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Exploring a second opinion may help you make a more informed decision about your cancer treatment. It may also introduce you to advanced treatment options, if they are available for your cancer type and stage. Getting a second expert opinion may help in:

1. Confirming the diagnosis in cases of rare cancers.
2. Find the latest advances that may help in your treatment plan.
3. Confidence on the ongoing treatment.
4. Gain perspective from experts in different specialties both as a patient as well as doctors.
5. A chance for hope if you are told that your cancer is untreatable.

You should get a second opinion in the following situations:

1. If you have a rare or unusual cancer.
2. You are concerned about the side-effects that your treatment may produce.
3. Your cancer is not responding to the current treatment.
4. Your doctor's treatment goals are different from your own.

You may feel concerned that your doctor will be offended if you seek advice from another health care professional, but most doctors understand that, and will want you to feel comfortable and assured before starting treatment.

Honesty is an important part of the doctor/patient relationship, so we advise you to keep both doctors aware of your decisions.

Counseling helps people in managing their mixed emotions about life’s challenges. Counselors cannot always solve problems, but they help in providing a safe place for people with cancer to talk about their concerns. Because counselors are different from a person’s family life, they provide a helpful, outside viewpoint. 

Counseling can help patients and their caregivers in many aspects:

1. It helps reduce depression and anxiety of their illness.
2. It improves their communication with their doctors or loved ones.
3. It increases the feeling of hope and empowerment.
4. It  helps the family members understand and adjust to changes in routine.
5. It helps in managing cancer symptoms and treatment side-effects, such as pain and fatigue. 
6. It addresses concerns around intimacy and sexuality. 

You can choose among these types of counseling depending upon your needs, finances and preferences:

1. Individual counseling: One on one exchange with the counselor regarding troubling events, thoughts, and feelings.
2. Family Counseling: The counselor discusses with the couple or with multiple family members about the issues they face while listening fairly to every person in the session and helps them learn new ways to support one another during stressful times.