We have the Best Oncologists and ranked as Best Cancer Second Opinion Site in India, Rated independently.  

Find out about the type, stage, and location of your cancer from an expert oncologist.

Oncology is the specialty focused on the treatment of cancer. It includes the fields of medical oncology (use of chemotherapy, hormone therapy and more modern medication to treat cancer), surgical oncology (surgical resection of cancer for biopsies and for treatment), and radiation oncology (radiotherapy to treat cancer). This specialty has seen a huge amount of innovation in recent years, and as new therapies are developed the options available for people diagnosed with cancer is ever increasing. This can cause a lot of confusion, and confusion is the last thing you want when faced with a serious cancer diagnosis.

Here at SecondMedic we aim to provide the best, most accurate second opinion. We want to make sure you are well informed during your medical journey, have the best treatment options available to you, and are confident that your treatment is the right one.

 

Before we get started, we need to know some basic facts about cancer

Our bodies are made up of many organ systems that perform certain functions (stomach and intestines for eating, lungs for breathing, bones, and muscles for movement, brain, and nervous system for thinking). These organs are in turn made up of small subunits known as cells. Sometimes the DNA and programming in these cells can become damaged, and they begin to replicate rapidly without any checks or balances.

Uncontrolled replication can cause a large mass of cells to form that have little to no function, take up nutrition and blood and even damage nearby organs. If it is left to grow these cancerous cells can spread to other parts of the body and continue to grow, destroy other organs, and ultimately cause severe symptoms and can even be fatal.

There are many different types of cancers. If there is an organ it almost certainly has a type of cancer that can affect it. Common cancers that can affect people include:

• Respiratory system (Lung Cancer, oropharyngeal cancer, laryngeal cancer)
• Gastrointestinal system (stomach cancer, oesophageal cancer, colorectal cancer)
• Hepatobiliary system (Liver cancer, gall bladder cancer, pancreatic cancer)
• Genitourinary system (Renal cancer, bladder cancer, prostate cancer)
• Gynecological system (uterine cancer, cervical cancer, ovarian cancer)
• Breast Cancer
• Skin Cancer (including Melanoma)
• Leukemia and Lymphoma
• Bone and Muscle cancer
• Brain cancer (gliomas, glioblastomas, cytomas)

This list is not exhaustive, as some cancers are quite rare but are still covered by our oncology services.

 

Common terminology that is useful to know includes:

Benign: a mass of cells that is not cancerous and does not spread

Biopsy: removal of a small part of tissue to examine it and see if it is cancerous

Chemotherapy: medicine used to damage cancer cells, preventing them from replicating, spreading or even destroying them

Family History:  whether any members of your family have had the disease

Malignant: Presence of cells that have the hallmarks of cancer, and can spread

Metastasis: the spread of cancer or disease from one organ to another

Multidisciplinary Team: A team composed of different specialties including medical, surgical and radiological oncology, radiologists, pathologists and nurses who work together to diagnose and treat patients along their medical journey

Prognosis: The expected outcome for the disease, and chances of recovery

Radiotherapy: use of targeted high energy radiation to damage cancer cells, similar to chemotherapy.

Recurrence: Cancerous cells forming in the same area or another area of the body after successful cancer treatment

Risk Factors: Behaviours (e.g smoking) or other factors (family history, genetic damage) that can increase your risk of having cancer.

Side effects: Unintended effects caused by the treatment caused by damage to healthy cells. This can include nausea, fatigue, hair loss, ulcer formation.

Staging of Cancer: Description of how much cancer has spread or grown throughout the body. This can be limited locally, spread to nodes or to other parts of the body. Staging is important in figuring out what treatment will work best.

Tumour: A mass of abnormal tissue. This can be benign or malignant

 

Diagnosing and treating cancer is difficult, and we need to acknowledge why

 

A cancer diagnosis is a tough and complex disease to handle. The symptoms for cancer can be subtle, and patients might not realize they have cancer until it has advanced noticeably. They may have noticed their symptoms but not recognized the severity of the symptoms, or known who to see for their symptoms. Because of the diversity of symptoms and the vast number of cancers and cancer subtypes that exist, doctors can have a tough time diagnosing the right type of cancer, even with biopsies, detailed scans, and other investigations.

Cancer cells start off as our own cells and have many of the markers and identifiers as normal cells. Trying to eliminate just cancer cells without harming your body is very difficult, and this is one of the reasons why doctors often have problems in providing the right treatment. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy often causes damage to your body’s healthy organs and tissues. This is because contemporary chemoradiotherapy is not very targeted, and it is difficult to create treatment that only hits cancer cells.

Choosing the right treatment is essential in reducing side effects. With newer treatment regimens and newer hormonal therapy, immunotherapy and less damaging chemotherapy drugs, it is becoming much easier to treat cancer without having a significant negative effect on the person.

But its not just about using drugs to treat the biological features of cancer. The disease can affect many aspects of your life beyond your health, including your mental wellbeing, your relations with friends and families, how the disease can affect your work life, and more. Simply put, a cancer diagnosis can be life-altering. To treat it effectively we have to look at all of these components together.

 

Second Medic helps to provide an online medical second opinion from world-class oncologists.

 

When someone is diagnosed with cancer often experience a wide range of emotions, as well as a sense of urgency to get into treatment as soon as possible. With a new diagnosis, there is a period of time, depending on the cancer type and stage, before treatment begins.

Different doctors may recommend varied treatment options. They may not have had the right experience, their clinical practice may not be up-to-date or incorporate the latest in research and innovation, or they may interpret your investigations in a sub-optimal way.  At this time, getting a second opinion may be an essential and necessary component of treating one’s diagnosis.

A second opinion could assess your condition better and can give you the hope and assurance that you need in choosing a safe and reliable treatment option that you deserve and improve the chance of survival.

At SecondMedic we pride ourselves in providing our patients the best, most accurate diagnosis, and a treatment plan that is tailored specifically for you. Our oncology specialists will help guide you through your medical journey and aid you in your recovery.

We make sure our expert advice is provided as part of a multi-disciplinary panel of cancer specialists, who look at all aspects of your diagnosis.

• Medical Second Opinion helps confirm your diagnosis
• Medical Second Opinion helps determine if cancer has spread
• Medical Second Opinion helps get perspective from specialists with different expertise, giving you a thorough multi-disciplinary diagnosis with input from surgical and radiological specialists.
• Medical Second Opinion helps explore other treatment options
• Medical Second Opinion helps determine clinical trials or alternative therapies that apply to your treatment plan
• Medical Second Opinion provides you with the confidence in knowing your diagnosis and treatment is the right one.

 

It is important to notice in what situations Second Opinion may be Important:

• Second Opinion is Important when you have a rare or unusual cancer
• Second Opinion is Important when you feel uncomfortable with your doctor, the diagnosis or you need confirmation
• Second Opinion is Important when your health insurance requires it
• Second Opinion is Important when the treatment offered has side effects or risks that you find disconcerting
• Second Opinion is Important when the treatment options will result in unacceptable or unreasonable demands on your life and your family
• Second Opinion is Important when tour doctor’s treatment goals are different from your own
• Second Opinion is Important when your cancer is not responding to your current treatment

 

In Second Opinion the First Step is to Talk to Your Doctor

We know that many people feel reluctant and resistant to seek a second opinion. Most of the people living with cancer and caregivers are often concerned that asking their doctor about a second opinion will create an uncomfortable relationship with that doctor, which may negatively affect their medical care. Some patients may be confused by the complexity of the health care system, are too overwhelmed by their diagnosis or too intimidated or are not aware that they have that right to a second opinion.

We have to realize that most medical professionals expect a patient to get a second opinion.

They are afraid to Discuss getting a second opinion with the doctor who diagnosed you. Most doctors welcome a second opinion. It provides you and your doctor with either confirmation of their diagnosis and treatment, more details about their diagnosis, additional treatment options or recommendations for alternative diagnoses and treatments. Your doctor may have suggestions or referrals.

It is strongly advised that one goes for a second opinion at a different medical institution since this will involve different clinics and pathologists.

The most important thing is to be clear and upfront.

When does Oncologist’s second opinion make sense?

1. The oncologist’s second opinion makes sense when your doctor doesn’t have the required specialist knowledge for your condition.
2. The Oncologist’s second opinion makes sense when various doctors have given you different recommendations and you need help making a decision.
3. The oncologist’s second opinion makes sense when you haven’t received a clear diagnosis or therapy recommendation.
4. The Oncologist’s second opinion makes sense when your doctor has recommended a major operation and you want to make sure that it’s the best way to help you.
5. The oncologist’s second opinion makes sense when you feel that you haven’t been given enough information about your planned treatment.
6. The Oncologist’s second opinion makes sense when the suggested treatment promises no significant improvement to your condition.
7. The oncologist’s second opinion makes sense when you want to find out if there are other treatment options you can pursue.

Second Medic Team of Oncologists have the most extensive experience in the diagnosis and treatment of every kind of cancer, including: –

• Biliary cancers
• Pancreatic cancer
• Kidney cancer
• Colon cancer,
• Rectal cancer
• Ovarian cancer
• Other gynecological cancers
• Prostate cancer
• Sarcomas
• Melanoma
• Non – melanoma skin cancer
• Thyroid cancer
• Neuroendocrine tumors
• Brain tumors
• Head and neck cancers
• Breast cancer
• Lung cancer
• Liver cancer

 

Breast cancer can occur in women and rarely in men.

Symptoms of breast cancer include a lump in the breast, bloody discharge from the nipple, and changes in the shape or texture of the nipple or breast. Treatment depends on the stage of cancer. It may consist of chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery.

CANCER Types our Certified Specialist are expert at :

• Bladder Cancer Treatment
• Breast Cancer Treatment
• Bone Cancer Treatment
• Brain Tumour Treatment
• Cervical Cancer Treatment
• Colon Cancer Treatment
• Endometrial Cancer Treatment
• Hodgkin Lymphoma Treatment
• Head and Neck Cancer Treatment
• Kidney Cancer Treatment
• Leukemia Treatment
• Liver Cancer Treatment
• Lung Cancer Treatment
• Melanoma
• Multiple Myeloma Treatment
• Non – Hodgkin Lymphoma
• Ovarian Cancer Treatment
• Pancreatic Cancer Treatment
• Prostate Cancer Treatment
• Sarcoma Treatment
• Stomach Cancer Treatment
• TREATMENT
• Bone Marrow Transplant
• Chemotherapy
• CyberKnife Treatment
• HIPEC
• NanoKnife
• Proton Beam Therapy
• Radiation Therapy
• SIRT

Cancer Second Opinions available at Second Medic  

• Bladder Cancer Medical Second Opinion.
• Breast Cancer Medical Second Opinion.
• Colon and Rectal Cancer Medical Second Opinion.
• Endometrial Cancer Medical Second Opinion.
• Kidney Cancer Medical Second Opinion.
• Leukemia Medical Second Opinion.
• Liver Cancer Medical Second Opinion.
• Lung Cancer Medical Second Opinion.
• Melanoma Medical Second Opinion.
• Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Medical Second Opinion.
• Pancreatic Cancer Medical Second Opinion.
• Prostate Cancer Medical Second Opinion.
• Thyroid Cancer Medical Second Opinion.
• Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) Medical Second Opinion.
• Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) Medical Second Opinion.
• Adolescents, Cancer in Medical Second Opinion.
• Adrenocortical Carcinoma Medical Second Opinion.
• AIDS-Related Cancers Medical Second Opinion.
• Kaposi Sarcoma (Soft Tissue Sarcoma) Medical Second Opinion.
• AIDS-Related Lymphoma (Lymphoma) Medical Second Opinion.
• Primary CNS Lymphoma (Lymphoma) Medical Second Opinion.
• Anal Cancer Medical Second Opinion.
• Astrocytomas, Childhood (Brain Cancer) Medical Second Opinion.
• Atypical Teratoid/Rhabdoid Tumor, Childhood, Central Nervous System Medical Second Opinion.
• Basal Cell Carcinoma of the Skin - see Skin Cancer Medical Second Opinion.
• Bile Duct Cancer Medical Second Opinion.
• Bladder Cancer Medical Second Opinion.
• Bone Cancer (includes Ewing Sarcoma and Osteosarcoma and Malignant Fibrous Histiocytoma) Medical Second Opinion.
• Brain Tumors Medical Second Opinion.
• Breast Cancer Medical Second Opinion.
• Bronchial Tumors (Lung Cancer) Medical Second Opinion.
• Burkitt Lymphoma - see Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Medical Second Opinion.
• Carcinoid Tumor (Gastrointestinal) Medical Second Opinion.
• Carcinoma of Unknown Primary Medical Second Opinion.
• Cardiac (Heart) Tumors, Childhood Medical Second Opinion.
• Central Nervous System Medical Second Opinion.
• Atypical Teratoid/Rhabdoid Tumor, Childhood (Brain Cancer) Medical Second Opinion.
• Medulloblastoma and Other CNS Embryonal Tumors, Childhood (Brain Cancer) Medical Second Opinion.
• Germ Cell Tumor, Childhood (Brain Cancer) Medical Second Opinion.
• Primary CNS Lymphoma Medical Second Opinion.
• Cervical Cancer Medical Second Opinion.
• Childhood Cancers Medical Second Opinion.
• Cancers of Childhood, Rare Medical Second Opinion.
• Cholangiocarcinoma - Bile Duct Cancer Medical Second Opinion.
• Chordoma, Childhood (Bone Cancer) Medical Second Opinion.
• Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) Medical Second Opinion.
• Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML) Medical Second Opinion.
• Chronic Myeloproliferative Neoplasms Medical Second Opinion.
• Colorectal Cancer Medical Second Opinion.
• Craniopharyngioma, Childhood (Brain Cancer) Medical Second Opinion.
• Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma - see Lymphoma (Mycosis Fungoides and Sézary Syndrome) Medical Second Opinion.
• Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS) - see Breast Cancer Medical Second Opinion.
• Embryonal Tumors, Medulloblastoma and Other Central Nervous System, Childhood (Brain Cancer) Medical Second Opinion.
• Endometrial Cancer (Uterine Cancer) Medical Second Opinion.
• Ependymoma, Childhood (Brain Cancer) Medical Second Opinion.
• Esophageal Cancer Medical Second Opinion.
• Esthesioneuroblastoma (Head and Neck Cancer) Medical Second Opinion.
• Ewing Sarcoma (Bone Cancer) Medical Second Opinion.
• Extracranial Germ Cell Tumor, Childhood Medical Second Opinion.
• Extragonadal Germ Cell Tumor Medical Second Opinion.
• Eye Cancer Medical Second Opinion.
• Intraocular Melanoma Medical Second Opinion.
• Retinoblastoma Medical Second Opinion.
• Fallopian Tube Cancer Medical Second Opinion.
• Fibrous Histiocytoma of Bone, Malignant, and Osteosarcoma Medical Second Opinion.
• Gallbladder Cancer Medical Second Opinion.
• Gastric (Stomach) Cancer Medical Second Opinion.
• Gastrointestinal Carcinoid Tumor Medical Second Opinion.
• Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors (GIST) (Soft Tissue Sarcoma) Medical Second Opinion.
• Germ Cell Tumors Medical Second Opinion.
• Childhood Central Nervous System Germ Cell Tumors (Brain Cancer) Medical Second Opinion.
• Childhood Extracranial Germ Cell Tumors Medical Second Opinion.
• Extragonadal Germ Cell Tumors Medical Second Opinion.
• Ovarian Germ Cell Tumors Medical Second Opinion.
• Testicular Cancer Medical Second Opinion.
• Gestational Trophoblastic Disease Medical Second Opinion.
• Hairy Cell Leukemia Medical Second Opinion.
• Head and Neck Cancer Medical Second Opinion.
• Heart Tumors, Childhood Medical Second Opinion.
• Hepatocellular (Liver) Cancer Medical Second Opinion.
• Histiocytosis, Langerhans Cell Medical Second Opinion.
• Hodgkin Lymphoma Medical Second Opinion.
• Hypopharyngeal Cancer (Head and Neck Cancer) Medical Second Opinion.
• Intraocular Melanoma Medical Second Opinion.
• Islet Cell Tumors, Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors Medical Second Opinion.
• Kaposi Sarcoma (Soft Tissue Sarcoma) Medical Second Opinion.
• Kidney (Renal Cell) Cancer Medical Second Opinion.
• Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis Medical Second Opinion.
• Laryngeal Cancer (Head and Neck Cancer) Medical Second Opinion.
• Leukemia Medical Second Opinion.
• Lip and Oral Cavity Cancer (Head and Neck Cancer) Medical Second Opinion.
• Liver Cancer Medical Second Opinion.
• Lung Cancer (Non-Small Cell, Small Cell, Pleuropulmonary Blastoma, and Tracheobronchial Tumor) Medical Second Opinion.
• Lymphoma Medical Second Opinion.
• Male Breast Cancer Medical Second Opinion.
• Malignant Fibrous Histiocytoma of Bone and Osteosarcoma Medical Second Opinion.
• Melanoma Medical Second Opinion.
• Melanoma, Intraocular (Eye) Medical Second Opinion.
• Merkel Cell Carcinoma (Skin Cancer) Medical Second Opinion.
• Mesothelioma, Malignant Medical Second Opinion.
• Metastatic Cancer Medical Second Opinion.
• Metastatic Squamous Neck Cancer with Occult Primary (Head and Neck Cancer) Medical Second Opinion.
• Midline Tract Carcinoma With NUT Gene Changes Medical Second Opinion.
• Mouth Cancer (Head and Neck Cancer) Medical Second Opinion.
• Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Syndromes Medical Second Opinion.
• Multiple Myeloma/Plasma Cell Neoplasms Medical Second Opinion.
• Mycosis Fungoides (Lymphoma) Medical Second Opinion.
• Myelodysplastic Syndromes, Myelodysplastic/Myeloproliferative Neoplasms Medical Second Opinion.
• Myelogenous Leukemia, Chronic (CML) Medical Second Opinion.
• Myeloid Leukemia, Acute (AML) Medical Second Opinion.
• Myeloproliferative Neoplasms, Chronic Medical Second Opinion.
• Nasal Cavity and Paranasal Sinus Cancer (Head and Neck Cancer) Medical Second Opinion.
• Nasopharyngeal Cancer (Head and Neck Cancer) Medical Second Opinion.
• Neuroblastoma Medical Second Opinion.
• Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Medical Second Opinion.
• Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Medical Second Opinion.
• Oral Cancer, Lip and Oral Cavity Cancer and Oropharyngeal Cancer (Head and Neck Cancer) Medical Second Opinion.
• Osteosarcoma and Malignant Fibrous Histiocytoma of Bone Medical Second Opinion.
• Ovarian Cancer Medical Second Opinion.
• Pancreatic Cancer Medical Second Opinion.
• Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors (Islet Cell Tumors) Medical Second Opinion.
• Papillomatosis (Childhood Laryngeal) Medical Second Opinion.
• Paraganglioma Medical Second Opinion.
• Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity Cancer (Head and Neck Cancer) Medical Second Opinion.
• Parathyroid Cancer Medical Second Opinion.
• Penile Cancer Medical Second Opinion.
• Pharyngeal Cancer (Head and Neck Cancer) Medical Second Opinion.
• Pheochromocytoma Medical Second Opinion.
• Pituitary Tumor Medical Second Opinion.
• Plasma Cell Neoplasm/Multiple Myeloma Medical Second Opinion.
• Pleuropulmonary Blastoma (Lung Cancer) Medical Second Opinion.
• Pregnancy and Breast Cancer Medical Second Opinion.
• Primary Central Nervous System (CNS) Lymphoma Medical Second Opinion.
• Primary Peritoneal Cancer Medical Second Opinion.
• Prostate Cancer Medical Second Opinion.
• Rare Cancers of Childhood Medical Second Opinion.
• Rectal Cancer Medical Second Opinion.
• Recurrent Cancer Medical Second Opinion.
• Renal Cell (Kidney) Cancer Medical Second Opinion.
• Retinoblastoma Medical Second Opinion.
• Rhabdomyosarcoma, Childhood (Soft Tissue Sarcoma) Medical Second Opinion.
• Salivary Gland Cancer (Head and Neck Cancer) Medical Second Opinion.
• Sarcoma Medical Second Opinion.
• Childhood Rhabdomyosarcoma (Soft Tissue Sarcoma) Medical Second Opinion.
• Childhood Vascular Tumors (Soft Tissue Sarcoma) Medical Second Opinion.
• Ewing Sarcoma (Bone Cancer) Medical Second Opinion.
• Kaposi Sarcoma (Soft Tissue Sarcoma) Medical Second Opinion.
• Osteosarcoma (Bone Cancer) Medical Second Opinion.
• Soft Tissue Sarcoma Medical Second Opinion.
• Uterine Sarcoma Medical Second Opinion.
• Sézary Syndrome (Lymphoma) Medical Second Opinion.
• Skin Cancer Medical Second Opinion.
• Small Cell Lung Cancer Medical Second Opinion.
• Small Intestine Cancer Medical Second Opinion.
• Soft Tissue Sarcoma Medical Second Opinion.
• Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Skin - see Skin Cancer Medical Second Opinion.
• Squamous Neck Cancer with Occult Primary, Metastatic (Head and Neck Cancer) Medical Second Opinion.
• Stomach (Gastric) Cancer Medical Second Opinion.
• T-Cell Lymphoma, Cutaneous - see Lymphoma (Mycosis Fungoides and Sèzary Syndrome) Medical Second Opinion.
• Testicular Cancer Medical Second Opinion.
• Throat Cancer (Head and Neck Cancer) Medical Second Opinion.
• Nasopharyngeal Cancer Medical Second Opinion.
• Oropharyngeal Cancer Medical Second Opinion.
• Hypopharyngeal Cancer Medical Second Opinion.
• Thymoma and Thymic Carcinoma Medical Second Opinion.
• Thyroid Cancer Medical Second Opinion.
• Tracheobronchial Tumors (Lung Cancer) Medical Second Opinion.
• Transitional Cell Cancer of the Renal Pelvis and Ureter (Kidney (Renal Cell) Cancer) Medical Second Opinion.
• Unknown Primary, Carcinoma of Medical Second Opinion.
• Ureter and Renal Pelvis, Transitional Cell Cancer (Kidney (Renal Cell) Cancer Medical Second Opinion.
• Urethral Cancer Medical Second Opinion.
• Uterine Cancer, Endometrial Medical Second Opinion.
• Uterine Sarcoma Medical Second Opinion.
• Vaginal Cancer Medical Second Opinion.
• Vascular Tumors (Soft Tissue Sarcoma) Medical Second Opinion.
• Vulvar Cancer Medical Second Opinion.
• Wilms Tumor and Other Childhood Kidney Tumors Medical Second Opinion.