A second opinion refers to seeking the advice of another doctor regarding the diagnosis and treatment plan provided by the current primary physician. This process allows patients to gather a broader range of information about their illness and treatment options, helping them make a more informed and satisfactory decision. Seeking a second opinion is particularly common in cases of serious illnesses such as cancer or when surgery is required.
An online second opinion is a method of consulting with a doctor via the internet. It is particularly useful for people who live in remote areas or have difficulty traveling.
A proxy second opinion refers to a situation where a representative (such as a family member or a medical coordinator) seeks a second opinion on behalf of the patient when the patient is unable to consult the doctor directly.
Unlike online or proxy second opinions, this method involves the patient visiting a doctor in person to receive a consultation and seek the opinion of another physician face-to-face.
A second opinion allows patients to confirm whether the initial diagnosis and treatment plan provided by the first doctor is appropriate. Gaining insights from a different perspective can help patients make a more informed and confident decision.
Seeking a second opinion can provide reassurance for both the patient and their family. If multiple specialists reach the same conclusion, it can increase confidence in the proposed treatment.
The doctor providing the second opinion may suggest a different treatment plan or approach than the initial physician. This expands the range of choices, allowing the patient to select the most suitable treatment.
Obtaining a second opinion can help reduce the risk of misdiagnosis or overdiagnosis. Comparing the opinions of different doctors may improve the accuracy of the diagnosis.
Through the process of seeking a second opinion, patients can gain a deeper understanding of their own illness and treatment. This can lead to increased autonomy and proactivity in their treatment.
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hospital
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price／time
|
|---|---|
| National Cancer Center Hospital (Central) | ¥132,000／60 minutes |
| National Cancer Center Hospital East | ¥33,000／30 minutes |
| National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry | ¥110,000／60 minutes |
| National Center for Child Health and Development | ¥110,000／60 minutes |
| Tokyo University of Science Hospital | ¥88,000／60 minutes |
| Cancer Institute Hospital Ariake | ¥110,000／30 minutes |
| St. Luke’s International Hospital | ¥55,000／30 minutes |
| Keio University Hospital | ¥66,000／60 minutes |
| University of Tsukuba Hospital | ¥44,000／60 minutes |
| Toranomon Hospital | ¥55,000／30 minutes |
| Juntendo Hospital | ¥33,000／30 minutes |
| Diagnosis | Pancreatic Cancer |
|---|---|
| Patient | Mr. Lee ・ Nam (pseudonym) |
| Nationality | Korean Age: 60s |
| Hospital | QST Hospital |
| Treatment | Heavy Ion Therapy |
When I was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in South Korea, it was already at stage III, with major blood vessel invasion, making surgery impossible. Despite undergoing ten rounds of chemotherapy, the tumor size remained almost unchanged, and the severe side effects were pushing me to my physical and mental limits.
One day, I attended a meeting of a cancer patient support group in Korea, where I happened to hear the story of a patient named Ms. A. She passionately shared her experience of recovering after receiving heavy ion therapy in Japan. Her detailed explanation of the process and her success story left a deep impression on me.
Following her recommendation, I contacted I-Cell Networks, which helped me arrange an evaluation at QST Hospital. During my first consultation, the attending doctor told me, "Your condition is advanced, but there is still a possibility for treatment." After discussing it with my family, I decided to undergo treatment in Japan.
As part of the preparation for treatment, I completed five days of examinations and the creation of a fixation device. I then took advantage of a one-week break to temporarily return to South Korea.
However, shortly after returning home, I noticed an unusual change in my health. Concerned, I immediately visited my primary doctor in Korea, who conducted a blood test. The results showed that my ALP (alkaline phosphatase) level had risen to more than three times the normal range. My doctor explained that it was due to common bile duct stenosis and that an immediate bile duct stent insertion was necessary.
I was overwhelmed with anxiety and uncertainty. However, I remained calm and reported my condition to my doctor at QST Hospital through I-Cell Networks. After reviewing my case, the doctor in Japan determined that a stent insertion was not essential at this stage. Thanks to this assessment, I was able to return to Japan as planned and proceed with the treatment, avoiding unnecessary medical intervention.
I underwent a total of 12 sessions of heavy ion therapy. Normally, blood tests are conducted once a week, but in my case, special arrangements were made to monitor my blood daily.
At one point, my ALP level peaked at 267 U/L, raising concerns about whether treatment could continue. However, my doctor reassured me that the liver function values could be monitored while proceeding with therapy. With confidence in my medical team, I continued the treatment as planned.
As the treatment progressed, my ALP levels gradually decreased, reaching 216 U/L by the final session. What impressed me most was how the attending doctor took the time to explain each step in detail to every patient, creating an environment where I could undergo treatment with peace of mind.
After successfully completing the treatment, I returned to South Korea. About two weeks later, follow-up tests revealed that my ALP levels had fully returned to the normal range (60 U/L), confirming the effectiveness of the treatment. Subsequent routine examinations showed that my tumor was gradually shrinking, with no signs of recurrence.
These results reinforced my deep gratitude—not only for Japan’s advanced medical technology but also for the doctors’ calm and precise judgment and their compassionate approach to patient care.
Through this experience, I realized that without the careful and accurate decision-making of Japanese medical professionals, I might have undergone unnecessary treatment. Thanks to the dedication and support of the doctors and medical staff, I have found new hope.
I hope that by sharing my story, I can convey the importance of having access to accurate medical information and a reliable medical team to others battling illness.
| Diagnosis | Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma with Cervical Lymph Node Metastasis (Stage 4A-4B) |
|---|---|
| Patient | Mr. Q (pseudonym) |
| Nationality | Vietnamese Age: 60s |
| Hospital | National Cancer Center Hospital (NCCH) |
| Treatment | Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy |
Between 2022 and 2023, Mr. Q experienced pain in the left side of his tongue and underwent multiple treatments over a period of three to four months at Hospital A in Vietnam. However, there was no improvement.
In April 2023, a tumor was detected, raising suspicion of a left tongue base tumor. Further examinations confirmed a tumor measuring 2.72 × 2.4 × 3.82 cm at the base of the left tongue, along with cervical lymph node metastasis. A biopsy led to a diagnosis of "invasive, keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma."
Mr. Q’s primary doctor at Hospital A determined that surgical removal would be difficult. Even if surgery were performed, it could significantly impact his quality of life (QOL). Therefore, whole-body radiation therapy was recommended.
However, seeking a better treatment option, Mr. Q consulted Hospital K, which is equivalent to a national cancer center in Vietnam. Given the complexity of his condition, the doctors at Hospital K advised him to seek a second opinion at the National Cancer Center Hospital (NCCH) in Japan.
At NCCH, a precise diagnosis confirmed that Mr. Q had oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. A multidisciplinary team consisting of three specialists from internal medicine, surgery, and radiology collaborated to determine the most suitable treatment plan.
It was confirmed that Mr. Q’s cancer was negative for the human papillomavirus (HPV), and the primary cause was suspected to be his long-term smoking habit.
Surgical treatment would have required a total removal of the tongue and larynx, leading to permanent loss of voice and severe restrictions on eating and drinking, which would significantly lower his QOL. Therefore, NCCH proposed a multimodal treatment approach, combining surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.
The specific treatment plan included
The estimated treatment duration was approximately six months.
Although Mr. Q experienced some difficult side effects during treatment, the induction chemotherapy produced results beyond expectations, with the tumor almost disappearing. As a result, surgery was no longer necessary, and organ preservation was achieved.
Additionally, while whole-body radiation therapy had been proposed in Vietnam, NCCH opted for localized radiation, reducing side effects significantly.
Currently, Mr. Q is under follow-up observation to monitor for recurrence or metastasis. He expresses deep gratitude for Japan’s advanced medical technology and meticulous patient care. He particularly appreciates that Japanese doctors utilized cutting-edge treatments while prioritizing his QOL.
Mr. Q believes that if he had continued treatment in Vietnam, he would have likely undergone surgery or whole-body radiation therapy, which would have drastically reduced his quality of life. By receiving treatment in Japan, he was able to retain hope as a patient and regain a future where he could return to his daily life.
| Diagnosis | Stomach Cancer |
|---|---|
| Patient | Wang ・ Yu (pseudonym) |
| Nationality | Chinese Age: 40s |
| Hospitals | Cancer Institute Hospital of JFCR & National Cancer Center Hospital (NCCH) |
| Treatment | Online Second Opinion |
Japan's gastric cancer treatment is among the best not only in Asia but also worldwide, boasting a five-year survival rate of 71%. I had high hopes, knowing that this was due to Japan’s excellent screening system for early detection, personalized treatment plans tailored to each patient, and precise surgical techniques.
However, I never expected to be diagnosed with gastric cancer myself. In shock and anxiety, I desperately searched for treatment information. Considering the possibility of receiving treatment in Japan, I researched various hospitals and discovered that Japanese cancer hospitals generally accept international patients only if surgery is an option or if urgent treatment is required. I faced the harsh reality that patients with advanced cancer who were ineligible for surgery were often not accepted. Given this, I decided to begin chemotherapy in China first.
After completing my first round of chemotherapy, I applied for a second opinion from the Cancer Institute Hospital of JFCR and the National Cancer Center Hospital (NCCH) through the medical travel support organization I-cell Networks. Ms. Yu, a medical consultant, responded promptly and kindly, arranging online consultations with Professor Souya Nunobe from the Department of Gastric Surgery at the Cancer Institute Hospital and Professor Hirokazu Shoji from the Department of Internal Medicine at NCCH.
From these two consultations, I received the following conclusions：
In my case, I fell into the former category, meaning there was still hope. This reassurance was a great source of relief for me. Additionally, although there were differences between the treatment approaches in Japan and China, the Japanese doctors did not oppose my ongoing treatment in China. However, they pointed out that if I were to use second-line treatment drugs too soon and they proved ineffective, there would be no viable options left afterward. This made me realize the need for a cautious and well-planned treatment strategy.
Receiving a second opinion from two Japanese specialists helped clarify the treatment path I should follow in China. However, what deeply touched my heart was a message sent to my husband through Ms. Yu after the consultations:
"Professor Souya Nunobe said that the patient is still very young and has a good chance of progressing in a positive direction. Please keep fighting. Professor Hirokazu Shoji also noticed during the online consultation that the patient’s husband looked somewhat down. He believes that having more confidence and maintaining an optimistic mindset will have a significant positive impact on the patient."
These words brought warmth and hope to me at a time when I was drowning in despair and confusion. I saved this message in my WeChat "Favorites" and have read it countless times whenever I felt overwhelmed. Each time, tears would stream down my face, but at the same time, I found strength and the courage to move forward.
The reason I was able to receive a second opinion from Japan was not only because of the expertise of the Japanese doctors but also because of the invaluable support of Ms. Yu from I-cell Networks. Throughout the entire process, she provided highly professional and compassionate assistance.
From coordinating with Japanese hospitals to arranging consultations and even showing concern for my family, every word she spoke carried a deep sense of expertise. She not only possessed extensive medical knowledge and objectively analyzed my condition in great detail, but she also remained patient-centered at all times, carefully considering my emotions. I cannot express enough gratitude for her dedication. Ms. Yu became the most trusted and indispensable partner in my battle.
Through this experience, I have once again realized how profoundly human warmth and the power of hope can support someone in their most difficult times.
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