One woman who was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer just six months after a lump in her right breast was more clear that doctors had denied her a mammogram, leading to a misdiagnosis.
Kristine Stone was 29 when she first noticed the lump, according to… Insider. First I was told there was no cancer after the ultrasound, she.
Further tests six months later revealed that she actually had the most aggressive form of breast cancer that had spread to her circulatory system and bones. It was later found that it had spread to his brain.
Stone, now 38 and living in Renton, Washington, accuses doctors who denied him a mammogram of wasting precious weeks before starting treatment. She even says she tried another hospital for scans but she was turned down too.
But doctors say that although mammograms are generally used for women aged 40 and older, they have trouble penetrating the denser breast tissue found in younger women, which makes more screening possible.
However, they suggest that an ultrasound that can penetrate denser tissues would be more beneficial. But the image it creates can be difficult to interpret, which means those afraid of being misdiagnosed should seek a second opinion.
Stone told Insider that she had to undergo nine months of chemotherapy and surgery immediately after her diagnosis. But nine years later, she still has cancer and receives immunotherapy every three weeks. But doctors say it could be withdrawn this year if they stop detecting cancer cells.
Kristine Stone, 29, initially said it was not cancer after she had an ultrasound at an unknown hospital when she was worried about the lump. Six months later, other scans diagnosed her with stage 4 breast cancer. Pictured above during her chemotherapy treatment, she now lives in an apartment with her family in Renton, Washington.
Stone says the diagnosis means he can no longer work or read well. Nine years later still receiving treatment for a cancer diagnosis
Stone rushed to get the lump checked out, as her grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer nine years ago.
But after the ultrasound, the former senior business analyst said doctors told her “okay” and turned down her request for a mammogram.
She wanted to have a mammogram but she refused. He then went to a second hospital, but his request was denied once again.
But within six months, after the lump had grown, it came back, his right arm was numb and his armpit was very sore.
This time, tests revealed it was stage 4 breast cancer, the most aggressive type. She didn’t reveal what test she had, but it was an ultrasound, probably because it’s recommended for younger women.
Immediately after his diagnosis, Stone was offered nine months of chemotherapy.
But tests showed that the cancer had reached his brain, leading to surgery to remove part of it. The surgery was successful, but he now suffers from short-term memory loss.
Stone said subsequent rounds of chemotherapy left him exhausted, unable to work, with arthritis, difficulty reading, and in the sense that he hadn’t taken a vacation in years.
He still has cancer to this day, but hopes to be suspended this year if doctors stop detecting the cells.
Stone is pictured above with his father. Blames doctors for rejecting mammograms because cancer wasn’t discovered sooner, but doctors say mammogram won’t help much
A mammogram is a scan in which low-dose X-ray waves are emitted from the breast tissue and checked for cancer in the resulting image.
They can usually detect tumors early or when they are small and in some cases before a lump forms. It is recommended for women over 40 for cancer screening tests.
But for those in younger age groups, they are told to go for ultrasound as it can penetrate the “denser” breast tissue that younger women have.
The American College of Radiology Eligibility supports this recommendation, saying it is “generally inappropriate” to offer mammograms to young women.
Ultrasounds are also often done to find out if a problem detected with a mammogram or physical exam is a solid tumor.
The image created by the scan is then examined by doctors to determine if cancer cells are present.
Dr. Laurie Margolies, head of the Mount Sinai Health System’s breast imaging center, told Insider that although mammograms were helpful, they probably wouldn’t “add anything” to the ultrasound that Stone received.
But what can make a difference is how the scanned image is interpreted by doctors, he said.
“Breast ultrasound is extremely nuanced and extremely user-dependent,” he said. It is not always so easy to determine whether something is a simple cyst or, for example, breast cancer. It can be very difficult to make this distinction.’
He encouraged all women who were concerned about the ultrasound results to have another doctor review the same images.
The American Cancer Society encourages women over the age of 40 to have regular breast cancer screening once a year. However, if over 55, this period may change to once every two years.
She says women in their twenties and thirties should keep an eye on their breasts and come forward for tests if they notice any unusual changes.
About X women in America are diagnosed with breast cancer each year, usually over time, and it’s the biggest killer. But X percent is found below 30.
Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world, affecting more than two MILLION women each year.
Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world. There are more than 55,000 new cases in the UK each year, with the disease killing 11,500 women. It affects 266,000 people and kills 40,000 people in the United States each year. But what causes it and how can it be treated?
What is breast cancer?
Breast cancer develops from a cancerous cell that develops in the lining of a duct or lobule in one of the breasts.
When breast cancer has spread to the surrounding breast tissue, it is called “invasive” breast cancer. Some people are diagnosed with ‘carcinoma in situ’, where no cancer cells have grown beyond the duct or lobe.
Most cases develop in women over the age of 50, but younger women are sometimes affected. Although rare, breast cancer can develop in men.
Staging refers to how big the cancer is and whether it has spread. Stage 1 is the first stage and stage 4 indicates that the cancer has spread to another part of the body.
Cancer cells are classified from low meaning slow growth to high meaning rapid growth. High-grade cancers are more likely to recur after being treated for the first time.
What are the causes of breast cancer?
A cancerous tumor starts with an abnormal cell. The exact reason why a cell becomes cancerous is unclear. Something is thought to damage or change certain genes in the cell. This makes the cell abnormal and multiplies “out of control”.
While breast cancer can develop for no apparent reason, there are certain risk factors, such as genetics, that can increase the likelihood of developing breast cancer.
What are the symptoms of breast cancer?
The usual first symptom is a painless breast mass, but most breast lumps are noncancerous and are fluid-filled cysts that are benign.
Breast cancer usually first spreads to the lymph nodes in the armpit. If this happens, you will develop a swelling or lump in your armpit.
How is breast cancer diagnosed?
- Initial assessment: A doctor will examine the breasts and armpits. They may perform tests such as a mammogram, which is a special X-ray of the breast tissue that can show the possibility of a tumor.
- Biopsy: A biopsy is the removal of a small piece of tissue from a part of the body. The sample is then examined under a microscope to look for abnormal cells. The sample can confirm or rule out cancer.
If breast cancer is diagnosed, further testing may be needed to see if it has spread. For example, blood tests, liver ultrasound or chest X-ray.
How is breast cancer treated?
Treatment options that may be considered include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and hormone therapy. A combination of two or more of these treatments is often used.
- Surgery: Conservative surgery or removal of the affected breast, depending on the size of the tumor.
- Radiation therapy: A treatment that uses high-energy radiation beams aimed at cancerous tissue. This kills cancer cells or stops cancer cells from multiplying. It is mainly used in addition to surgery.
- Chemotherapy: a cancer treatment that uses anticancer drugs that kill cancer cells or prevent them from multiplying
- Hormone therapies: Some types of breast cancer are affected by the ‘female’ hormone estrogen, which can stimulate cancer cells to divide and multiply. Treatments that lower the levels of these hormones or stop them from working are commonly used in people with breast cancer.
How effective is the treatment?
The outlook is better for those diagnosed while the cancer is still small and has not spread. Surgical removal of a tumor at an early stage can therefore give a good chance of recovery.
Early stage breast cancers are diagnosed and treated with routine mammography applied to women aged 50-70 years.
For more information visit breastcancercare.org.uk, breastcancernow.org or www.cancerhelp.org.uk.
Source: Daily Mail
Errol Villanueva is an author and lifestyle journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a passion for exploring the latest trends in fashion, food, travel, and wellness, Errol’s articles are a must-read for anyone interested in living a stylish and fulfilling life.
