You’ve received a diagnosis.
Before any decision, make sure it’s the right one.

A second opinion is not doubt. It is intelligence. Dr Lawrence Okiror offers expert independent review of lung cancer diagnoses, lung nodule findings, and recommendations about lung surgery — with appointments available within 2–3 days.

Send your scans

Share your CT images and any existing letters or reports — by post, CD, or secure digital transfer.

Consultation within 2–3 days

In person at London Bridge Hospital, The Lister Chelsea, or Canary Wharf outpatients — or by video consultation.

Written opinion within 48–72 hours

A clear, detailed report — yours to keep, share with your existing team, or use to plan next steps.

2–3 Days to appointment
48–72hrs Written expert report
837 Lung resections at GSTT
(2023–24, SCTS register)
No GP referral required

The questions most patients don’t ask out loud

Most people searching for a lung cancer second opinion are doing it quietly — often alone, often late at night — because something doesn’t feel settled. If any of the following thoughts have crossed your mind, you are not alone.

Will my doctor be offended?

No. Any surgeon experienced enough to manage lung cancer will expect patients with serious diagnoses to seek independent reassurance. It is a mark of good judgement, not a slight. If you feel this would cause difficulty, that itself is worth knowing.

Will it delay my treatment?

Not if done quickly. The review is completed within 48–72 hours. In many cases, a second opinion has prevented a patient from proceeding with the wrong plan — saving far more time than it used.

Am I making too much of this?

You are not. A lung cancer diagnosis — or the suspicion of one — is one of the most significant medical events in a person’s life. Wanting to be certain before a major operation is not anxiety. It is intelligence.

I haven’t told my family yet. Can this be kept confidential?

Yes. All enquiries are handled with complete discretion by Dr Okiror’s personal PA. You do not need to involve anyone else at the consultation stage. Many patients come alone.

Why a lung cancer second opinion can change everything

Lung cancer decisions are rarely simple. Whether a lung-preserving operation is possible instead of removing an entire lobe. Whether a biopsy is needed before surgery, or whether surgery itself is the right first step. Whether the scan results genuinely support the plan you’ve been given.

These are questions where experience and volume matter — and where a second pair of expert eyes can change the course of treatment. Not because the first opinion was wrong, but because the stakes are high enough to warrant certainty before you commit to anything.

A second opinion does not disrupt your care. It clarifies it.

When a lung cancer second opinion is particularly valuable

  • You have been told you need lung surgery and want to confirm the proposed approach is right for you
  • You are unsure whether a lobectomy is necessary or whether a smaller, lung-preserving operation is possible
  • A lung nodule has been found incidentally and the management plan feels unclear
  • You have been asked to “watch and wait” and cannot face three months of uncertainty
  • The tests used to determine how far the cancer has spread feel incomplete — or the results don’t match what you were told
  • You have been assessed as unfit for surgery and want that conclusion reviewed
  • You are an international patient seeking confirmation of your diagnosis before travelling for treatment
  • You simply want to be certain before committing to a major operation

What Dr Okiror reviews — and how

A second opinion at this clinic is a thorough clinical review, not a rubber stamp. Every element of your case is reviewed personally by Dr Okiror.

Imaging — reviewed directly, not just reported

CT and PET scans are reviewed by Dr Okiror on screen — not just the report, but the images themselves. The size and shape of the nodule, exactly where it sits in the lung, whether a minimally invasive approach is realistic, and any features the written report may have under-weighted.

Biopsy results and tissue diagnosis

Where a biopsy has been done, results are reviewed in context. If no tissue diagnosis has been obtained yet, the options are discussed — including ION robotic bronchoscopy, a keyhole technique that can reach and sample nodules deep in the lung without open surgery.

Fitness for surgery — properly assessed

Whether you are genuinely fit for an operation — and which operation — is not always fully answered elsewhere. Dr Okiror reviews your breathing test results, general health, and any other conditions that affect surgical risk. Sometimes a patient has been told they cannot have an operation when, in fact, a less invasive approach makes it entirely possible.

Is the proposed operation actually necessary?

Is removing an entire lobe the right approach — or would removing just the affected segment preserve more breathing capacity with the same cancer outcome? A major international trial published in 2022 confirmed that for smaller early-stage tumours, the more conservative operation is equally effective. Dr Okiror will give you a direct answer. Read more about robotic lung surgery →

Written report

A full written summary is provided within 48–72 hours. This can be shared with your existing surgical team, your GP, or your insurer.

Why this second opinion carries weight

A second opinion is only as valuable as the experience behind it. Dr Okiror is a Consultant Thoracic and Robotic Surgeon at London Bridge Hospital and one of the UK’s highest-volume lung cancer centres.

837 Lung cancer resections at GSTT in 2023–24 (SCTS register)
57.8% Of GSTT lung resections completed robotically — vs 24% national average
99.16% Operative survival at GSTT vs 98.5% national (SCTS 2023–24)
130–150 Lung cancer operations performed annually — top 5% in the UK by volume

Dr Okiror holds the highest surgical fellowship qualifications in cardiothoracic surgery awarded by both the Royal College of Surgeons of England and the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh — a dual distinction held by very few surgeons in the UK. He sits on the RCSEd Cardiothoracic Surgery Specialty Board, leads its Robotics Advisory Panel, and examines candidates for both the UK and European surgical boards.

The integrated private pathway

If your second opinion confirms that surgery is the right step, you do not have to join a waiting list. London Bridge Hospital was the first private provider in Europe to offer ION robotic bronchoscopy in routine clinical practice. The pathway from consultation to operation can be completed in days.

ION Robotic Bronchoscopy

A thin, flexible robotic catheter navigates through the airways — no incisions. It reaches the nodule, takes a biopsy, and where appropriate marks the site for surgery. All in one session, usually as a day case.

Da Vinci Robotic Lung Surgery

Three small incisions. The da Vinci robot provides magnified, high-definition vision inside the chest. Only the affected part of the lung is removed. Breathing capacity is preserved. Most patients are home within 2–3 days.

Read more about the lung nodule precision pathway →

Lung cancer found early: 80–90% five-year survival.
Lung cancer found late: below 10%.

The difference between a routine operation and a fight for survival is often one scan, acted on promptly. A second opinion does not delay care. Done quickly, it ensures that the care you receive is correct — and that nothing has been missed.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a GP referral for a second opinion?

No. You can contact the clinic directly. Appointments are available within 2–3 days at London Bridge Hospital, The Lister Hospital Chelsea, and Canary Wharf outpatients.

What should I bring to a second opinion appointment?

Your CT and PET scan images (on CD or digital transfer), any existing radiology reports, your biopsy results if available, and any treatment plan or letters you have received. If you have not yet had a biopsy, bring the imaging — the consultation will cover what should happen next.

Will my insurer cover a second opinion?

Many insurers — including BUPA, AXA Health, and Aviva — will fund a second opinion consultation. Check your policy in advance. The clinic can provide a consultation letter for pre-authorisation.

What if I have already been told I need a lobectomy?

This is one of the most common reasons patients seek a second opinion. A major international trial published in 2022 confirmed that for smaller early-stage tumours — typically less than 2 centimetres — removing just the affected segment can be equally effective at controlling the cancer, while preserving more breathing capacity. Dr Okiror will review this directly and give you a clear answer.

Can I still have my surgery on the NHS after a second opinion?

Yes. A second opinion does not commit you to private surgery. Many patients return to their NHS team with additional clarity. The choice of where to proceed is always yours.

Can I get a remote second opinion?

Yes. Video consultations are available to all patients who can share imaging digitally. A written report is provided within 48–72 hours. If surgery is subsequently required at London Bridge Hospital, the full pathway can be planned in advance of travel.

Ready to get a clear answer? Expert review, within days.

Appointments available within 2–3 days at London Bridge Hospital, The Lister Hospital Chelsea, and Canary Wharf outpatients. No GP referral required. All enquiries handled with complete discretion.

Call Grace on 020 7952 2882  ·  pa@lungsurgeon.co.uk

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