Navigating Second Opinions with Cancer Campfires of Hope: Stories of Cancer

Stephanie Luning was just 24 years old when she was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2005. Following surgery and treatment, she was in the clear for six years. Then, in 2011, her doctor noticed a suspicious spot on her regular scan. Stephanie details how she navigated getting several second opinions, all of which provided different options. With so much information to process and a very important decision to make, Stephanie relied on her own intuition, research, and trust in her doctors. After deliberating, she opted not to pursue treatment, which she learned was the correct decision when a subsequent scan revealed the spot was gone.



Stephanie advises getting a second, and sometimes third, opinion when considering a cancer diagnosis and treatment. “The first time you go through it, you go with your doctors because you assume they are telling you the best. But it’s always helpful to get someone else’s view on it to make sure they are on the same track, or if there’s something new. The more information the better.”



Learn more about how Epic Experience empowers cancer survivors to live beyond cancer at www.epicexperience.org