Tammi's story

When Tammi went in for a routine CT scan after passing a kidney stone, she didn’t think twice. After all, kidney stones are relatively common; there are more than 10,000 cases per year in Australia alone.  

The scans led to Tammi’s doctor uncovering a mass on her pancreas – which turned out to be a cancerous tumour.

"When I got the diagnosis, I was stunned. I had zero symptoms; if it wasn't for the kidney stones, who knows how far things would have developed before being discovered," she said.

"I was then referred to a specialist to see if surgery was an option for me."

Before attending a consultation with the recommended specialist, Tammi wanted to do her research. She wanted to be informed about her condition and options, to go into her meeting with confidence. Tammi's husband had access to Expert Medical Opinion, so she applied to ask for their expert advice.

The Expert Medical Opinion team fast-tracked her case. Two independent specialists reviewed medical records and provided Tammy with a report. Afterwards, she had a telehealth call where she could discuss her prognosis.

"Having a second opinion helped bring clarity to my situation. The type of tumour I had was treatable with surgery providing positive outcomes, so the recommendation was to have the tumour removed," said Tammi.

Tammi's local surgeon ran more testing and came to the same conclusion. Surgery was the best option. With two trusted opinions available to her, both suggesting the same path forward, Tammi’s decision to remove the tumour became that much easier.  

"I'm pleased with the outcome.  Initially, when I received the diagnosis, I was overcome with questions and concerns. Having the opportunity to utilise the Expert Medical Opinion network in addition to the consultation with my surgeon gave me the knowledge and confidence I needed to make a potentially life-saving decision. I'll never regret that.”

*Names have been changed to protect privacy.