Was your breast cancer misdiagnosed by a radiologist?

I had a mammogram in February 2022 and there were calcifications but radiologist said “probably benign” but recommended another mammogram in 6months. Had the mammogram, different radiologist recommended biopsy. You guessed it, stage 1 invasive ductal cancer in August 2022. Why wasn’t biopsy done in February if the area was suspicious? “Probably benign” is not a good answer! Chemo and future mastectomy is still possible as my surgery is today and it all depends on lymph nodes. I still have to get radiation which is not without side effects. Very frustrated although I know others are suffering more. Prayers to all going through this terrible disease.

I am BRCA2 positive so I was being followed and my local mammogram was read by a radiologist who said everything was normal. Thankfully I followed my intuition and went to mayo because my father was also misdiagnosed at stage 4 for his terminal duodenal cancer at the same clinic. The breast cancer specialist at Mayo read the mammogram I had at home and kept me there longer that day so I could get further imaging. It ending up being stage 1 invasive ductal carcinoma and DCIS with no lymph node involvement. Due to the BRCA2 gene, it was recommended that I had a bilateral mastectomy and I am so grateful I followed my gut and went to an institution with experts. Please always get a second opinion. It might save your life. And early intervention is a life saver.

Kara, I'm glad you got that second opinion. Did you have any treatment after surgery?

Exactly. I too had a “normal” mammo and ultrasound last October while trying to evaluate a symptom. 2 months later I demanded an MRI and two tumors were found 3cm and 4cm! Incredible that two tumors of this size would be missed!

MRI should be standard AND it’s not radiation!

The only treatment was tamoxifen but I was having other symptoms on it so I have been off of it for almost 2 mo. I am now feeling back to myself. Feeling so good I went to my first CrossFit class since the pandemic and cancer. So grateful for where I am now after looking back to the past year. Thank you for asking.

I actually think I was misdiagnosed. In 2015, I had gone to my doctor because I thought I felt something in an area where I had a cyst 30 years ago, which was aspirated, and checked out okay. I went for an ultrasound and was told that they didn’t see anything. In 2016, I waited until after my son’s wedding to make an appointment but was told that due to the introduction of Electronic Health Records, the doctor was seeing fewer patients and the calendar was filled. When I questioned the EHR reason, I was told that each appointment took longer because there was so many clicks in order to enter the information. (In my head, I actually thought to myself that there’s probably no issue with how many clicks someone makes to complete an online shopping order.) So I called again in 3 months and the calendar was full. I asked when it would open and was told that I should call every day until it opened because apparently, I kept missing out. I mentioned it to my PCP, and he said he could write my prescription but he didn’t see any harm in waiting till my annual wellness since my screenings were usually clear and because so many people wait till the last minute at the end of the year to make their appointments. So I got my screenings using his prescription and was called back for more images, which has happened because I have dense breasts. That was Friday and they gave me an appointment for Monday. Very early on Monday morning, I got a call from a nurse who told me I needed an MRI on the other breast. That’s when I panicked, called my gynecologist office and they squeezed me in for later that day. Ultimately, I was told: you didn’t get your prescription from us and you are late on your mammogram. One breast ended up having cancerous microcalcifications which were in a constellation, so I would need a mastectomy. The left breast, they couldn’t see anything with ultrasound but something about that concerned the radiologist and that’s why I needed the MRI. I had a cancerous tumor in the spot I had questioned in 2015.
At some point, because the surgeon was part of the new group that my gynecologist office had joined, I had access to my EHR and in 2015, it actually said “inconclusive” ultrasound…There was no follow up. And I will never know what that means because I switched doctors because of prompting from my other son’s future in laws. They knew that the surgeon who was recommended to me was a general surgeon, not a breast surgeon. In my head, I kept thinking it was my fault because I waited 6 months too long to get screened, but couldn’t reconcile why there was all this cancer everywhere, all at once, although it was all DCIS early stage. But fortunately, after bilateral mastectomy, no chemo, no radiation, just AI for 5 years, my MRI this summer was clear.
I recently got really angry when Katie Couric went out and explained that she was 6 months late for her mammogram and took the responsibility on herself for having cancer and needing radiation. I have never missed a screening. My cancer was supposed to be slow growing and there it was, all over the place in a matter of a year and a half. And what’s weird is how some advertisements recommended every 2 years, but my doctors insisted on yearly. I am just grateful that it wasn’t worse but did go to talk therapy because I realized how much I was holding in.

Update: Lumpectomy went well but very very sore at incision site and armpit. Good news is that lymph nodes are clear. See oncologist today to discuss pathology and treatment plan although oncotype results not in.

I had 2 drs tell me I had breast cancer but the biopsy says no. They should wait until a biopsy confirms. One of them diagnosed me with stage 3 invasive ductal with a 50/50 chance of metastasis

Bless you! So sorry but praise God it turned out to be a misdiagnosis and you have no cancer! Cause for celebration! I understand how upsetting it was though!!!

My first breast cancer was 4 years ago. I had a 3D mammogram that I was told was negative but because I could feel a lump and I had dense breasts I insisted on an ultrasound even though I was told I didn't need it. It turned out that I had a 2 cm low grade adeno squamous metaplastic carcinoma.

We need to go with our intuition and be persistent and demanding when we think there is something wrong. The cancer I had was a very aggressive cancer and I am so glad that I spoke out.