Miss Diagnosis

JaniJan

I am new here as a member. Although I have been reading and studying this sight since January 2017.

On December 27, 2016, I went for a regular mammo. I received a call the first week on January 2017, saying I needed to come in for a diagnostic mammo and sonogram. At that time the technician showed me an area and said the Dr. would want a biopsy. Shocked but still not worried! Two weeks later I went in for the biopsy and the Dr. told me It may be a slow growing cancer. I questioned him "when was my last mammo"? He turned to his computer and said "it was January 2015. And here it is, right here". He could see it in the previous mammo! That is the year that it was suggested that women get a mammogram every two years. I have been adimit about going for mammos when they were ordered. I left in shock! And even more of a shock they called the following day to tell me I had a surgical appointment two days later! During that appointment the Dr told me he was booked for 6-8 weeks but he would not do that to me. He scheduled the surgery appointment himself, right on his computer! I then ask him if he saw my tumor in my 2015 mammo, he pulled it up and showed my husband it was there. They told me it was 4mm but invasive. The Surgeon recommended a lumpectomy. I decided on a mastectomy. Within a few weeks I had my surgery! Afterward my surgeon told my family and I that he removed 2 lymph nodes and nothing else. A few weeks later I ordered all my records from this event. Pathology report said that my tumor was a 1.5 cm not a 4 mm as I was told. It also said lymph nodes removed /1 negative?? The next time I saw my surgeon in May, I had questions, he told me "he thought he removed 2 lymph nodes" and showed me his report. Which was different from the ones I had! Also, I asked about the size of the tumor, and his response was, mammograms don't always get the size right! I loved this Dr in the beginning, he never ever told us that the size was bigger than stated or that he removed less lymph nodes. I saw the PS with this medical group on Friday, he was evasive and made it clear he was not Interested in doing reconstruction! I'm sorry so depressed and discouraged!! This is scary my friends

Moderators

Hi JaniJan. We're sorry you're going through all this, but glad you found us. You'll find our community a helpful place full of knowledge and advice.

We understand how you're feeling. It must be so frustrating not to get all the info from your medical team... And your PS, did they give a reason why not to do reconstruction? If you decide to pursue a second opinion, here's more information on how to do that, from the main Breastcancer.org site: Getting a Second Opinion. Sometimes asking another breast cancer specialist, or a team of specialists may be really helpful because they can review all of your medical reports and test results, and suggest other treatment options.

We hope other members come along soon with their personal experiences and encouragement. You're not alone!

Best wishes,

From the Mods

BG46TN

Wow I'm so sorry you have to deal with this and that you are here, but this group is great for support and to help you through each step!

First of all I would definitely get a second opinion, I would be more upset about the fact that it was seen on your last mammogram and nothing was done about it! That would bother me a lot and I would probably consult a lawyer about it also....what if it had spread or was an earlier stage? It could totally change your treatment plan...

I would absolutely consult a different plastic surgeon, esp if he won't do reconstruction....that is not fair to you (if you want reconstruction)

where do you live? maybe people here can help with recommendations.

JaniJan

Thanks so much for your reply! I am going to continue toward a second opinion. I feel like this group of Dr's knows that a mistake was made two years ago. I have contacted an attorney, who has asked the medical group for my records. Since then my Dr's attitudes have seem to change. Has this happened to anyone else? It all just seems so crazy!!

JaniJan🌻

Bonniebelle

He is right though mamograms do not always show the approximations correctly, they are usually bigger. Good luck finding an attorney who after viewing all medical records will be willing to take the case.

JaniJan

Bonnebell, I do get the fact that mammograms don't always show correct size. My concern is that the surgeon never told me it was bigger. After almost 6 months and during my follow up appointment, after I saw it on my pathology report, did I question him and that is when he told me that was right. We all deserve to know where we are at the are cancer and be able to trust our Drs. The bigger issue is that my cancer was seen by my biopsy Dr in a mammo that was dated 2 years prior and at that time it was 4mm and not invasive. After 2 years of not knowing I had BC, it had become invasive and was a size of 1.5 cm. I was surprised when I was told I had cancer and asked the Dr when my last mammo was. I have always been faithful in getting regular mammos. That is when he told me he could see it then and the surgeon confirmed that he could also see it in the mammo. The original radiologist missed it!

JaniJan🌻

ElaineTherese

JaniJan,

Regardless of where you live, medical malpractice suits are extremely difficult to win - and depending on where you live, the actual return for managing to win could be hamstrung by awards caps.

To expand further on your low odds, the chance of winning the suit is artificially driven down, even in the clearest cases, by the juror cognitive dissonance (we don't want doctors to be idiots), doctor credibility, inability to obtain solid testimony from other doctors/staff, willingness to pile negligence onto the patient, and the actual requirements of law. You're fighting not against one doctor, but against the standard of care - the medical community itself.

There's no harm in seeking out a medical malpractice 'specialist' in your area - the initial consultation is likely free or very low-cost, and a second opinion is a good idea. Bring your entire medical history and be prepared to hear that there's just not enough there.

Best wishes!

Michelle_in_cornland

My best advice, knowing many doctors personally and have a legal eagle family, is "don't burn your bridges." If your actions are hostile, no doctor will do reconstructive surgery. Don't talk about the other doctors to any new doctors. If they ask why you are seeking out a second opinion, just tell them that it is "more convenient." Doctors and attorneys socialize amongst themselves and attorneys would be hard pressed (at least the smart ones/best ones) to sue a doctor. There is an old saying, "don't poop where you eat." Same goes for lawsuits, don't crap on your golfing buddies or you will not have a golf game to play.

Some doctors won't do certain types of reconstruction if you have a high body mass index. You would have to lose weight first if you have too high of a bmi.

JaniJan

I was basically done with my questions and advice here but after thinking this over I need to add a little!

My question is can a Dr tell for sure how many lymph nodes they remove?

And then I just want to add that I am not on a witch hunt for a Dr that has made mistakes. This is not about money! If my medical facility is capable of making these mistakes and this could effect my life (which it already has), then I feel that we need to be pro active and follow up of all testing. If I had of been told two years ago that I had breast cancer and it was not invasive, I would have had a lumpectomy done instead of a mastectomy! Just wanting to clear this up as I started feeling guilty for being angry!

JaniJan

Michelle_in_cornland

sometimes the lymph nodes are stuck together in clumps or clusters..... it may be hard to tell if they have become entangled..... mine were stuck altogether and super littl

JaniJan

Michelle, Did the Dr tell you how many lymph nodes he removed? My Dr originally said he removed 2. My pathology report said lymph nodes removed, 1 negative. When I asked my surgeon about this he said he thought he removed 2 and showed me a little different report that said 1/negative.

JaniJan

Michelle_in_cornland

Mine were in a cluster, and they took 4, all of which were fine. I think you should focus on the fact that the pathology was negative, whether it was the first or second is irrelevant, because if the first did not have cancer...the second would not have cancer... If the second did not have cancer, the first would not have had cancer. The breast cancer cells that occupy and float away from the original tumor in the breast can be carried to the node closest to it via lymph fluid. The fact that you are negative is great. When do you have radiation? What type of surgery, etc.? Fill out the form that provides information. If you need help doing it, you can ask a moderator. If you had a Lumpectomy, you can post questions in Lumpectomy Lounge. If you had radiation, you can post questions in the radiation section. If you are taking an antihormonal, you can find information and participate in that section.

NancyHB

JaniJan - I'm so sorry that you find yourself her, joining our group. I second Michelle's suggestion to focus on the fact that your nodes are negative, though, rather than worrying about whether there's a discrepancy in how many were removed. After surgery my BS told me he took 3 nodes and a "fat pad" - pathology revealed 4 very small nodes matted together in that fat pad (all seven were negative). He said I have some of the smallest nodes he's ever seen. My US showed no lymph node involvement, but path showed 4 nodes with isolated tumor cells.

Imagining is not perfect, but it's usually very good and really, it's what we have to work with. My original US of my cancer was rated Birads 3 - "probably benign" - and my doctor said to repeat US in 6 months. Instead I opted for excision - I assumed it was a lipoma, which I've had before so I wasn't worried. Turned out to be a relatively aggressive cancer. My doctor wasn't wrong - he analyzed what he saw and didn't believe it to be cancer. My second diagnosis was very similar - US with a Birads of 4. My radiologist said it didn't have the "hallmarks" of cancer but given my previous cancer in the same spot, he urged a biopsy. Again, he wasn't wrong - he based his diagnosis on what he saw.

I wish we could always be 100% certain about these things, but it's never that cut-and-dried.

edwards750

My BS was confident there was no lymph node involvement after my lumpectomy surgery, however, when the Path report came back it showed a micromet in the SN. My BS was surprised. I was stunned. He said they must have dissected several times to find it. He said it would get me chemo. Not his call. My ONC ordered the Oncotype test to determine treatment. My score was 11. Small tumor. No chemo but 33 Rads treatments.

There is no perfect test but we do have every right to at least expect if there is something detected on a mammo they act on it.

Suing the medical brotherhood is indeed difficult to say the least. I have multiple friends who are attorneys. It has to be an open and shut case for most attorneys. It requires nearly foolproof evidence from your medical records.

I knew someone who decided to sue her husband's doctor who botched a surgery. He suffered from additional surgeries to correct the "mistake." They consulted a malpractice attorney who told them they would have to make a sizable deposit upfront. Seriously. Needless to say they dropped their suit.

We all have to be our own advocates. Don't rely solely on your doctors. After all they aren't infalliable and it's our life - not their's.

Diane

Michelle_in_cornland

Jani, hoping you are doing better each day. Focus on positive, uplifting messages. There is alot of negativity in our world, that we need to shun. Again, we have some excellent threads/forums on Breastcancer.org, with many people who are doing quite well. If you have the time, jump in and get involved with the one's that I mentioned above. I think you would enjoy the sisterhood.