinions before they begin treatment.

During the recent annual meeting of the American Society of Breast Surgeons, researchers reported that patients who received a second opinion after their first biopsy still began treatment on time and without delays. Cleveland Clinic general surgery resident Dr. Pooja Varman issued a press release stating that the time from initial biopsy to treatment falls within the guidelines provided by the Commission on Cancer (CoC).

Dr. Varman and other researchers at the Cleveland Clinic tracked 226 patients who had received breast cancer diagnoses and were treated at the clinic between January 2024 and July 2024. The research found that patients who pursued second opinions began breast cancer treatment at the Cleveland Clinic around 41 days after initial diagnosis, while those who didn’t seek a second opinion began treatment after 35 days.

On average, the two sets of patients booked their first appointment with a cancer surgeon around 21 days after diagnosis, and researchers found no statistical difference between both groups. The results were in line with the CoC guidelines, which require breast cancer patients to begin treatment within 60 days of diagnosis, the researchers said.

Radiologists typically endorsed additional workups for 68% of patients who wanted a second opinion compared to just 26% of patients who didn’t seek a second opinion. Furthermore, the research found that surgeons often recommended extra workup at relatively equal rates for both groups (61% for those who sought a second opinion and 64% for those who didn’t).

According to the researchers, patients who sought second opinions often required extra biopsies and imaging 90% of the time, while those who didn’t come for a second opinion required these procedures 68% of the time.

Breast cancer is a life-altering diagnosis, and patients deserve the confidence that comes with exploring all treatment options available to them. Seeking a second opinion can offer reassurance without delaying care. This study confirms that timely treatment and patient empowerment can go hand in hand, helping individuals make informed, comfortable choices during their treatment journey.

As more companies like Calidi Biotherapeutics Inc. (NYSE American: CLDI) invest in developing new treatments for solid tumors, patients diagnosed with breast cancer and other types of cancer could have several effective treatments that they can count on to deliver desired clinical outcomes.

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