Was your breast cancer misdiagnosed by a radiologist?

I was misdiagnosed by radiologist and gyn. Gyn said on two separate visits, nine months apart that my breast was grainy and just changing with age as is normal. No lump felt first time, second time absolutely felt lump. Gyn said no lump just aging. I insisted on mam. which led to immediate ultrasound . Radiologist said I had a rather large fibro abnoma, never cancer. No problem. Nothing to worry sbout. I was told to just get my yearly mam and do monthly checks and come back in a year. I went for second opinion in larger well known hospital where doctor almost did not do check up because of confidence of radiologist but after feeling my breast he sent me to breast cancer surgeon. Had MRI and ultra sound and Biopsy, stage 2 b breast cancer, mastectomy which lab found a second cancer in other breast stage 1, it was never picked up in any of the screenings and I could not feel a lump. Not a spread just bi-lateral breast cancer. Thank God for second opinions. I wish I had gone sooner. Oncologist said it had probably been there for 10 years growing.
I never missed a check up or mammogram with same doctor and radiologist. Each time I voiced my concern they blew me off with a lot of technical jargon which turned out to be inaccurate. Neitherr doctors or technology is perfect so be your own advocate. Surgeon and oncologist said if I had listened to the other doctors and not gotten second opinion I would not have survived but as time delay causes it had 2 lymph nodes and my tumor was 4cm so there is always a risk of recurrence.

@cathyhand - Great that you got a second opinion!
I tell people all the time to get a second opinion if the answer you get doesn’t synchronize with what one feels. Even 3rd opinions.

I just saw this thread and wanted to add my 2 cents. 2 years ago at mammo, radiologist noted an "area of architectural distortion" and recommended mammo every 6 months. The area stayed the same until March 2021 when radiologist determined I should have a biopsy. April 14 biopsy and I was diagnosed with IDC, Grade 1, HR95%+PR95%+Hers2- Early stage 1a. Lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy May 14, no node involvement, clear margins. Tumor 7mm at largest part. So in a lot of ways I am lucky for this early diagnosis, but cannot help but wonder if I should've asked for a biopsy sooner? It didn't even occur to me, at age 73, breast cancer was not in my thought process!!!! But it sure is now! I can't help but wonder about the balance of subjective/objective in medical recommendations. Sometimes you just don't even know what to ask. June 1 & 2 I will have appts with radiology oncology and medical oncology for next steps.

My tumor was similar to yours, and I only had to do 3 rounds of partial breast radiation. Especially if it is your left breast, to keep radiation away from lungs and heart. Ask about that!! All the best to you!

I was told I was too young to have it by the first doctor. Then 4 months later when there was a walnut sticking out, the radiologist said there was something but not important, his words were “round and lobular”. The a needle core biopsy, with many cores into this growing thing on my chest wall, yep you guessed it, negative. Then my wonderful doctor said “well you know it’s there, and I know it’s there and I don’t like it, let’s take it out and put it under a microscope” and my journey began. That was 17 years ago and thanks to that doctor, I am still here talking about it, and advocating for patients to keep looking for answers, whatever those answers may be.

4+ years before being diagnosed with BC, I had pain in the bottom of one breast. I had a mammogram and U/S that didn't show anything and also insisted on MRI at that time, which were negative or so they thought. After my BC diagnosis 4+ years later, I sought all my records and saw the radiology note stating "Recommend follow up with surgeon," which I had never been told to do. I questioned my gyne who said that that was standard CYA language for radiologists and that there was nothing for a surgeon to do as there was nothing found on the MRI. I am unsure of why the radiologist would have written that had they not seen something questionable which could have at least warranted a biopsy. (I had a mother and her two sisters who had BC so it was in my family and I was hypervigilant.) 4+ years later I found a tumor in the proximity of where this breast hurt me 4+ years prior. It was a tricky type of cancer that is harder to detect compounded by very dense breasts. Coincidence? I will never know, but we need to follow our guts. I guess this speaks volumes to breast self-exam, which even I got lax on depending more on the accuracy of mammo and U/S, but they are not foolproof. I am going for breast thermogram next month as it is heat sensitive and detects potential cancer hotspots without radiation, which you can then follow up on as needed.

Yes, I, too, had a misdiagnosis. Two years before I was diagnosed with Stage 3 (tumor in right breast and lymph node involvement), I found three lumps in my right breast in 2017. I went for a mammogram and ultrasound. They said they don't appear to be cancer and to monitor with 6-month check-ups. I did 6 months later. Then I moved. A year later I was diagnosed with Stage 3. I didn't have a biopsy until 2019. Why? I'll never know. Now I'm Stage 4 with liver mets. Not a great prognosis. Just going down the chemo train until the last stop when they tell me it doesn't work anymore and my liver can't take any more drugs. Luckily, I have very little pain or discomfort yet. Reading a book called "Being Mortal." It puts things in perspective for my next stage of getting ready to enter the little last stage of life. So scary. But I will pray. And I will hold my loved ones close and dear. I wish you the best and hope you have a better outcome. Yes, one needs to ask for things/procedures/screenings/biopsies even when doctors don't. I have learned that the hard way. Insist! Its your life.

@trivia - I am so sorry to hear what happened to you!
Your story is quite common- “ life happens “ - you moved- and time goes without anyone telling you what has to be done.
My diagnosis was” missed”- I would say the doctor forgot to report all mammo findings until a year and a half later after I had another mammogram. He then discussed the change in calcifications found earlier.
At this point the tumor was large enough to require a mastectomy, chemo etc.
I’m still here, but developed other ailments from the chemo.

I’m so sorry to hear of your suffering and am amazed at your strength! There is always hope, regardless of what “Stage” diagnosis we are told. If you haven’t looked into alternative therapies as an adjunct to your chemotherapy, you might be interested to know many people fully recover or live long lives after Stage 4 cancer diagnosis. The Truth About Cancer.com has a wealth of information in that regard. Wishing you peace, happiness and love. 💕

I was misdiagnosed by a radiologist and oncology surgeon and got three separate opinions; they all said it was a "fat necrosis." Finally, six months later, I lied and said, "My lump is growing." I demanded a biopsy. Fine needle biopsy revealed breast cancer. Breast MRI revealed a 1.3 cm tumor. Pathology revealed it was 2.0 cm. I had six cycles of chemotherapy and a bilateral mastectomy. A test is only as good as those who are reading it. The medical system has failed me twice. This is my second bout with breast cancer, so that's why I chose a bilateral mastectomy and no reconstruction. I had dense breasts, but not extreme. If you have dense breasts (50% of women do), you need a mammogram and ultrasound. I always had both and still was misdiagnosed. The only test that is almost 100% accurate is a breast MRI. If you have dense breasts, it might be a good idea to get a breast MRI (even if your insurance doesn't pay for it).