Cancer missed by mammogram?

Wow! Some of you really got a shock! I, too, had routine mammograms every year along with some diagnostic ones and ultrasounds for various things felt by me or my providers. I found the lump in November after having a normal mammogram in June.

Even though I had dense breasts, it was never recommended to me to have the 3D done. They had signs posted at the radiology center about 3 D and yet - no one ever told me that I should be getting them. I wish I had known. I make a point of recommending to everyone that they consider getting the 3D now.

I've never had any of my providers say that the cancer was present on previous mammograms. I don't know whether it really wasn't (possible, it is HER2) or if they're all just not wanting to rat out other providers.

If you ask me, standard protocol should be 3D mammogram and US. And maybe every other yr optional MRI. Also, regardless of age, bad period should be another red flag in terms of BC risk. My old gyn knew about moms ovarian cancer, breast cancer and my horrendous period. She only ordered diagnostic mammos. Needless to say I stopped going.

Mimi

on the 2D vs 3D option - my dr said 3D was optional and would cost me $50 out of pocket on top of my copay. I chose to pay it. I do wonder if sometimes they don't offer it because they assume you don't want to pay the extra (especially if a patient complains about their regular copay amount and/or cost of medications). If you complain and say you can't afford those, then perhaps they assume you can't pay the $50 for 3D. I work with docs everyday that make these types of assumptions when selecting what medication they will or won't consider prescribing for a patient. My response to them is people will decide what they are willing to pay for if they see value in it. After all, every patient that complains about medication or office copay costs doesn't walk out of the office and hop in a stripped down 1973 Volkswagen Beetle. Or even a stripped down late model economy car. Some do, but many walk out and hop into a late model mid-upper proved car with plenty of optional bells and whistles-the same patients that complain about cost. We could break it down to something more simple too-not every patient walks out and only buys store brand products at the grocery store. If cost was their only motivation they would. But no. Many buy brand name Products because they see a value in them. With all that being said, these types of assumptions are just wrong to make. As a patient who knows these assumptions are being made, complaints about cost are non-existent for me and discussion about cost only happens when it's followed up by a deep discussion on the alternatives and the pros/cons of the alternative vs what the dr wants to prescribe so I can be an active participant in making the decision on which medication/procedure to take and whether or not I see value.

Outside of cost/affordability assumptions in the part of the dr and/or staff, some offices may not have upgraded to the 3D machine yet.

Drs stick together, its rare that they will openly say another one screwed up. My surgeon did tell me mine was there at least 2 yrs,. I do not know if he went in and looked at all past mamas or if educated guess from years of experience based on the type I had .

I have been making a stink about it which may in the end get me banned from our local county hospital but if it saves someone from going through what Ihave been through so be it .

I know 2 other ladies that had breast cancer and were given clean results from the same local radiologist .

I also tell everyone I know to get a 3-d, it may not be the complete answer but its better on dense breast then a regular one and like others I was never once told that I should be getting a 3-d and or a MRI based on how dense my breast were......I think Drs get to smug in there little worlds and don't really do all they can do for those that depend on them .

I used to have a yearly mammo and my insurance company decided that every 2 years was their policy now. I had a mammo December 27, 2016. I was called back for an mammo, ultra sound, then byopsy. I could tell the Dr doing the byopsy knew it wasn't good. He said it was possibly a slow growing cancer. I asked when my last mammo was and he said January 2015, so almost 2 years. Then told me he could see it in my last mammo! What?? I've had this cancer for 2 years because no one called it! In the 2015 mammo it was 4.4 mm and non invasive, in 2016 it was 1.5 cm and invasive. Let me tell you, they called me the next day and scheduled an appointment with my surgeon 2 days later. He thought he could do a lumpectomy with radiation. I decided to have a mastectomy and wanted a complete but they wanted to do the surgery in 2 weeks. Although, when he did not nit know that it was a 1.5 until surgery and never told me. I found it in my path report! He told me he removed 2 limp nodes and the path report said 3 put in separate containers. I ask him about this and he said I thought I removed 2. Is that possible?? I have found it very hard to trust my Dr's .....it's very scary! My insurance is a HMO organization!

I'm so glad to find this topic!

Jan

Honeybeew,

I have also made a big stink as 2 Drs, not radiologist told me they could see the tumor and if I had another mammo a year later, I believe my tumor would probably not been invasive! And yes, once I started raising a stink...they stuck together and I do not feel I have received the best care!

I started having a lot of pain under my arm and a large lump formed. I started going in and complaining about this lump 6 months ago. PA told me it was a dogs ear. Surgeon told me it was nothing and it could be fixed when I had my next mastectomy. No one even touched it. Finally went to a follow up with my oncologist and he felt it. Said he has never seen anything like it, it is hard as a rock and has to come out. I finally demanded an ultra sound and that Dr removed a large syringe of blood. I have had no calls or follow up on what, how, or why!

I have an appointment today for a nurse visit!

Thanks for let me rave about this but I'm with the rest of you! Upset and discouraged!

Ja

Dunno what could've happened to me if I hadn't noticed a dimple on my breast, that was a sign of my bc. I too have dense breasts.

The state of PA requires the medical facility where you get your mammogram to notify you of this. I'm getting an MRI soon, ordered by my breast surgeon to follow up, to make sure there isn't possibly another tumor the mammogram missed.

Hi everyone...IMO we should all have pre treatment MRIs before we make any decisions. We need to know the whole picture so we can make the most informed decisions possible. My BS at at major NYC university hospital does them on all his BC patients pre operatively. In my case it changed my treatment decision drastically. They found a ILC tumor that was missed on the 3D mammo and ultrasound!

They missed my tumor (which was palpable) on 3D mammo. Believe they would have missed on US had I not directed them to it: it's here.

Just going by what the radiologist said after about it being faint and a good catch. Yes, I guess so.

I did have dense breasts and had been getting 3D for a few years. Someone along the BC way told me my films were white -- could not see anything. I had no thought to ask about an MRI or something preventively (I have family history) but wonder if 3D is enough for dense breasts. Idk.

Wow so sorry to hear this Garden, what made you to have second mammogram??

Good that you found it yourself. Hope you don't have to do chemo so you won't have to go through the pain .

Garden - without chemo would be great, prayers for your surgery! Hugs!

GardenGril

I to have both letters one telling me all is great and two months later when I found the lump and had to demand a ultra sound I get a second letter saying Hey we found something consult your dr.. I to put way to much trust in the Drs, I will never make that mistake again. .