Getting a Second Opinion
Before starting treatment, people with colorectal cancer might want a second opinion about their diagnosis and treatment options. Some insurance companies require a second opinion; others may cover a second opinion if the patient or doctor requests it. It may take some time and effort to gather medical records and arrange to see another doctor. In general, taking several weeks to get a second opinion does not make treatment less effective. In some cases, however, people with colorectal cancer need immediate care.
There are a number of ways to find a doctor for a second opinion:
- The doctor may refer the patient to one or more specialists. At cancer centers, several specialists often work together as a team.
- The Cancer Information Service, at 1-800-4-CANCER, can tell callers about nearby treatment centers.
- A local or state medical society, a nearby hospital, or a medical school can usually provide the names of specialists.
- The American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) has a list of doctors who have met certain education and training requirements and have passed specialty examinations. The Official ABMS Directory of Board Certified Medical Specialists lists doctors' names along with their specialty and their educational background. The directory is available in most public libraries. Also, ABMS offers this information on the Internet at http://www.abms.org. (Click on "Who's Certified.")
- The NCI provides a helpful fact sheet called "How To Find a Doctor or Treatment Facility If You Have Cancer." It is available on the Internet at http://cancer.gov/publications and may be ordered from the Cancer Information Service at 1-800-4-CANCER.
Preparing for Treatment
The doctor develops a treatment plan to fit each person's needs. Treatment for colorectal cancer depends mainly on the location of the tumor in the colon or rectum and the stage of the disease. The doctor can describe the treatment choices and the expected results.
People may want to ask the doctor these questions before treatment begins:
- What is the stage of the disease?
- What are my treatment choices? Which do you recommend for me? Will I have more than one kind of treatment?
- What are the expected benefits of each kind of treatment?
- What are the risks and possible side effects of each treatment? How can the side effects be managed?
- How will treatment affect my normal activities? Am I likely to have urinary problems? What about bowel problems, such as diarrhea or rectal bleeding? Is treatment likely to affect my sex life?
- What will the treatment cost? Is this treatment covered by my insurance plan?
- Would a clinical trial (research study) be appropriate for me?
People do not need to ask all of their questions at once. They will have other chances to ask the doctor to explain things that are not clear and to ask for more information.
Methods of Treatment
Treatment for colorectal cancer may involve surgery, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy. Some people have a combination of treatments.
Colon cancer sometimes is treated differently from rectal cancer. Treatments for colon and rectal cancer are described separately.
At any stage of colorectal cancer, treatments are available to control pain and other symptoms, to relieve the side effects of therapy, and to ease emotional and practical problems. This kind of treatment is called supportive care, symptom management, or palliative care. Information about supportive care and coping with cancer is available on NCI's Web site at http://cancer.gov/cancerinfo/coping/ and from NCI's Cancer Information Service at 1-800-4-CANCER.
People with colorectal cancer may want to talk to the doctor about taking part in a clinical trial, a research study of new treatment methods. The section on "The Promise of Cancer Research" has more information about clinical trials.
