Living Room Show Notes: Shared Decision-Making & Second Opinions

Shared decision-making and seeking second opinions are important parts of the healthcare process that can improve patient care.  

Dr. David Gandara from UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center joined GO2’s November 2024 Lung Cancer Living Room® to discuss how he works with patients to consider evidence, the provider’s knowledge, and the patient’s values and preferences when making care decisions. This practice ensures that the patient understands their options and the pros and cons of each choice.  

He also covered how to evaluate treatment options and when it might be beneficial to seek a second opinion. 

Speakers:  

• David R. Gandara, MD, Professor of Medicine Emeritus, Co-Director Experimental Therapeutics, UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center
• Danielle Hicks, Chief Patient Officer, GO2 for Lung Cancer

Discussed in this episode:  

• Getting a second opinion is often a good idea. Learn when it is most important to get one.
• Biomarker testing tells your healthcare team if the cancer has what’s called a driver mutation or if anything has changed. These results guide your team in recommending the best treatment for you. Learn more about biomarker testing and why it’s important.
• Today, lung cancer has newer, more personalized treatment options that include targeted therapies, immunotherapies, and combination therapies as well as more traditional chemotherapies and radiation. The development of new treatments is ongoing. Learn about treatment options to discuss with your healthcare team.
• A tumor board is a multidisciplinary group of experts that reviews patient cases to provide the most up-to-date treatment options and care recommendations.
• Explore resources to help better understand and cope with your diagnosis.

Please join us on January 15 at 5:30 p.m. PT/8:30 p.m. ET for the next Lung Cancer Living Room which will cover “Lung Cancer 101” and what to know when you’re first diagnosed through treatment and beyond in person at our San Carlos, CA office or watch on YouTube Live.

For more information on the Living Room, other GO2 for Lung Cancer programs, or support through diagnosis and treatment, please contact GO2’s HelpLine at 1-800-298-2436 or email support@go2.org.

You can also sign-up to receive text reminders about upcoming Living Room events by texting the word “LivingRoom” to 844-871-7558.