second opinion needed for DCIS and atypia pathology report

treetoo

great article in the nytimes in regard to a pathology study

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/18/health/breast-biopsies-dcis-atypia-diagnosis-leave-room-for-doubt.html

momoschki

Thanks so much for posting-- thisarticle unfortunately speaks directly to my own experience. Needle biopsy dx'ed by first hospital as DCIS. Second opinion at a different institution found "borderline" DCIS-ADH. I even sought out yet a third opinion at a third hospital which came back as pure ADH. All of this occurred at 3 very well respected top notch NYC teaching hospitals.

As the article correctly points out, these diagnostic ambiguities have large costs when it comes to treatment options and the anxiety that accompanies such confusion. Although every doctor I've consulted with had assured me that in my case, the ADH/DCIS distinction makes no difference in terms of treatment and prognosis, I still find it unnerving. Did I have cancer or didn't I? Three opinions yielded just that: three different opinions. Four years have passed and it still drives me crazy!