SO frustrated - have I done the right thing?

NSwrites

Hi everyone. For those who haven't been following my stuff:

I began having brown/black discharge from one duct, one breast, in December. Mammo and ultrasound showed nothing alarming. Doctor sent a requisition for a galactogram. Radiology office lost requisition, gave me a bunch of wrong info, etc etc, finally got me in for the galactogram last week (Feb 20), and the radiologist could not perform the galactogram because he could not get the needly thingy inserted into the duct.

Today, I saw my family doctor to ask what the next step is. He said, "Nothing."

....

I asked him to elaborate and he replied that because the radiologist couldn't get into the duct there must not be anything wrong. And because I'm not having the discharge spontaneously at the moment, whatever the problem was has clearly resolved. I pressed for a referral to a breast specialist and he said "You just saw the specialist."

So, is a breast specialist not a thing? All I saw was a radiologist, who called the galactogram obsolete anyway. No test was actually done because he couldn't get the needle inserted! I felt completely stupid.

I pressed again, and he said he would refer me to a "general surgeon who does some breast work." Which I feel is unacceptable. Do you agree or disagree? Why?

I accepted the referral because it was clear I would make no more progress, and then I went to my gynecologist's office and arranged to see the doctor who does paps and breast exams. I want to go into that appointment knowing what to ask for.

Any thoughts or advice are welcome... like I am really, really frustrated, and wondering if I shouldn't have pushed to have this looked at again, or what.

momto3sons

I’m so sorry you’ve had to deal with this. I wouldn’t be happy with that response from your doctor. It’s a good thing you’re advocating for yourself.

mustlovepoodles

I would be very unhappy with your doctor's brush off. Definitely talk to your Gyn and see if you can get referred to a breast specialist. A general surgeon "who does a lot of breast work" would not be satisfactory to me. Clearly, something is going on and nobody has given you appropriate answers.

FarmStrong

Keep pressing until you have an answer! I am a nursing, young mother with a family history of breast cancer. In December I was brushed off by a breast surgeon because of a reoccurring nipple lesion. He said since I was young and nursing there was nothing to be worried about, I felt very stupid and uncomfortable with that response. I got a second opinion from a dermatologist and got a very different response. He did a biopsy yesterday to rule out Paget's Disease. Next week I will finally have an answer, 6 months after my initial referral to the breast surgeon. I wish I would have pressed sooner but am happy my concerns weren't brushed off this time. Good luck!

Recap

You ran into what I ran into. I commented to the genetics counselor afterwards that there is a definite gap in the process because the GP or Gynaecologist refer you to imaging because it is not their specialty nor do they have the equipment/training, the radiologist is reading images but NOT treating you (prescribing a biopsy comes dangerously close to treating), the pathologist doesn't know one petri dish from another (lol just kidding), the breast surgeon doesn't want time wasted on non-surgical patients, yet there isn't another roadstop along the way for we patients to see our images and reports, and ask questions of an informed provider, from the world of breast. (I would have been happy with a P.A. provided they were well immersed in the world of breast.) A lot of the shortcuts are well-intentioned to move us along without delay. I also have an issue with having to ask for every scrap of information, instead of being in the presence of a flowing fountain of information.

MelissaDallas

The radiologist IS a physician and specialist at that (usually an interventional radiologist) educated to treat you by prescribing a biopsy. They are not just techs

NSwrites

My goodness, I did not say radiologists were just techs.

NSwrites

The galactogram failed to be completed so the radiologist indicated I didn't need further investigation. This is troubling to me.

Icietla

>>My goodness, I did not say radiologists were just techs.<<

I believe Melissa's response was meant for another member.

NSwrites, I am so sorry about your having this frustration and worrying change. Your condition should be checked out. You should have an explanation.

You might go to the Not Diagnosed But Worried section and make a new thread there to get inputs from member djmammo. He is a retired Radiologist.

NSwrites

Thanks for all the feedback. As an update, I saw a doctor today who focuses on womens health. She was absolutely unsatisfied with the treatment I have had, especially given my family history. I have received a referral for another galactogram at a different facility and an MRI if that cannot be completed, and the name of a breast surgeon in case I am unsatisfied with the surgeon my doctor refers me to. She understood that I am not satisfied until the problem duct has been looked at and we know the source of the bloody discharge, and agreed that until we have looked at it, we cannot dismiss it. Overall: making progress and should have appointment dates soon.

NSwrites

As another update to this, I am finally scheduled for another galactogram on April 4th. This has been a nightmare - I have had the symptom in question since December. I'm hopeful the test will be successful that day.