Guide
A second opinion aims to help you understand pathology, staging, available options and questions to ask next. It does not replace the doctor currently responsible for your treatment.
Do not stop or change medicines yourself while waiting for a reply. Are you receiving chemotherapy, targeted therapy or immunotherapy? Explain the current regimen, most recent treatment date, response and side effects in full.
01
Which records should you send first?
Start with the pathology report, dated scan reports and original images, and a short treatment timeline. Include the question you want answered. Use the hospital’s approved submission channel and tell the team which documents are missing. Let the reviewing team decide whether further tests are needed.
If the biopsy needs a second review, the pathology team may ask for slides or a paraffin block. Ask which materials it accepts and how to send and return them. If you only have reports or screenshots, ask your imaging centre for the original DICOM files.
- Pathology report and any immunohistochemistry or molecular test results already available
- Original CT, PET-CT or MRI files in DICOM format when available, with the reports
- Known stage, previous treatments and dates, response and side effects
- Current medicines, allergies and the question for the reviewing team
02
What can an MDT review help clarify?
The hospital’s MDT may bring together thoracic surgery, medical oncology, radiation oncology, radiology and pathology. They may discuss whether records are sufficient and whether further tests are needed. They may also identify what you can discuss next with your treating doctor. The hospital decides availability, participating departments and the form of its response.
03
How can you confirm whether remote review is available?
Ask whether the hospital can review your case while you are outside China. Check who submits the request and whether the hospital offers a written opinion, a video consultation or an in-person visit.
The Cancer Hospital of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences publishes a remote pathway for applications from participating hospitals. Ask whether your treating hospital can submit the request. Wait for the receiving hospital to confirm an in-person appointment before booking non-refundable travel.
04
SinoCareHub’s coordination role
SinoCareHub can help organise records, submit them as the hospital requires, contact hospitals or departments and follow up replies. Medical translation and support for travel to China can be coordinated as needed. Hospitals and doctors decide the diagnosis, tests and treatment plan.