A Second Opinion That Helped My Mum

Seeking help

I had access to Teladoc Health services through work but never had to use it before. I wasn’t sure if family members were covered so enquired as my mother had been diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer. She had undergone treatment but wasn’t going to be treated any further nor had she been informed about alternative options. I thought it couldn’t hurt to ask for another (second) opinion to ensure we had done all we could.

Finding a resource

I requested a Second Medical Opinion consultation by Teladoc Health and was then assigned one of their GP doctors to speak to as a case manager, who would oversee the process. She was absolutely brilliant, looked through my mums medical records and prepared a case summary for the consultant. This expert based in the USA then reviewed everything and provided a second opinion based on the data he’d received. The GP stayed in regular contact with me and was able to speak to my mum too when the report came back.

Reassuring report

The report confirmed that the diagnosis and treatment were as they would have expected and recommended themselves. On a positive note, their findings suggested that rather than having only a few months left, my mum could live longer than had been expected. Her tumour had responded to the immunotherapy and the cancer cells backed up a bit and could be monitored if worst case scenario cancer cells started growing again.

What it meant for my mum

My mother’s situation was explained to us in detail and we had a better understanding of the initial results and what they meant. She and I were given reassurance that the treatment had worked, and despite there being no cure or magic solution, my mum now had knowledge to take forwards and seek ways to manage. We took the report back to her own doctor for further advice.

Don’t hesitate

I would wholeheartedly recommend this service to anyone, if only for peace of mind. Reach out and ask questions of your insurance provider – I was able to find out that my mum was covered under my policy and even when a prognosis feels hopeless, there could be options you didn’t even consider.

Stock image used at the patients request.

REFCL