This October, we are reminded about the devastating effects of failing to timely diagnose breast cancer.
Whenever someone I know tells me that "This week is Red Ribbon day," or "National Newspaper Week," or "World Smile Day," I always ask the same question: "Why only one day, or only one week?" It should be every day. Especially when it involves a failure to diagnose cancer. I've written extensively on this topic, and it always starts the same way.
A woman tells her doctor about a lump in her breast.He takes a look, examines it, and determines that it's nothing and that they will follow it closely when she returns for follow-up visit. The lump goes away, and she forgets about it. In follow-up visits, the doctor forgets about it too. Then one day, while taking a shower, she feels that lump again. Except this time it's bigger. It's in the same place. It's firmer. She makes an appointment, and this time, the doctor recognizes that it is much bigger and prominent compared to last time. He immediately sends her off for the appropriate workup to a breast surgeon were a needle biopsy is done as well as a breast sonogram and mammogram.
The tests results come back and they are not promising. There is a suspicion that it has spread. It is malignant. She will need a lymph node biopsy and lymph node sampling to truly determine whether it has spread. those results are not promising either. Surgery is done, and an option such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy are discussed. Depending upon the staging of the cancer, her options may be limited.
This month, as October breast Cancer awareness month, you are encouraged to remind your physician again to do a thorough breast exam and to follow through and follow up on any suspicious findings that you had in the recent past. By early detection you stand a much better chance of receiving early treatment and a better prognosis.
