Should I Get a Second Opinion for My Breast Cancer Treatment?

Yes, get another opinion. The doctors ( for the most part) are going to recommend what they specialize in, not that the recommendation isn't appropriate. So that makes it hard to make a decision for sure. DCIS means it's contained, right? (Not sure what high grade DCIS is though). When I did my research ( I have DCIS stage 1 Grade 2) and my blood work showed low reoccurrence probabavility so I went with radiation and lumpectomy ( but I'm in a study where I did one high powered focused radiation on the tumor with lumpectomy 8-12 months later).

It's always important to have other opinions. I ended up with a double mastectomy to avoid any other treatments. My tumors in the Lt breast were both estrogen and progesterone positive. I was never very chesty, so a lumpectomy would have basically taken all of my Lt boob since the tumors were in different locations. Have you done any genetic testing at all to see if you have a gene mutation? Sometimes, that too could help with weighing out the pros and cons of different treatments.

Anna, what did the tumor board recommend?

I got 2 other opinions MD Anderson and Sloan Kettering, all agreed and had their own additional tidbits to add. Sloan Kettering said lumpectomy “cures” current disease although does nothing for recurrence or new disease. Hearing that confirmed my decision for bilateral mastectomy.

I had high grade DCIS Dr did mastectomy because there were two spots and then I didn’t need radiation. I am glad I didn’t have to have radiation.

Getting a second opinion is a very reasonable step when facing treatment decisions, especially when different specialists are suggesting different approaches. Many patients find that additional perspectives help them feel more confident about their path forward. The Surgery and Recovery community here has many members who have navigated similar decisions and may share their experiences with seeking multiple opinions. Consider reaching out to trusted medical centers or specialists who focus on breast health - most insurance plans cover second opinions for cancer diagnoses.