Did anyone have a missed diagnosis of NSCLC?

Posted by franciekid @franciekid, Feb 3 8:37am

Did anyone have a missed diagnosis of NSCLC? I had a routine chest Xray in the ER incidental to any lung issues. The radiologist saw a suspicious nodule and recommended a CT scan follow up. The hospital never gave me the report. 4 months later, I was diagnosed with lung cancer. The nodule had grown from 1.4 to 3 cm. Curious as to how unique this is.

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@franciekid

The Urgent Care site I visited was in AL. I live in Chicago. Similar experience. Did the hospital that didn’t notify you take any responsibility for the stage you were in?

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No, I haven't bothered with it. That hospital and Directors pretty much own the entire town, all the urgent cares, and a lot of the doctors. It’s the only hospital around for 250 miles in any direction. Everyone used to say only go to that hospital if you want to die! Lot of bad experiences there and I choose just to move forward and when needed, I travel 90 miles down the mountain to Mayo in Phoenix. My Dr here understands thst if it’s something serious send the info to Mayo because that’s where I’m going.❤️

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@franciekid

Thanks for the good advice. I stopped being angry a long time ago. What’s frustrating is I had asked for an explanation of how it happened and reassurance that there were processes in place to ensure it did not happen to anyone else - with potentially disastrous consequences. Tea is made. I’m off to light my candle.

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😁

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@cmcguire10

No, I haven't bothered with it. That hospital and Directors pretty much own the entire town, all the urgent cares, and a lot of the doctors. It’s the only hospital around for 250 miles in any direction. Everyone used to say only go to that hospital if you want to die! Lot of bad experiences there and I choose just to move forward and when needed, I travel 90 miles down the mountain to Mayo in Phoenix. My Dr here understands thst if it’s something serious send the info to Mayo because that’s where I’m going.❤️

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So happy for you that you found good health care which everyone deserves.

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@cmcguire10

Just want to clarify that the hospital was in a different city and it was not Mayo that failed me, but the other Hospital. Mayo and their AWESOME Dr.’s saved my life!

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There are discussions about how useful MyChart is. Your story is a good example of why everyone should read their test results and doctor's notes posted on MyChart. People should ask their primary care doctor to review. And that includes tests from any and all medical institutions including Mayo Clinic which also will not necessarily tell you about other things found on your test beyond the original purpose of the test. It is your job to keep track of things!!!

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@vic83

There are discussions about how useful MyChart is. Your story is a good example of why everyone should read their test results and doctor's notes posted on MyChart. People should ask their primary care doctor to review. And that includes tests from any and all medical institutions including Mayo Clinic which also will not necessarily tell you about other things found on your test beyond the original purpose of the test. It is your job to keep track of things!!!

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I think if there was an incidental finding that required follow up tests recommended by a radiologist, Mayo would let you know. Especially if the finding was unrelated to what you were being treated for. What do you do if you’re treated/tested when you are in another city?

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@franciekid

I think if there was an incidental finding that required follow up tests recommended by a radiologist, Mayo would let you know. Especially if the finding was unrelated to what you were being treated for. What do you do if you’re treated/tested when you are in another city?

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x

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@franciekid

I think if there was an incidental finding that required follow up tests recommended by a radiologist, Mayo would let you know. Especially if the finding was unrelated to what you were being treated for. What do you do if you’re treated/tested when you are in another city?

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Well I am definitely a reader now! Believe me I read every detail and words I don’t know (medical terms) I look up! Yes! We have to be our OWN Advocates!!!! Also need to make sure we ask doctors questions and not let them rush out of the room! We have to pay to see them which means we are paying for their time! Another reason I LOVE Mayo Clinic. They are paid salary, so it doesn't matter if they see 5 patients a day or 20, they get paid the same. They really stay and answer all your questions. (Unless there’s an emergency, of course). My husband and I also make a list. Hope you ALL have a Blessed day!

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@franciekid

I think if there was an incidental finding that required follow up tests recommended by a radiologist, Mayo would let you know. Especially if the finding was unrelated to what you were being treated for. What do you do if you’re treated/tested when you are in another city?

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I agree. There are a few of us who have a lot of experience in the medical environment one way or another who would perk up and make sure to digest those radiology results. But that’s not Joe Q. Public.
@vic83 because we have had a lot of dialogue about our respective illnesses, I’m positive you didn’t intend to sound judgmental. And while
I’m all about being my own advocate, you and I and many others learned that necessity the hard way when we had the same delusion that we could count on others - and learned that too frequently things fall through the crack.

I have also been in hospital administration and I know there is an expectation that the patient in this situation should be unequivocally told to follow up on this result.

Stuff happens on spite of smart people and good intentions.

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@cmcguire10

Well I am definitely a reader now! Believe me I read every detail and words I don’t know (medical terms) I look up! Yes! We have to be our OWN Advocates!!!! Also need to make sure we ask doctors questions and not let them rush out of the room! We have to pay to see them which means we are paying for their time! Another reason I LOVE Mayo Clinic. They are paid salary, so it doesn't matter if they see 5 patients a day or 20, they get paid the same. They really stay and answer all your questions. (Unless there’s an emergency, of course). My husband and I also make a list. Hope you ALL have a Blessed day!

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Thank you. I am an avid user of the Northwestern Medicine portal, my NM. I get all my test results, often before the docs see them. My case was unique in that I was in another state, had never visited the facility before, and had no reason to ask for the chest X-ray report as I was being treated for a muscle spasm.

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Yes, paying doctors a salary instead of "fee for service" is much better.

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