Only about 3,000 cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed per year, so few doctors have experience with this cancer. Misdiagnosis is common. During a mesothelioma second opinion with a specialist, a biopsy is scheduled and once your diagnosis is confirmed, optimal treatments for you are discussed.
Why Is a Second Opinion for a Mesothelioma Diagnosis Important?
A second opinion with a mesothelioma specialist is essential because malignant mesothelioma is so rare that most doctors and oncologists haven’t seen a case and may fail to recognize it. Mesothelioma can be challenging to diagnose and stage accurately.
Mesothelioma symptoms are similar to many other diseases affecting the lungs, heart and abdominal organs, making misdiagnosis common. A tissue biopsy is the only way to get an accurate mesothelioma diagnosis. If you were given a diagnosis of mesothelioma without a biopsy or were diagnosed with another disease but suspect mesothelioma, consider seeking a second opinion from a specialist.
Asbestos is the primary cause of malignant mesothelioma. This rare cancer primarily affects the pleura and peritoneum, the thin layers of tissue that cover the lungs and line the abdomen. Anyone with a history of asbestos exposure who experiences signs or symptoms of mesothelioma should seek a second opinion from a mesothelioma specialist.
Tamron Little
Verified Asbestos.com Survivor
Mesothelioma Survivor Stresses the Importance of a Second Opinion
It’s important for us all to be our own patient advocates. If that means taking steps to get a second opinion, by all means, get your second opinion. The initial doctor who told me I had peritoneal mesothelioma was the OB-GYN who delivered my son Caleb. Cancer wasn’t his specialty, therefore he referred me to an oncologist.
Request a referral from your doctor to see a mesothelioma specialist for a second opinion. You can also ask people you know for recommendations of specialists they trust. Contacting your health insurance provider can also help you find in-network mesothelioma doctors.
Our team of Patient Advocates can also help you. They have experience connecting mesothelioma patients with specialists across the country. Our Patient Advocates can also help people with mesothelioma and their families with resources to help them cope with mesothelioma.
Getting an accurate diagnosis can be very challenging when it comes to mesothelioma. Since it’s so rare it’s hard to find doctors with experience diagnosing it. When patients with a history of asbestos exposure contact us with a pleural effusion or a lung cancer diagnosis, we encourage them to get a second opinion.
Missy Miller, Medical Outreach Director at The Mesothelioma Center
Working With a Patient Advocate to Get a Second Opinion
The Medical Outreach Team at The Mesothelioma Center has streamlined the process of obtaining a second opinion from a mesothelioma specialist. Our relationships and partnerships with Centers of Excellence and doctors who have extensive knowledge of mesothelioma mean we can help you with registration, record transfers and scheduling the initial consultation appointment.
After gathering information about your interests, our team can suggest experts based on the type of diagnosis, your insurance and your preferred location. Rather than offering one-size-fits-all suggestions, Patient Advocates can offer high-level suggestions based on each patient’s unique needs.
People We Help Get Second Opinions
People who disagree with their initial diagnosis
Patients whose first opinion wasn’t with a mesothelioma specialist who want an expert’s opinion
People who disagree with the advice they were given
Those looking to confirm treatment offered is what a mesothelioma specialist would recommend for them
Patients seeking a clinical trial
“Patients often ask us what they can expect when getting a second opinion,” Medical Outreach Director Missy Miller adds. “If your pathology report, for example, doesn’t indicate mesothelioma, but you suspect that’s your correct diagnosis, a mesothelioma specialist can have the tissue from your biopsy sent to another pathology lab for further evaluation. Experts have labs they work with that understand the markers to look for to identify mesothelioma and your cell type.”
We can also arrange second opinions about treatment options to improve your prognosis. The specialists we recommend are heavily vetted and will confer with experts in various mesothelioma treatment approaches to develop a multidisciplinary treatment plan.
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Getting a second opinion before surgery or starting other treatments is essential to help you weigh the best options for your needs and preferences. Discuss your options with your mesothelioma specialist to decide what suits you and your family.
You can discuss recommendations for the latest, most effective treatments during a second opinion with a mesothelioma specialist. You may be able to enroll in a clinical trial testing new treatments. Seeking an expert second opinion can help give you peace of mind that you’ve explored all your best options.
Expert Insight
When patients reach out to us for help with getting a second opinion, it’s often to find a mesothelioma specialist to discuss treatment. Sometimes patients’ medical teams inform them that they’re not familiar with mesothelioma. Patients want to learn about all of the options open to them.
Danielle DiPietro, Patient Advocate at The Mesothelioma Center
Cost of a Mesothelioma Second Opinion
The cost of getting a second opinion can be significant. However, mesothelioma statistics clearly show the value. A 2021 study revealed that a pathology second opinion changed the diagnosis in 14% of cases. Another small study found that a second opinion resulted in a new diagnosis for 43% of patients.
Second Opinion Costs
Expenses may include an in-person or remote consultation with a mesothelioma specialist.
Having biopsy samples reviewed for a pathology report can also increase total costs.
Second opinion costs typically range from $200 to $1,500 or more.
The cost of cancer treatment can be extremely high. Research shows that up to 62% of cancer survivors go into debt as a result of treatment expenses. Annual out-of-pocket costs may reach $15,000 for a single cancer drug. This is why getting the most accurate diagnosis and the most effective treatment plan for your circumstances is essential.
Who Pays for a Mesothelioma Second Opinion?
Insurance coverage for second opinions varies, but many plans do pay a portion of the cost. For example, Medicare Part B generally covers 80% of the Medicare‑approved amount for second opinions related to non‑emergency, medically necessary surgery, after you meet the deductible.
In other situations, what’s covered can depend on your plan, so it’s important to check with your insurance provider before scheduling. Our Patient Advocates can help you navigate the insurance process and explore your options for getting a second opinion.
Our Patient Advocates also assist people with mesothelioma and their families in finding financial assistance. They can help individuals find health insurance coverage, provide guidance on financial planning and offer other valuable family resources.
Recommended Reading
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If you are looking for mesothelioma support, please contact our Patient Advocates at (855) 404-4592
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Our fact-checking process begins with a thorough review of all sources to ensure they are high quality. Then we cross-check the facts with original medical or scientific reports published by those sources, or we validate the facts with reputable news organizations, medical and scientific experts and other health experts. Each page includes all sources for full transparency.
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Asbestos.com is the nation’s most trusted mesothelioma resource
The Mesothelioma Center at Asbestos.com has provided patients and their loved ones the most updated and reliable information on mesothelioma and asbestos exposure since 2006.
Our team of Patient Advocates includes a medical doctor, a registered nurse, health services administrators, veterans, VA-accredited Claims Agents, an oncology patient navigator and hospice care expert. Their combined expertise means we help any mesothelioma patient or loved one through every step of their cancer journey.
More than 30 contributors, including mesothelioma doctors, survivors, health care professionals and other experts, have peer-reviewed our website and written unique research-driven articles to ensure you get the highest-quality medical and health information.
About The Mesothelioma Center at Asbestos.com
Assisting mesothelioma patients and their loved ones since 2006.
Helps more than 50% of mesothelioma patients diagnosed annually in the U.S.
A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.
5-star reviewed mesothelioma and support organization.
My family has only the highest compliment for the assistance and support that we received from The Mesothelioma Center. This is a staff of compassionate and knowledgeable individuals who respect what your family is experiencing and who go the extra mile to make an unfortunate diagnosis less stressful. Information and assistance were provided by The Mesothelioma Center at no cost to our family.
Asbestos.com. (2026, February 13). Mesothelioma Second Opinion. Retrieved May 4, 2026, from https://www.asbestos.com/mesothelioma/second-opinion/
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The Patient Advocates are absolutely amazing and helpful! I am so very pleased with the information and the emotional support that I have received from everyone! When I felt all hope was lost, Amy gave me great information and was so compassionate. I do not feel alone, and I know there is strong support for anyone dealing with this tragic disease. I received a FREE information package, including a recipe book, information on the disease, a toll-free number to contact for assistance, and a book with the answers to 100 questions that are commonly asked. This information alone was worth my time! I read for hours and hours, and just that alone—knowledge—can be a great comfort. To fully understand this disease, to just have the knowledge!!! Thank you all!! Thank you so, so much.
I found out about The Mesothelioma Center while researching peritoneal mesothelioma days after being diagnosed with the malignant cancer. While a lot of the 'Mesothelioma' websites are actually law firms just trying to get your business, theirs is a user-friendly, comprehensive website set up to aid patients, their loved ones, and/or caregivers with all things related to a cancer diagnosis from asbestos exposure. I was soon put in touch with one of their doctors, Snehal Smart, M.D., who immediately sent me a packet of general information, a book on surviving mesothelioma, and offered me assistance in finding doctors, reputable law firms, financial help, support groups, and so much more! The Mesothelioma Center's website is, in my opinion, the best resource for anyone suffering from cancer due to asbestos. Dr. Smart is amazing! She is very knowledgeable and helpful, but she is also a very kind, caring doctor who goes the distance whether she is researching a pertinent topic, making suggestions, providing contacts, or just being a good listener on the other end of the phone. In addition, Dr. Smart referred me to a law firm who is now fighting to get me compensation for the negligence of those defendants whose products exposed me to asbestos and caused my subsequent cancer. Thank you, TMC and Dr. Smart, for helping me determine the best treatment plan for my cancer and being part of my miracle. I am currently cancer-free and back to being a mom to my precious daughter. The Mesothelioma Center, their website, and their staff rock!!
I reached out and talked to Aaron a couple of weeks before my diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma. He was very helpful and gave me a lot of information at that time. I have talked to him several times since and always gotten my questions answered. Aaron is very knowledgeable and has been very helpful and supportive. He also sent me a comprehensive packet of information, including info on nutrition, legal help, and medical resources.
My brother was recently diagnosed with mesothelioma. I began researching it online. The information I received from The Mesothelioma Center is all-inclusive. No need to look anywhere else! The first phone call was with Karen, and she answered all my questions with ease. She also had a calming effect by presenting all the options available for my brother and his family. Thank you!
My Dad was diagnosed with mesothelioma, and thankfully The Mesothelioma Center was the first place I called. Snehal Smart answered the phone immediately and was very helpful. She immediately sent us an information packet and answered questions. She followed up each week to see how things were going and if we had any questions. She also connected us with a lawyer. I highly recommend this Center.
Dr. Velotta is a leading thoracic surgeon and pleural mesothelioma specialist at Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center and a Clinical Assistant Surgical Professor at the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine. With more than 15 years of experience, he leads research efforts in minimally invasive lung cancer surgery, pain management post-thoracic surgery and multimodal mesothelioma treatment. He is recognized for advancing image-guided surgical techniques and improving regional access to specialized mesothelioma care.
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