i'm based in the US and was diagnosed with stage 1A/grade 3 IDC last spring. i appreciate everything in the main post and all of the expertise that dr. richardson shares on this board, but as a person who's dealt with a lifelong physical disability — to the point where my very first memory is medical-appointment related — there's another big reason to get a second opinion: to make sure the team you choose is the absolute best fit for you.
i'm not saying to go to endless appointments and make it like a dating app situation, but if you have the ability, i personally think it's worth it. frankly, breast cancer diagnosis is a time to put yourself first. seriously. it's your body, your treatment, and your life. and a cancer diagnosis will require follow-up for years, regardless of what treatment you choose. find and pick the people AND institution where you feel most comfortable because you'll be there a lot.
short(ish) story: on the day of my diagnosis, i got two reputable referrals. i got two appointments on the books immediately. and chronologically, the first appointment i was able to get was at WELL-REGARDED INSTITUTION X, and that doctor was referred to me by two people. in short: they walked in without knocking, only spent 15 minutes with me, they didn't talk much about how their system worked after surgery (how would i get to a medical oncologist), they spoke to me as if i was simply a collection of body parts and not a human in the most stressful time of my life.
everyone with me at that appointment was shell-shocked and assumed i'd definitely need a mastectomy and that the cancer was probably more advanced than stage 1 (we didn't know what to expect going in).
if i HAD to go with that doctor, i'm sure i would have been okay. and i was so stressed by diagnosis itself that i couldn't fully put my finger on what upset me the most that day, and neither could the people with me. but you don't know what you don't know.
between all of us, we were experienced in going to lots of specialists for various issues, including cancer, but we were new to me being diagnosed with breast cancer. maybe this is what everyone's like? and this doctor was personally recommended. SIGH. OKAY. ONWARD.
thankfully, the surgical oncologist i saw for my second opinion was completely different in terms of how the information was delivered, including surgical options, future guidance, and pathways. he explained everything clearly, scheduled me for related follow-ups on the same day (where possible), and also acknowledged in subtle but noticeable ways that he knew just how scary this was for me, but that we'd be able to treat it.
until he acknowledged my experience, i hadn't been able to verbalize that, among other things, that's what was missing from my first appointment.
so, if you can, give yourself the gift of comparing and contrasting at the start of your experience. it will help you realize what's right for you.
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