I was diagnosed with breast cancer 1992. A routine mammo showed calcifications. Biopsy showed cancer. Because of the size I had a mastectomy and chemo. No lymph nodes. I was supposed to return the mammograms to the radiologist and decided to take a look first. What shocked me was the report from previous mammo 15 months earlier stated all normal, but this one compared the calcifications to the ones on previous mammogram. In other words, it was there more than a year earlier. The surgeon agreed with my findings.
I have been fine and no recurrence. However, I realize now how the chemotherapy affected my health. I got chemo brain- foggy etc. I was also very susceptible to infections. 20 years later I was diagnosed with autoimmune gastrointestinal inflammation, caused by severe GI reaction I had to chemo. I had this for years before diagnosis- I finally got treated with immunosuppressant medication and it’s gone. However, I’m exhausted, brain fatigue etc.
My point is- a missed diagnosis follows you- even though I have been cancer free my health has suffered.