David J Dabbs, MD
“Breast pathology literature recommends a second opinion for breast biopsies, as they are critically important for determining the correct surgical and medical treatments for a patient with a breast lesion.”
BREAST SOS
a second opinion service, to verify, modify if needed, and help you better understand your diagnosis.
What is a Second Opinion Service?
A second opinion is a request to another health care professional by you, your breast care team or your health care plan to review medical records and lab test results.
- The second opinion occurs after the initial pathology report is complete, but
- Before having surgery, or
- When planning treatments after surgery
- It is performed remotely and doesn’t require a doctor’s visit
- The second opinion may confirm your doctor’s diagnosis, revise the diagnosis, provide more details about the type and stage of breast disease, raise additional options and recommendations
Your physician is familiar with patient requests for a second opinion and this short delay before commencing treatment will have no significant impact on your treatment.
Why a second opinion is recommended
- Your pathologist is not a breast specialist
- Your doctor tells you there is uncertainty about the type or extent of the breast cancer you have
- You want your options explained by someone else
- You have an uncommon diagnosis
- You have questions about your diagnosis
- Your health insurance plan requires a second opinion before having a particular treatment
- Your doctor recommends that you seek a second opinion
- You feel that all options have not been explored
- When the initial pathology report is complete
- Before having surgery
- When planning treatments after surgery
Breast pathology has become increasingly nuanced and requires a level of expertise from trained and experienced specialists. Currently, only 10-20% of patients have access to specialists trained in breast pathology. Even trained breast pathologists may conflict in their diagnosis of the same case.
Inaccurate diagnosis leads to unnecessary clinical interventions which may have their own side-effects, increased anxiety for the patient and her family and increased costs. Patient Advocacy Groups, academic institutions, and expert physicians alike, advise of the necessity of second opinions to confirm diagnosis and provide as much information as possible for the patient.
Services
BREAST SOS includes the following services across benign, precancerous or malignant conditions. After you complete a request form we will:
- Reach you to discuss the process
- Acquire your tissue block(s) from your biopsy or surgery. We will also gather the pathology reports provided to your physician.
- Review the existing results, reports and diagnosis
- Repeat testing if needed
- Perform appropriate additional lab stains
- Render a definitive diagnosis
- Accurate staging
- Confirmatory diagnosis
- Perform DCISionRT to inform the decision for radiation therapy if the diagnosis is DCIS, if indicated.
- Deliver the report via Fedex (or other methods requested by patient)
- Discuss results of testing with you
- Consult with your local pathologist and physician upon your request
- Return slides or block via first class mail to the storage facility
What does it cost?
- PreludeDx will charge $250 to your credit card for the second opinion service. The company will submit a claim to your insurer and attempt to collect. In the event Prelude collects, all or part of the credit card charge will be refunded
- Additional stains, if needed, will be billed to your insurance
- DCISionRT (if applicable) will be billed to your insurance and is subject to Prelude’s billing policies and practices
Our Experts
Our team is composed of expert breast pathologists with greater than 75 years of combined experience and experience with tens of thousands of patient cases.
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What is the role of a pathologist in determining your diagnosis and care?
Under the Microscope
When your breast was biopsied, the samples taken were studied under the microscope by a specialized doctor – a pathologist.
A Series of Tests
The pathologist will perform a series of tests on the biopsy and nearby tissues to create a “profile” of how the breast tissue looks and behaves.
A Diagnosis
The pathologist provides a diagnosis to the treating physician.
Treatment Recommendation
Without an accurate diagnosis, the treatment team may not select the best treatment for your specific condition.