Why Is Getting a Second Opinion From a Mesothelioma Specialist Important?

[MUSIC PLAYING] Second opinions are important. But I always tell patients they should get a first opinion before they get a second opinion. And so if a local doctor is seeing the patient, refers them to some clinicians locally, I always encourage them to continue to proceed with that kind of while parallel processing and setting themselves up if they would like for additional opinions. I want them to see and hear what the local surgeon or oncologist has to say. Often even if people are inexperienced with mesothelioma, if they're good clinicians, they will reach out to centers that are more experienced. The risk or potential pitfall is if there is some negativity. And the reason for the importance of the second opinion, in particular at a place with experience in mesothelioma is that out in the community and where people do not see this disease as often, historically, there has been a lot of nihilism, and there may be a lack of awareness of therapies, advancements, and all of the options. And that is why really having a second opinion is very important. Most important is not to take any negativity or any potential discussion of things like life expectancy at a hard and fast rule. If anyone starts speaking of number of months or years to live, that's where I think they're expressing some general lack of knowledge, and frankly kind of poor clinical skills. Nobody's a prophet, and no one patient is exactly the same as another. And the factors that contribute to survival in mesothelioma are unique. And that's why getting a second opinion, especially at a center of excellence in this is really important for these patients. [MUSIC PLAYING]