Hello,
My name is Nancy and I am a MSgt in the US Air Force with 21
years time in service. In 1994, while I was stationed at
Tinker AFB, OK, I discovered 2 breast lumps in my left breast.
I immediately went to a health care provider at the base
hospital and was referred to a surgeon. I saw a civilian
contract surgeon that worked 1 day/week in our clinic. He
did a breast exam and then told me to come back in 6 weeks and
he would then do fine needle aspirates (FNA), which he did and
they were negative. He then said they were most likely
fibroids and that I was too young to have breast cancer. I
was 34 and he would not do any further testing. He told me
to come back every six months.
In 1995, after I turned 35, I was finally able to convince him
to order a mammogram. My mammogram was performed at a
civilian imaging center in Oklahoma City and was reported as
"Negative"; however, they had a comment on the report
that said any time you have a palpable lump and a negative
mammogram you should follow up with ultrasound and possibly
biopsy. I asked my doctor to do those tests and he
refused. Said it was unnecessary and not cost effective.
He kept saying I was too young for cancer and the lumps
were nothing to worry about. So I continued to see him
every 6 months until I PCS'd in Mar 1997.
I went to Lajes Feild, Azores. In 1997 I had an ultra
sound done at Lajes and it was reported as negative but
suggested biopsy. In 1998 I was sent to Landstuhl, Germany
for a diagnostic mammogram. They performed FNA's and
they were negative and mammogram and ultrasound.
Between 3 doctors, 2 said it was nothing and 1 said to biopsy.
There was a lot of confusion and different diagnosis, with
conflicting reports, so I saw the head surgeon and he suggested
that I wait until I PCS to go back to the states and follow up
then. So I did.
In Apr 99 I PCS'd to Randolph AFB, San Antonio, Texas. In
Aug 99 I went to Wilford Hall Medical Center (WHMC) for a
diagnostic mammogram. After the mammogram the Radiologist
came out and asked me if I had any other films with and I said,
yes, I have them all. He took me in the back and put all
my films up on the veiwbox in chronological order. The
very first film was the mammogram from 1995 and he took a black
sharpee and drew a big circle round the cancer and he said,
"do you see that?" and I said yes, and he said
"that was cancer then...in 1995 and that has to come out
now!". I was in total shock and almost passed out
right there.
As it turned out, I had 2 different primary tumors in my left
breast and they were both Invasive Ductal Carcinoma. I was
staged as a IIA because when you add the tumors together the
size is greater that 2 cm. I had bi-lateral mastectomies
and thank goodness my lymph nodes were all negative.
I feel very fortunate considering the amount of time that I went
undiagnosed. I had 4 cycles of chemo therapy and am taking
Tamoxifen, which I suffer a lot of side affects from. I
also have mild lymphadema in my left arm from the lymph node
dissection, but I go to a massage therapist who specializes in
lymphatic massage...but I have to pay for it out of pocket.
I am a Medical Laboratory Technician and I thought I was well
informed and I trusted my doctor. It seems to me,
after the first doctor, the providers just followed his lead.
I feel as though the medical care I received over those years
from the government was extremely substandard and goes totally
against the DOD Standard of Care for Breast Health. I feel
like I could have been diagnosed a lot sooner and possibly only
had a lumpectomy and not had to go through the chemo or the
trauma. I mean...who can say for sure, but I do know that
the care I received was sub standard.
As a result of all this I have to deal with lymphadema for the
rest of my life and my husband couldn't handle any of this, so
he left me. I filed bankruptcy due to the lost
income and his refusal to pay any of the bills. I suffer
from depression at times...GEE! Wonder why! My
parents have been my rock and have been by my side the whole
way. I am very fortunate to have them near me.
I had a lawyer in Oklahoma City and an expert witness that said
there was a definite miss on the mammogram reading. My
lawyer was focused on going after the surgeon and he told me he
did not feel good about going after the radiologist because he
has such a good reputation in Oklahoma City. I found a
second lawyer that was very excited to take my case until she
found out the Radiologist is her neighbor. She said it was
a conflict of interest. I went 2 years trying to secure
legal representation, but finally decided to drop the issue and
be grateful for life.
I concentrate on living
and being a survivor! It has been 2 years and 8 months
now, and I am married again and very happy. I am retiring
from the Air Force 1 Dec 2002 and am very excited to begin the
next chapter of my life. Thanks for reading my story and I
hope it helps someone, anyone in a small way to know that you
are not alone. Feel free to e-mail me if you want.
Sincerely,
Nancy
angel2pugs@awesomenet.net
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