{"id":103761,"date":"2025-10-29T07:33:25","date_gmt":"2025-10-29T07:33:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/103761\/"},"modified":"2025-10-29T07:33:25","modified_gmt":"2025-10-29T07:33:25","slug":"should-i-get-a-second-medical-opinion-medical-doctor-answers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/103761\/","title":{"rendered":"‘Should I get a second medical opinion?’ Medical doctor answers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In September, comedian Ate Gay revealed he had been\u00a0diagnosed with stage 4 cancer<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

It started as a swelling in his neck, and after undergoing an ultrasound, CT scan, and biopsy, the initial findings suggested the mass was benign.<\/p>\n

Ate Gay, however, sought a second medical opinion, and the\u00a0prognosis couldn’t have been different from the initial findings.<\/p>\n

The second medical opinion indicated the comedian may not survive past 2026 and that surgery is no longer an option.<\/p>\n

Ate Gay bravely underwent radiation therapy<\/a> in the Asian Hospital and Medical Center in Muntinlupa and has shown improvements amid ongoing cancer treatment<\/a>.<\/p>\n

His case highlights how an initial benign diagnosis may later be re-evaluated, emphasizing the importance of seeking a second medical opinion when things don\u2019t sit right.<\/p>\n

According to Dr. Charm Beleno, a medical officer of the Caloocan City Health Department, seeking a second medical opinion is becoming increasingly common in the Philippines.\u00a0<\/p>\n

However, many patients still rely solely on one doctor\u2019s advice because of fear, cost concerns, or a lack of awareness.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s becoming more common, especially in major cities,\u201d said Beleno. \u201cBut a lot of patients still hesitate because they don\u2019t want to offend their doctor, worry about extra costs, or simply don\u2019t realize it\u2019s okay to ask.\u201d<\/p>\n

When should one get a second medical opinion?<\/p>\n

According to Beleno, it is recommended to seek a second opinion in situations where surgery is advised, the diagnosis remains unclear, the treatment isn\u2019t working, or the condition is serious or rare.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In these cases, an additional perspective can help confirm findings or reveal other treatment options that may be more effective.<\/p>\n

\u201cI actually welcome it when patients tell me they\u2019ve consulted another doctor,\u201d the physician and registered pharmacist explained.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cSecond opinions can confirm results or offer new insight. The goal is always the patient\u2019s best care.”\u00a0<\/p>\n

In major or life-changing medical decisions such as cancer diagnoses, surgeries, or chronic illnesses, Beleno said seeking not just a second, but even a third opinion can be vital.<\/p>\n

Doing so reduces the risk of misdiagnosis and ensures that patients make well-informed choices about their health.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is very important in major or life-changing decisions. It helps ensure the diagnosis and treatment are accurate and appropriate,\u201d she explained.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Beleno advised patients to come prepared when seeking a second opinion. This includes bringing all previous test results, prescriptions, imaging results, and a summary of symptoms or medical history, as these will help the doctors properly assess their diagnosis.<\/p>\n

In getting a second opinion, she also advised evaluating each expert\u2019s recommendations thoroughly and basing their decision on a careful assessment of the evidence.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201c[You] ask each to explain the reasoning, risks, and benefits clearly, then consider evidence, your comfort level, and practicality,\u201d she said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

‘It\u2019s your right’<\/p>\n

Beleno emphasized that seeking a second medical opinion is not disrespectful and that patients should not be afraid to advocate for themselves.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s your right. Good doctors support informed patients; it\u2019s about your health, not about hurting anyone\u2019s feelings,\u201d she said. \u201cInformed and proactive patients make better choices, leading to safer and more effective care.”\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u2014CDC\/LA, GMA Integrated News<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"In September, comedian Ate Gay revealed he had been\u00a0diagnosed with stage 4 cancer.\u00a0 It started as a swelling…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":103762,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[34],"tags":[52447,163,521,85,46,16065],"class_list":{"0":"post-103761","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-healthcare","8":"tag-diagnosis","9":"tag-health","10":"tag-healthcare","11":"tag-il","12":"tag-israel","13":"tag-prognosis"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/103761","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=103761"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/103761\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/103762"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=103761"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=103761"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=103761"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}