Your doctor should be knowledgeable about what is standard for your particular cancer. He or she should also inform you of the expected results of that treatment. Not every doctor has access to experimental treatments, but you should have the option of being referred to another doctor who does. You should feel confident that your doctor knows what is available in other centers and is willing to refer you if you are interested, especially if standard care doesn't seem to be working. Asking for a second opinion about treatment options does not mean that you don't like or trust your doctor.
Doctors know that patients have to feel that every possibility for cure is being explored.
It's a cooperative effort geared to helping you get the best care possible. Mutual respect between you and your doctor means that you should understand all of the treatment options. Once you and your doctor have fully discussed these options, you should feel confident about the recommended treatment. Many years ago, before cancer was considered curable, patients and their families sometimes asked their doctor to withhold the truth about the diagnosis. In only a few situations will a physician not relay a cancer diagnosis to a patient.