How to Prepare for Your Appointment
You can prepare for a second opinion by discussing the plan with your original doctor, arranging transportation if needed, collecting your medical records, and asking someone to come with you.
Talk to Your Provider About Treatment Delays
Because this cancer grows fast, glioblastoma requires fast treatment, says Donovan. Experts recommend surgery to remove the tumor no later than a month after diagnosis.
After surgery, you may need to start other treatments like radiation and chemotherapy within a few weeks — six at the latest, says Donovan. “If you are going to do second opinions, you want to do them sooner rather than later,” she says.
Arrange Transportation to Your Appointment
If you decide to visit your second opinion provider in person, some organizations can help with transportation. These include:
Gather Your Medical Records
Gather your medical records through your online patient portal or by requesting them from your oncologist and primary care provider. You can keep your records in a digital folder or store paper copies in a medical binder.
These records may include:
- Blood test results
- Scans (like X-ray, CT scan, or MRI)
- Pathology reports (which explain details about your tumor)
- Past medical history and treatments
- Operation reports
- Hospitalization reports
- Summary of your current treatment plan
Bring a Support Person
Plan on bringing a loved one or friend with you to your appointment, even if it’s a video call. Glioblastoma diagnosis and treatment planning involves a lot of detail, and the information can feel overwhelming. Your support person can take notes, ask questions, and provide emotional backup during the visit.
Draft a List of Questions
Before your appointment, write all the questions you’d like to ask. It’s easy to forget them once a visit has started.
Consider asking the following questions:
- Do you agree with the treatment plan developed by my first team?
- Do I qualify for any clinical trials through your health center?
- What additional information did you see in my pathology report, if any?
- Would you recommend any additional molecular testing? (Molecular tests identify DNA that can help direct treatment.)
- Is there anything I’m not asking that I should?
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