1.
The way I feel is that any lump should be considered cancerous
unless proven otherwise.

I read that a long time ago
too bad that moron dr. did not read the same.

Posted at 3:51PM on Jul 25th 2006 by Patti Anastasi

2. What you don't realize is that if EVERY single lump were biopsied or imaged, health insurance (who picks up the tab) would be prohibitively expensive. If we had unlimited resources, we could people into PET scanners every week and never miss a cancer of any sort again -- ever. But our entire economy would be devoted to paying for it. The price we pay for trying to make healthcare "efficient", is that we are going to miss some low-percentage eventualities, of which your situation was an unfortunate example. Yes, it sucks, but what exactly is the alternative?

Posted at 5:01PM on Jul 25th 2006 by Erich Swafford

3. First of all PET scans do not necessarily pick up cancer. There is no tool that we currently have that can tell you if you have cancer definitely or not. It can be small or not seen on a PET. So I think that everyone getting PET scans all the time would be ridiculous.
However, I felt a breast lump. I do think it should have been investigated further. I do think every breast lump should get a mammogram. The mammogram I had, even though I am young showed a spiculated lesion that was 90 percent chance it was cancer. Mammograms are not that expensive. I'm not saying that every young woman needs a mammogram but If you feel an abnormality or have a family history then YES!
I should have gotten that mammogram then and not eight months later. I pay my health insurance and I expect to get the tests that are needed.

I refuse to be as you call it a 'low percentage eventuality'!

Posted at 5:56PM on Jul 25th 2006 by Kristi Collins

4. let me tell you why health care is so high
Do you think the drug dealers who get shot every night have kept up their health insurance.
Give me a break they get FREE medical Oh wait
I forgot I pay for that, you pay for that.
What about the girls I see in this area they have like 5, 6, 7 kids. No job no insurance.
Who pays for that. The dr should have taken a
biopsy immediately. I had one child and I want
that child to be around long after I am gone.

Patti Anastasi

Posted at 6:33PM on Jul 25th 2006 by patti anastasi

5. Even if a woman is too young to be able to get a good mammogram, there are other means by which it can be determined whether a woman has cancer or not. Even with the idea that "if a lump is persistent", the patient could have made another visit in a month or two instead of waiting so long. Plus, at the rate that breast cancer is increasing, yeah....you're going to have more of a need to have biopsies and other types of testing done. It only makes sense.

Posted at 3:04AM on Jul 26th 2006 by MaryD

6. The reason I did wait so long to ask my doctor again is because he pretty much was telling me 100 percent that it was definitely NOT cancer. I did try and put it out of my mind. I wish i did ask about it again sooner than 8 months but i was trusting him and believing that I was too young for breast cancer. (like he said)
Patients don't know that we have to ask about it more than once. How would I know that? I asked him about it and he reassured me that I was fine. It was only my hypochondric nature that made me ask about it after 8 months.

Posted at 9:50AM on Jul 26th 2006 by Kristi Collins

7. Usually, my doctor wants me to return every 6 months for a breast check, since I have small lumps that, so far, have been noncancerous. I agree that your doctor dropped the ball. He should have asked for a return sooner just to check that lump, especially since you had specifically asked about it. That's just part of being a good provider. Wish I'd been part of that jury... Not that I would have awarded a great amount, but it's time to quit just tapping some hands and put some responsibility on the providers to be accountable for the people they are seeing. We aren't just insurance policies or numbers, we have families that depend on us - and lives to live.

Posted at 2:11PM on Oct 11th 2006 by M. E.

8. This story is exactly like mine. My doctor said the same thing and about eleven months later I had stage four breast cancer that spread through my lymph nodes to my bones in my back. Doctor's are too worried about insurance than their patients!

Posted at 4:17PM on Oct 11th 2006 by Joan Parow

9. I found a lump and was sent for ultrasounds every other month for almost nine months. Each radiologist told me it was nothing, a bruise, a gland.... I was 31 with no family history, so cancer was not even a consideration. Then one radiologist saw my films and recognized it as cancer. (He wasn't even my doctor, but he turned out to be my guardian angel!) I recently underwent a double mastectomy for stage 2 Invasive Ductal Carcinoma. The lesson? You must be your own advocate for your health care. PUSH, NAG, do what it takes. It's YOUR life!!

Posted at 3:05PM on Oct 11th 2006 by Yisa

10. A good friend had breast cancer at 25 and died at 27 even though her doctor got on it right away. How can any doctor say someone's too young? I would think the medical schools would be ashamed that there are graduates who think that 'rare' means 'never.'

Posted at 3:31PM on Oct 11th 2006 by Sonja Langsjoen

11. Everything in this Country costs money, to much of it I might add. That is still no excuse for a Doctor not to do his job. I have a rare disease and if you ask me 75% of our Doctors are just plain lazy, they take to many shortcuts, to busy, or just plain Know It All's.

Posted at 7:32PM on Oct 11th 2006 by Kristy Matheson

12. I was lucky to have an OBGYN who cares. She felt the lump during an exam-she made me a follow-up appt 10 days later-lump still there-she made me appointments for a mammogram and ultrasound. Mammogram didn't show anything but the ultrasound did. It was her care, knowledge and persistance that lead to my diaognois. I had two lumps with three different types of cancer in one breast. It had also spread to my lymp nodes. Stage IIA. I had to have a mastectomy and 6 months of chemo. December of 06 will be two years since last treatment. There was no breast cancer in my family and I was 37 when diagnosed. I hope your prognosis turns out as well as mine has thus far.

Posted at 12:47PM on Oct 25th 2006 by Lisa Caldwell

13. I hope you have a new GYN. by now.
Your story is one many young women need to here. So "go tell it on the mountain, here, there & everywhere." I would like to have been on your jury, also. I feel a baseline mammogram at age 30 should be an entitlement for every woman.

I am a 1 yr. B.Cancer survivor age 58 & no family history of breast cancer. I had an annual Diagnostic Mammo that was clear & told, "see you next yr." 8 wks. later I found myself with an inverted nipple, a small lunp, & sitting in a Breast Surgons office. I had 2 Breast Surgons, many repeated mammo's, 2 ultrasounds, 1 biopsy's of the very small lump which showed Invassive Lobular cancer. Both Surgons thought the inverted nipple was scar tissue from a breast reduction I had 20 yrs ago, but previously that area did not have scar tissue. Finally 6 more wks. later a Breast MRI was ordered which showed probable cancer. Then a surgical boipsy for the nipple area (which is the area I sought out to have checked in the first place) The result of 2nd biopsy was also Invassive Lobular cancer. After 9 weeks I had a bilateral mastectomy & the upsetting news 26 positive nodes with the beginning of their own small tumor. How I felt...SHOCKED! The Surgon...shocked!

What I am trying to point out is the same message as Kristina even though our cancers & ages are different (both NO HISTORY) it is still CANCER & TIME is of the essence! This disease is or can become AGRESSIVE. We do our part in finding the abnormalities & making the apt. to have areas checked. My daughter( A NURSE)& I feel (that I needed an MRI & surgery sooner. TIME & ACTION are the key & maybe if Kristina & I had received ACTION instead of words we would have had 0 positive nodes. MY DAUGHTER IS 32. She found a lump in her breast recently. Her Dr. (knowing my breast history) saw her the next day. She had a mamo. & ultrasound the following day. It is not cancer. I am very thankfull for her Doctor.

Ladies WE have to be OUR OWN ADVOCATE. If you find an area INSIST on TESTS NOW. If your Dr will not do the tests find one who will. INSIST ON A a BREAST MRI. THERE ARE NO NORMS FOR BREAST CANCER. CANCER DOES NOT HAVE AGE LIMITS.

LIVESTRONG.

Posted at 10:33AM on Oct 13th 2006 by Pam