Tech advancements are expanding access to world-class health care, including cancer second opinions, which are now available online through an innovative Ohio State program. “There are multiple reasons to get a second opinion, all of which are correct,” says Ricardo Carrau, MD, a head and neck cancer surgeon and director of the Comprehensive Skull Base Surgery Program at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC – James). “A cancer diagnosis is life changing, and if patients have any questions and want to make sure the decisions they are making are correct, a second opinion is in order.” While second opinions can save lives, many patients live far away from world-class centers staffed with specialized experts. OSUCCC – James leaders have responded to the issue with the creation of the Online Second Opinion Program, which connects patients with Ohio State oncology experts dedicated to specific cancers. Click here to learn more about the Online Second Opinion Program for cancer patients at The Ohio State University. Through the online program, OSUCCC – James specialists review patient information and work with local doctors to confirm diagnoses or provide alternatives, help make important treatment decisions and even suggest clinical trials. “It's very user friendly — the patients can go online and provide their information in conjunction local doctors,” Carrau says. “Then we can provide the second opinion in a such in a way that it flows better toward the patient.” Carrau provides more info about cancer second opinions on our Cancer-Free World Podcast. Watch on the video player above or YouTube, and listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Patients from the U.S. and other nations are using the program to seek second opinions for cancers that are rarely seen by many physicians, but are among the specialties covered at the OSUCCC – James. “A patient from Costa Rica had a rare tumor, and they were seeking expertise — when cancers are rare, local doctors may not be able to give patients the degree of expertise that they’re looking for,” Carrau says. “In this case, they wanted treatments that were less invasive than had been proposed before. “Through the online second opinion program, we were able to provide that information through their local physician, and eventually, they made the decision to come to The James for treatment.” The program is an important step in the effort to increase access to world-class cancer care, and one that is welcomed by doctors across the globe. “There is a perception that physicians could be offended by second opinions, but it isn’t that way,” Carrau says. “We get a lot of people who come here for second opinions, and some of our patients go elsewhere for them.” Carrau and his fellow oncologists at Ohio State, along with doctors from other leading institutions, work with networks of expert colleagues to recommend physicians and facilities for second opinions. “The reason I went to medical school was to help people,” Carrau says. “It gives me purpose in life and fulfillment.” Click here to learn about cancer screening and diagnosis at the OSUCCC – James.