Cancer Second Opinion and Diagnosis Review in China

What this page covers

A second opinion means asking another hospital's specialists to review your existing diagnosis, imaging and pathology — and tell you in writing whether they agree with the proposed treatment plan, see it differently, or recommend additional tests. In China, major cancer centers offer this through their international departments, often as a multidisciplinary team (MDT) review.

This is not the same as starting treatment in China. Many patients get a second opinion and then return home to be treated with more confidence. Others decide to stay for treatment, and the opinion becomes the first step of that plan.

Why China

• Volume and specialization. China's top cancer hospitals see case volumes that most Western centers do not match. Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, for example, is one of the largest single-site cancer hospitals in the world.
• Speed. Public-hospital international departments in Shanghai handled 133,900 outpatient visits in Q1 2024 alone. Wait times for an MDT review are typically shorter than in the UK or Canada's public systems.
• Cost. A PET-CT scan in China costs roughly ¥7,000–10,000 ($1,000–1,400) at a public hospital; in the US, the same scan ranges from $3,000 to $12,000 depending on insurance and facility. An MDT consultation at an international department is typically ¥1,000–3,000 ($140–420) for the consultation itself. These are estimates from public sources, not hospital quotes.
• Diagnostic technology. Most tertiary-A hospitals in Shanghai and Beijing have PET-CT, and several have PET-MRI. Pathology departments at top centers can perform molecular profiling and genetic testing used in precision oncology.

How it works

Step 1: Tell us what you want answered

Use the contact form or WhatsApp. Say which type of cancer, what stage you have been told, and what question you want the Chinese hospital to answer — for example, "Do you agree with the proposed surgery?" or "Are there treatment options my current team hasn't considered?"

Do not send medical records through the website or by email.

Step 2: We identify the right department

Based on your cancer type, we suggest which hospital's international department to approach. We look at:

• Whether the hospital has a department that matches your cancer type
• Whether the international department is confirmed to accept foreign patients
• Whether the hospital has published MDT review as a service

Hospitals with oncology departments and confirmed international services in our directory include:

Hospital	City	Relevant strength
Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center	Shanghai	Comprehensive cancer center; thoracic surgery, urologic oncology
Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center	Guangzhou	One of China's designated national cancer centers
Peking University Cancer Hospital	Beijing	National Cancer Center affiliate
Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital	Shanghai	Lung cancer
Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital	Tianjin	Head and neck, breast

This is not a ranking. We list hospitals whose international department status we have checked. The hospital decides whether to accept your case.

Step 3: Sign a records handoff consent and send your records

Your records go to the hospital through a Medvoyal coordinator — a contracted companion or support staff member — via WhatsApp. Before anything is sent:

• You sign a written consent naming the receiving hospital and the purpose
• The coordinator passes the records unchanged and does not read or interpret them
• Our copy is deleted within 7 days of the handoff

See our guide on getting a second opinion on China test results for the full process.

Step 4: The hospital reviews and responds

The hospital's team reviews your records and sends a written opinion. This may include:

• Agreement or disagreement with your current diagnosis
• Recommendations for additional tests (which you may do locally or in China)
• A treatment direction, estimated cost range, and possible dates if you decide to come

We relay the hospital's reply to you unchanged. We do not interpret it or add our own opinion.

Step 5: You decide

You may:

• Take the opinion home to your treating doctor
• Ask the hospital for a formal treatment plan and cost estimate
• Come to China for additional diagnostics (PET-CT, pathology review) before deciding

There is no obligation to proceed. Medvoyal's planning help is free.

What it costs

Component	Typical range (estimate)	Who charges	Source
MDT consultation at international dept	¥1,000–3,000 ($140–420)	Hospital
PET-CT	¥7,000–10,000 ($1,000–1,400)	Hospital	Public hospital fee schedules (estimates, not quotes)
Pathology review / molecular profiling	Varies widely	Hospital	—
Medvoyal planning help	Free	—	Current policy
Hospital and doctor fees	Paid by you directly to the hospital	Hospital	—

These are not quotes. Ask the hospital's international department for a written estimate before you travel. See our cost guide.

How long you need to stay

• Remote opinion only (records sent from abroad): 0 days in China
• Come for diagnostics (PET-CT, biopsy review): 5–10 days; 30-day visa-free entry covers this for most nationalities
• Proceed to treatment: depends on the plan; may require an S2 visa for stays over 30 days

See our visa guide for entry routes.

What Medvoyal does and doesn't do

We do	We don't
Help you identify which hospital department fits your question	Diagnose or recommend treatment
Coordinate the records handoff with your consent	Read, summarize or interpret your records
Relay the hospital's written reply unchanged	Add our own clinical opinion
Plan logistics: visa, stay, local support	Guarantee the hospital will accept your case
All of the above for free	Charge a fee based on treatment value

In an emergency

In a medical emergency in China, call 120. Do not wait for Medvoyal or a companion. We are not an emergency service.