National Cancer Institute
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Selected patient education pages provide context for questions about living with cancer, coping, and care conversations.
Research & SourcesA clearer explanation.
A clearer explanation.
A source you can see.
Understand how Second Set uses your records and connected medical sources to explain information, show references, and help you prepare questions for your care team.
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How can I talk to my children about my diagnosis?
Give children time to ask questions and express their feelings. [1]
1 · National Cancer InstituteTalking to Children about Your Cancer
“Give your kids time to ask questions and express their feelings.”
Updated September 26, 2018 · Checked September 15, 2026
Check the supporting excerpt and its relevance to your situation. A citation is a starting point for review.
How the Evidence Engine works
From a question
to a clearer explanation.
The Second Set Evidence Engine brings together third-party AI language models with Second Set’s record context, source retrieval, checks, and workflows for life between oncology appointments.
It helps explain information and prepare questions. It does not determine your diagnosis or choose your treatment.
- 01 · Start with your question
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The feature uses your question and any relevant record context included in that request. A record summary starts with the saved information being explained.
- 02 · Look for appropriate sources
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Supported research workflows search connected collections and check the returned material for relevance and usable evidence. Not every collection is searched for every answer.
- 03 · Explain and show the basis
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A language model drafts a plain-language explanation. Sourced answers include references and available supporting excerpts so you can inspect what was used.
- 04 · Make the limits visible
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Generated information is labeled, with limitations where evidence or context is missing. If no useful sources are retrieved, the answer should not be treated as a sourced research finding. Review medical questions with your care team.
Two kinds of understanding
Your own record.
The wider research.
A visit summary helps explain what was recorded in your care. A research answer brings in general medical information. Knowing which you’re reading matters.
Try the fictional portal examples →Explanations of your records
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Optional AI features turn saved visit information into plain language or help you prepare for an appointment. Keep the original record in view and check that the explanation reflects it.
Answers with outside sources
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Supported research and lab explanations show the source material used for the answer. A reference gives you something to inspect and discuss with your team.
Our current connections
Medical information.
With context.
These connected collections serve different purposes and can overlap. The sources used depend on the question, available material, and whether a connection returns a useful result.
Patient education
Understand medical language and prepare for care conversations.
MedlinePlus
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Health topic information from the National Library of Medicine helps explain medical language and general health questions.
Research abstracts & article content
Read available summaries and permitted excerpts. Access and reuse depend on the material and its license.
Europe PMC
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Provides publication records and available abstracts. An abstract is a summary of a study and may leave out important details.
PMC Open Access
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Makes eligible open-access article material available for supporting excerpts. Reuse depends on the individual article’s license.
Research discovery & publication details
Find a publication and its original link. A listing alone does not support a clinical claim.
PubMed
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Helps find biomedical publications. A title or search listing helps identify a paper; by itself, it does not establish a medical claim.
Crossref
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Helps identify publications and their persistent links. Publication metadata is used for discovery, not as clinical evidence on its own.
OpenAlex
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Helps discover scholarly works and related publication information. It does not grant access to every article’s full text.
Clinical trial registry
Look up registered studies. A listing is not confirmation of eligibility or benefit.
ClinicalTrials.gov
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Provides registered study information. A trial listing does not mean you are eligible or that a trial is the right choice for you.
Drug labeling
Look into medication information with your clinician or pharmacist.
openFDA
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Supports relevant medication searches with drug-label information. Your clinician or pharmacist should explain how labeling applies to your treatment.
These connections do not imply a partnership or endorsement. Second Set does not have blanket access to all journals or licensed full-text collections from ASCO, ESMO, or NEJM. Available abstracts, permitted excerpts, and publication details are different kinds of material.
Follow the answer back
A citation should
be useful to you.
In supported sourced answers, open the reference to see what was used. You can bring the same source into a conversation with your care team.
- 01 · Identify the source
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See the source title, where it came from, and a link to the original information.
- 02 · Read the supporting material
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Review the excerpt attached to the answer. Check whether it supports the point being made.
- 03 · Check the dates and scope
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Look at when it was retrieved and any available publication or update date. Newer information is not automatically better evidence, and research may not apply to your situation.
Designed to support the conversationMore understanding.
More understanding.
Your team at the center.
AI is identified.
AI-generated information is labeled. An AI answer is not individually reviewed by a clinician, and a cited answer can still be incomplete or incorrect.
Uncertainty belongs here.
A missing source, unavailable connection, or gap in your record limits what can be explained. Sources are not a guarantee that every question has a reliable answer.
Decisions stay with your team.
Second Set supports education and organization. Your providers confirm diagnosis, treatment, and what symptoms or changes require attention.
Information & choiceKnow what you use.
Know what you use.
Choose what you share.
Optional AI features use third-party language-model services to process the information included in your request. Review the result before using it or sharing it. Our privacy policy explains this processing and the service providers involved.
Read our privacy policy →Looking for a human second opinion?
You can organize a case file to bring to a clinician you choose. The subscription does not include a medical consultation or a human review of every answer.
See what Complete includes →One place to beginYour next step.
Your next step.
A little clearer.
7 days free · No credit card required. Complete is $12/month or $119/year after your trial.