Recurrence - I wish I learned

Options
Recurrence - I wish I learned

Comments

  • kimrup
    kimrup Member Posts: 6
    edited December 2007

    About 3 & half years ago, I had a mastectomy (no limp nodes involved)  and an adjunctive chemotherapy due to HER2+ breast cancer. Then, I discovered that my cancer returned and spread to lungs, liver, & many parts of bones (final & life-threatening stage) by a group of different doctors in a different hospital less than a month of my oncologist determined “I’m free of cancer.”

    To explain further, I have had regular follow-up check-ups with my oncologist after the first cycle of chemotherapy. During the first 2 years, I’ve had blood tests and check-ups with my oncologist every 3 months. Then, during the 2 year through 3 and half years, every six-month I met my oncologist who checked my surgery area (left), right breast ,& underarms, etc, but ordered no blood test nor prescribed any medications for preventative measures (I’m ER/PR - ).
        The last visit I had with him was on May 29, 2007. At that time, I lost about 5 pounds, compared to the previous visit. For about 2 months prior to this visit, I have seen several times my primary physician at the same hospital due to various health problems such as swollen knees, rib & back pain, tingling sensations on my feet, etc. However, my oncologist performed no other tests beyond his routine check-ups and led me to believe “I’m free of cancer.”
        My nightmare started when I traveled to my husband’s hometown, Wisconsin, in early June. I fell sick with cough & a shortness of breath. I took cold medicines for about 2 weeks, assuming “it’s just cold.” Since my health insurance company & hospital (by the way – it’s both Kaiser hospital & insurance company) is based in Hawaii, I was reluctant to visit a doctor in Wisconsin until my symptoms (cough & shortness of breath) had gotten worse to the point we (my hubby & I) worried that I might have a bronchitis or pneumonia. Never suspicious of cancer. The first doctor I saw prescribed me with antibiotic – My cough gotten worse even though I took antibiotics for 5 days – I worried & called the doctor and mentioned that I had a history of breast cancer. The doctor asked me to come back right away and ordered blood tests and chest x-ray.
        The results: Cancer spread to lung, liver, & bones – referred me to an oncologist in Wisconsin. According to this oncologist, I was in a life- threatening situation. I was hospitalized for 8 days for a series of tests, chemotherapy, and treatments for pneumonia. I was/am outraged about the misdiagnosis given by the Kaiser doctor. With all my regular follow-up check-ups (including May visit), how can I be found with the terminal stage of breast cancer within less than a month? I wouldn’t have traveled if my cancer had been discovered in Hawaii and I didn’t have to use hospitals outside of Kaiser. In addition to my sufferings in a life-threatening situation, I ended up with a huge financial burden, a total co-payment balance of over $10,000, even after the Kaiser insurance covered 80% of my hospital bills.

        When I came back to Hawaii, I requested a review of the oncologist/misdiagnosis whether he neglected his duties and any procedures because I wanted to make sure that no other patients should go through what I’ve experienced. I also requested the Kaiser should pay the co-payment balance.  It took almost 5-months to get answers --The internal review (done by one oncologist in the same department) outcomes: the care I received was judicious and proper, therefore they cannot justify paying the co-payment. I’m very unhappy about the outcomes. Should I sue, so I can have external review of my healthcare? If I’m not likely to win, I’d rather focus my energy & money on my healing. Please share if you have similar experiences and any suggestions.

    ***** I forgot to mention. I thought if the breast cancer comes back, it would come back to my right breast first, not other organs in my body--I checked for lumps regularly, but never learned that it could come directly to lungs & shortness of breast would be a symtom of recurrance.  I wish I were educated better! Hope you ladies never experience such bad luck. Take care!

  • MtnMama
    MtnMama Member Posts: 133
    edited December 2007

    I'm so sorry about your recurrence, and your poor treatment by your oncologist.  Neither my hemo oncologist nor my surgeon voluteered information about possible recurrence scnenarios.  Only after I asked specifically what to look for did they tell me anything.  I find that really curious, considering there are specific areas that breast cancer is likely to go if there is metastases (lung, liver, bones, brain).  Most of what I've learned I had to research myself.

    I hope you are getting the best possible care now.  I would get a second opinion on whatever you do now.  There are so many different approaches, and different degrees of intervetion possible. 

  • Member_of_the_Club
    Member_of_the_Club Member Posts: 3,646
    edited December 2007

    Most oncologists do not do regular scans, particularly if there is no lymph node involvement. So I don't know if your oncologist was out of line. I think it was your primary care physician who was out of line, actually. he was the one you were seeing with all your symptoms and ailments and he knew you had a history of bc. He should have responded the way teh doctors in Wisconsin did. I'm so sorry and i hope you get a treatment that kicks the cancer to teh curb.

  • fire
    fire Member Posts: 153
    edited December 2007

    I'm so sorry!

    I hope you will get help.

    Hugs.

  • JapanLynn
    JapanLynn Member Posts: 471
    edited December 2007

    What a nightmare!  So sorry about your recurrence.  I feel so ignorant about insurance, despite all my dealings w/ BCBS over the last six months.  I couldn't begin to advise you, but I think Member of the Club might be onto something re: your primary care physician.

    Best of luck to you...please keep us posted.

    Lynn

  • kimrup
    kimrup Member Posts: 6
    edited December 2007

    Thanks so much for your concerns.

    My chemotherapy (Herceptin & Taxol) worked so far -- after 5th cycles chemo, the tumor maker in my blood tests lowered to 41 (nomal is below 35) from 247 in September. I've finished 6 cycles of chemo 2 wks ago & will have CT,MUGA, & bone scans within 1-2 wks to decide the next steps for follow-ups. I don't like the side-effects from Taxol, especially neuropathy in my fingers & feet. My new Onc thinks I need to get Herceptin every 3 wks indefinately. Well, I'm still alive & treasure every moments...

    Take care!

  • wishiwere
    wishiwere Member Posts: 3,793
    edited December 2007

    {{kimrup}} so sorry you've been dx with the recurrance, but more so that you are now dealing with the financial end b/c of neglect.  you did you job following up and it's apparent someone else dropped the ball.


    Prayers this is turned around and soon and you get on with life without a lot problems.  The fight will be difficult, but you sound like a fighter! I think I would find outside help that would help look into it.  Good luck with all aspects of this!

  • janette2007
    janette2007 Member Posts: 29
    edited December 2007

    Perhaps it is worth talking to a malpractice lawyer.  Maybe a lawyer could get you the $10,000 without the lawsuit.   It may be worth it to a doctor to pay the $10,000 plus lawyer fees in order to avoid a lawsuit.  

  • ravdeb
    ravdeb Member Posts: 3,116
    edited December 2007

    First of all..I hope that your treatments are easy on you and do the job!

    When there are symptoms the onc or surgeon should send you for scans. You mentioned that you had back and rib pain. This would have been a sign to get a CT or MRI on those areas (or a bone scan, I guess) to see why you had the pain.

    Losing weight with no apparent reason is also a sign that they need to check into it.

    Thank you for telling your story and reminding us that we need to be aware (but not obsessed) with any changes we may be feeling.

    Be well.

  • chemo072
    chemo072 Member Posts: 682
    edited December 2007

    (((kimrup)))  - as a former Kaiser patient, I sympathise.  I've had excellent care through Kaiser, and care where they SOO dropped the ball.  It seems to be the luck of the draw.  Myself, I'd definitely meet with a medical malpractice attorney just to see what your options are.  Maybe s/he can get a settlement for you, never know, not sure.

    With my oncs outside of Kaiser, it took several sessions of persistent questioning before they told us where the cancer would come back (lung, liver, bones, brain) and that those weren't curable...then it's a manner of management, with a set (though there are exceptions) # of years.  Personally, I would rather have had that info. up front.  Not sure why it leaks out slowly, rather than being told upfront. 

    Take home point for me:   not only education, but

    a) thank goodness you got seen somewhere else!!  wow, what are the chances - I guess it's worth it to get an outside perspective 

    b) when outside doctors to me seem to over-react, let them, they may be right (I've gone to my PCP etc. for what seemed like little things and watched them freak out, order big tests, and that seems to be consistent across the board, much different than pre-cancer)

    c) my theory of a diverse medical team holds - not just an oncologist (who may or may not be on the ball, luck of the draw), but a team full of docs so that if one misses something hopefully another one can catch it.... 

    best wishes with your quality of life from here on out....

    hugs again, 

  • colleen42
    colleen42 Member Posts: 50
    edited February 2008

    I am so sorry, I hope the new therapy works for you..

    just take comfort in knowing that there are many women with mets to the lungs and liver that are living a full (12 years!) life..

  • SLH
    SLH Member Posts: 566
    edited March 2008

    I'm sorry Kimrup for your trauma.  It's not just Kaiser.  My dad's thyroid cancer was treated as high blood pressure, and my mom's ovarian cancer symptoms were thought to be "just getting old".

    I've been wondering about recurrance.  I was Dx in Feb'05 and had a bilateral, no chemo.  I see my onc every 6 months to monitor the Arimidex I've been on for 2 years.  I asked him if I should have a scan, and he said scans can expose you to too much radiation.  Do we wait for symptoms?  I feel like every pain is the bc coming back.

    sally 

Categories