Name: |
Suzanne |
State: | Utah |
Date of diagnosis: |
8-29-2009 |
Age at time of diagnosis: |
53 |
Stage of diagnosis: |
Stage 2 |
Last 'NORMAL' Mammogram: |
Within weeks of a normal mammogram |
How was cancer diagnosed? |
Confirmed by Ultrasound & MRI |
In August of 2009 while on a vacation my husband commented that a particular lump is distorting the shape of my breast. I mention this a few weeks later when I went for my mammogram. The radiologist said not to worry as the mammogram was normal. When I reported this to my husband, he was not satisfied and asked a friend of his who is a radiologist about my results. Within a few days, the radiologist did an ultrasound.
The Radiologist barely touches the ultrasound to my right breast and gasps; he has the mammogram in the procedure room to refer to. He tells me he is afraid that he sees 3 malignant tumors during the ultrasound scan, one over an inch in diameter in my right breast. Later that week the ultrasound diagnosis is confirmed by breast MRI. My breast was lit up like a Christmas tree with cancer on the MRI. Nothing is discernible on the mammogram because of 'dense breasts.'
I had a single mastectomy and four months of chemo followed by radiation.
My Oncologist asked permission to submit my mammogram and MRI to the "Forum of Radiologists" in Salt Lake City that takes place weekly between the 5 major hospitals to bring up any unusual cases that came up that week. My name was given and the radiologists were told I had 3 malignant tumors, with one over an inch in diameter. He told me not one radiologist could find any of the tumors in the mammogram as my breasts were so dense - they were then given the MRI films to review. They were shocked seeing all the cancer in the right breast. I have never had another mammogram and will never have one again.
My oncologist ordered MRI's yearly as my screening regimen as I am still dense in my left breast. He just left the practice. The breast care center where I was treated originally (and they know my history) attempted this year to intimidate me into getting a mammogram. I refused and demanded ultrasound.
Back to Stories |