Doctors dismissing breast lumps

[Anonymous]

I'm 33 and am about to get a second ultrasound (in about 5 years) for a painful small lump. 99.9% sure they're fibroids but my doctor has immediately sent me to get an ultrasound at both complaints. No immediate family history.

It's Health Care for Women in Arlington. You should see someone who will write you a referral/order for imaging.

[Anonymous]

A second opinion can Coe from an obgyn.

[Anonymous]

Imaging is not enough!!!! If its not a cyst (which can be determined by imaging) you need a biopsy. 10% of cancers do not show up on imaging (it may be a lower number now because of the digital mammograms). My lump didn't show up on either mammogram or ultrasound and I was told it was nothing. (Ahem . . . Foxhall ob/gyn). Much later I found out it was cancer.

The absolute mest place for imaging in this area, and one of the best places in the country, is GW. They follow up on everything until they have a definitive answer and routinely find cancers others have missed. They do a lot more biopsies as a result but thats the only way to know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Imaging is not enough!!!! If its not a cyst (which can be determined by imaging) you need a biopsy. 10% of cancers do not show up on imaging (it may be a lower number now because of the digital mammograms). My lump didn't show up on either mammogram or ultrasound and I was told it was nothing. (Ahem . . . Foxhall ob/gyn). Much later I found out it was cancer.

The absolute mest place for imaging in this area, and one of the best places in the country, is GW. They follow up on everything until they have a definitive answer and routinely find cancers others have missed. They do a lot more biopsies as a result but thats the only way to know.

Thank you for your post, 08:10. It is so important to educate people, especially when being proactive as a patient can be life saving.

[Anonymous]

Same thing happened to my (under 40) cousin. Went to doctor complaining of electricity-like breast pain, doctor dismissed it, she kept taking motrin until finally diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer. She's okay now but so unnecessary.

[Anonymous]

As well, I think that as much as patients are told they have to be empowered, their own best advocates, seek second opinions, etc. a huge proportion of the medical profession looks down on patients who turn to "Dr. Google." So if your PCP or your OB/GYN tells you your lump is nothing to worry about, will you do online research that convinces you to get a second opinion? Or will you worry that you will be shamed and scorned by another medical professional who tells you that you have nothing to worry your pretty little head about? That fear may prevent you from picking up the phone and making the call for another appointment with a new doctor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As well, I think that as much as patients are told they have to be empowered, their own best advocates, seek second opinions, etc. a huge proportion of the medical profession looks down on patients who turn to "Dr. Google." So if your PCP or your OB/GYN tells you your lump is nothing to worry about, will you do online research that convinces you to get a second opinion? Or will you worry that you will be shamed and scorned by another medical professional who tells you that you have nothing to worry your pretty little head about? That fear may prevent you from picking up the phone and making the call for another appointment with a new doctor.

I have to say one of the benefits of getting older is I don't give a darn what those little whipper snappers think of me!