Second Medical Opinion in Oncology - MD Anderson Madrid

Receiving a cancer diagnosis is a difficult moment and has a great emotional impact on a person’s life.

At that moment of uncertainty and fear, having the support of multidisciplinary specialists and different medical points of view can make a great difference, as well as helping to reassure the diagnosed patient.

Requesting a second opinion allows the stage of the disease to be reviewed from another medical and professional perspective, to confirm a diagnosis and to assess different treatment options, in order to make a more informed decision about the therapy that best suits you.

A second medical opinion consultation with specialists in Oncology consists of an expert medical assessment in which all the clinical documentation provided by the patient (medical reports relating to the cancer diagnosis, results of blood tests, biopsies and other diagnostic tests) is reviewed in order to analyse their case in detail, and to assess from a different point of view the best treatment options.

The aim of this consultation is to offer the patient an independent evaluation of the initial diagnosis and proposed treatment.

In this consultation, the team of specialists also consider whether the diagnostic tests already carried out are sufficient to conclude the established diagnosis, or whether they consider that it is necessary to extend the study with an additional complementary test.

It is important to highlight that this second medical opinion consultation is intended to complement, not replace, the diagnosis already established by the patient’s first medical team, in order to explore further therapeutic options.

¿Who is this second oncology opinion consultation aimed at?

Generally, these are the most common cases in which it is recommended to attend a second medical opinion appointment:

• Patients who have recently been diagnosed with cancer and wish to confirm the diagnosis with another professional or medical centre.
• Cancer patients who are recommended a complex treatment (such as invasive surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy or other treatments of this kind) and wish to request a second clinical assessment before deciding to proceed with the proposed treatment.
• Patients who are interested in assessing therapeutic alternatives, instead of resorting directly to traditional treatments (surgery or chemotherapy, for example).
• It may also be aimed at patients who are already undergoing treatment but are not responding as expected, and are seeking an alternative proposed by another oncologist.

Before the day of the appointment, the patient sends their medical history (medical reports, diagnostic tests, blood tests, biopsy results, etc…) to the medical centre, in order to provide them to the specialist who will review their case before the consultation.

It is important to follow the medical centre’s instructions and to send all medical reports and test results in advance of the appointment date so that they can be reviewed and the appropriate specialist in the patient’s condition can be assigned.

1. This consultation may be carried out in person at the medical centre, or via video call (Microsoft Teams) or telephone call with the specialist. On the agreed day of the appointment, the patient connects online via the Microsoft Teams platform, by telephone or attends the hospital in person, to begin the consultation with the corresponding specialist.
2. At the beginning of the consultation, the oncologist starts with a brief interview and an assessment of the clinical reports and tests presented by the patient, always using approachable, clear and understandable language.
3. The specialist informs the patient if they consider carrying out complementary tests to extend the clinical study and provide more information to the established diagnosis, or they may even propose including complementary consultations with other specialists.
4. During the consultation, the patient (and their relatives if they are accompanying them) resolve any doubts with the specialist.
5. The appointment concludes with guidance on the next steps to follow: whether this involves a prescription to carry out complementary tests and/or consultations or the proposal of therapeutic alternatives to treat the condition, if any.

The consultation is always carried out with a specialist in Oncology expert in the condition presented by the patient.

As we have indicated before, we offer the patient the opportunity to choose the type of appointment that best suits their comfort and privacy, offering the option of carrying it out by video call or attending in person at the medical centre located in Madrid.

At Operarme, we collaborate with the leading medical centre in the speciality of Oncology, MD Anderson Madrid - Hospiten.

MD Anderson Cancer Center is an oncology centre recognised worldwide for its leadership in the fight against cancer.
It was founded in Houston, Texas (USA) in 1941 as a project of The University of Texas with the aim of researching and advancing the treatment of cancer in its different pathologies.

Today, it is recognised worldwide for defining modern standards in cancer treatment.

¿What sets MD Anderson Cancer Center apart from other oncology centres?

MD Anderson Cancer Center stands out for its “precision medicine” model, in which individual patient factors such as their genetics, molecular and clinical information, as well as their environment and lifestyle are taken into account in order to provide a more personalised diagnosis of their cancer.

• Real multidisciplinary approach: at MD Anderson, the patient is supported by a fixed medical team made up of medical oncologists specialised in different cancer pathologies, oncological surgeons, radiotherapists, pathologists and specialised psychologists who are involved in evaluating the patient’s diagnosis and the strategy to follow before starting treatment.
• Access to pioneering clinical trials: MD Anderson has a leading research programme in the field of Oncology; that is, patients at MD Anderson Cancer Center have the opportunity to access drugs or treatments that are not yet available on the general market, thereby obtaining another opportunity when conventional treatment does not produce results.
• Advanced molecular diagnosis: Another distinguishing feature of this pioneering oncology centre is the treatment of specific genetic mutations in the patient’s tumour. They study the patient’s individual genetic profile in order to then choose the therapy with the highest likelihood of success for him/her.

MD Anderson Cancer Center Madrid: only European branch

In the year 2000, the only European branch of MD Anderson Cancer Center was inaugurated in the city of Madrid, an oncology centre that operates under the same protocols and quality standards as its parent headquarters in Houston.

The European headquarters in Madrid has become a European benchmark in the field of oncology research after 25 years of presence in the capital. The centre has created pioneering units where experimental drugs are tested in humans for the first time, making MD Anderson Cancer Center Madrid a leader in oncology innovation.

Another distinguishing factor of MD Anderson Madrid is its direct connection with the parent headquarters in Houston, Texas: when a patient presents a complex case, it can also be reviewed by experts at the Houston headquarters, so the patient receives a much more comprehensive second medical opinion without having to leave Spain.

The MD Anderson headquarters in Madrid provides care and support for international patients, so foreign patients do not encounter linguistic or logistical barriers when requesting a medical assessment from the centre’s medical team.

If you have recently been diagnosed or are undergoing treatment and need to consider other options, at Operarme we make it easy and convenient for you to book a Second Medical Opinion Consultation with a Specialist in Oncology at MD Anderson Cancer Center Madrid – Hospiten.

You just need to follow the steps below to purchase your consultation:

1. Click on the “Purchase consultation” button.
2. Complete the fields with your details, and make the payment for the consultation.
3. You will receive a purchase confirmation email with your consultation voucher and invoice attached.
4. Our Operarme Patient Service team will contact you by telephone to confirm your details and schedule your appointment (online or in person) with the specialist at MD Anderson Cancer Center Madrid.

The duration of this second medical opinion consultation is usually 1 hour.

It is also important to highlight that appointments for this service are quite quick and you can book an appointment with the oncologist within a maximum of 24-48 hours from the request.

If you need to resolve any questions or need help purchasing your consultation, do not hesitate to contact our Patient Service team by calling at +34 91 141 33 56 or leaving a message in our contact form. Our team will be delighted to help you with whatever you need.

You can purchase your second medical opinion consultation by clicking on the following button:

Request a Second Opinion with an Oncologist

Book an in-person or online appointment with the specialist oncologists at MD Anderson Cancer Center Madrid and receive a second assessment of your diagnosis.

Purchase Consultation