Member Moments: Katie’s Second Opinion Journey and The Power of Expertise
"I’m filled with gratitude that my employer offered this benefit. I was able to choose the treatment that worked the best for me.” - Katie
When Katie went in for her routine mammogram, she never expected how drastically her life was about to change. A week later, the results came back: abnormal. Further testing revealed two cancerous spots. She was told that in her case a single mastectomy would be the best treatment plan.
“Losing a body part was quite a thing to reckon with,” Katie recalled.
But what started as a moment of fear and resignation soon transformed into a story of hope, empowerment, and advocacy. All because of one phone call.
The Call that Changed Everything
Just one week before her scheduled surgery, Katie received a phone call.
“I almost didn’t pick up because I was so worn down from all of the appointments, phone calls, and consults that I’d already had,” Katie remembered. “But something in me said go ahead and pick it up.”
On the other line was a nurse from Transcarent. The call wasn’t about paperwork or scheduling. It was simply to check in and see how she was doing.
“I was really surprised. I was brought to tears because of the sense of care I got from her,” Katie said. “To me it was like an angel had called.”
During their conversation, Katie expressed that she wasn’t content with her treatment plan. That’s when the nurse asked a simple but powerful question: “Have you thought about getting a second opinion?”
Katie remembers hesitating because finding a specialist and setting up appointments sounded like a lot of work. But the nurse reassured her: “We’ll take care of everything. We’ll make the calls and set it up for you.”
Her partner, Douglas, recalled how the call lifted both of their spirits: “Learning about Katie’s diagnosis was difficult for all of us. After that phone call, I felt more optimistic.”
A New Path Forward
Within days of that initial call, Katie had a consult with another specialist.
The second opinion provided Katie with a new treatment plan. Instead of a full mastectomy, Katie was a candidate for a partial mastectomy. It was a less invasive approach that removed only the cancerous tissue.
“Two years later I’m glad to still be able to say that I’m cancer-free,” said Katie.
Katie’s journey is a reminder that expert second opinions can change everything, making it vital for the experience to be easy to access. Members receive live consultations by phone or video with top specialists for their diagnosis or condition all from the comfort of their home.
The Power of a Second Opinion
Second opinions are a powerful way to help people avoid unnecessary procedures, get diagnostic clarity, and make more informed decisions about their treatment plans, especially when it comes to surgery and complex conditions like cancer. Sometime all it takes is a conversation, a compassionate clinician, and the right support system to change the course of someone’s health journey.
"I’m filled with gratitude that my employer offered this benefit,” said Katie. “I was able to choose the treatment that worked the best for me.”
Watch Katie’s Member Moment video to see her full story and learn more about expert second opinions at Transcarent.
