S
Stymied seller
Guest
I found a lump in my breast in October of 2001 and arranged for a mammography which was taken in early November. The MD/Radiologist read it, found an anomaly and requested that I have another view taken. I went to my family doctor to get the results of the mammography and a physical breast exam. His notes indicate that he found a "small palpable mass." He told me to have the second view done and I went to the local hospital radiology department to comply. The same MD/Radiologist then wrote a report stating that there was no mammographic evidence of malignancy and that I should return in a year for a follow-up. I was very much relieved that it was nothing to worry about. All this occured within the month of November.
As time went on, it seemed to me that the lump was getting much larger. I went back to my family Doctor in the middle of March and he now sized the lump as being "approximately 2 cm." He immediately sent me to a surgeon, who took one look at the mammographic films I brought with me and began circling the lump. He said he was 'concerned' and we moved into an examining room where he did a needle biopsy. It was at this time he dictated his chart notes in which he said "A recent mammogram was reported as normal. In reviewing the films I have a modestly different level of opinion, even with the spot films showing a spiculated lesion which had remained persistent." When the biopsy results came back it was found that I had an "Infiltrating ductal carcinoma."
The first week of April found me in the hospital having a conservative mastectomy at which time my surgeon removed a 2.7 cm tumor. It hasn't been an easy recovery because my pectoral muscle has spasmed and I'm in pain most of the time. I should have stated earlier that I have chronic fatigue syndrome (Epstein-Barr), emphysema and high blood pressure and am not in the best of health to begin with.
Just a few days ago I had the stitches snipped and my surgeon said because the tumor was so large and the sentinel (first) lymph node is slightly compromised that I need to have 4 to 6 months of chemotherapy and then another 6 months of radiation.
My question is this: Is the MD/Radiologist liable for malpractice because she missed the cancerous growth all those months ago?
Personally I think if it had been correctly diagnosed in November the tumor wouldn't have had the chance to have grown so large and the few cancerous cells in the lymph node might not have appeared. And I might not have had to go through the hell of chemotherapy which I will have to now.
Thank you in advance for your opinions.
As time went on, it seemed to me that the lump was getting much larger. I went back to my family Doctor in the middle of March and he now sized the lump as being "approximately 2 cm." He immediately sent me to a surgeon, who took one look at the mammographic films I brought with me and began circling the lump. He said he was 'concerned' and we moved into an examining room where he did a needle biopsy. It was at this time he dictated his chart notes in which he said "A recent mammogram was reported as normal. In reviewing the films I have a modestly different level of opinion, even with the spot films showing a spiculated lesion which had remained persistent." When the biopsy results came back it was found that I had an "Infiltrating ductal carcinoma."
The first week of April found me in the hospital having a conservative mastectomy at which time my surgeon removed a 2.7 cm tumor. It hasn't been an easy recovery because my pectoral muscle has spasmed and I'm in pain most of the time. I should have stated earlier that I have chronic fatigue syndrome (Epstein-Barr), emphysema and high blood pressure and am not in the best of health to begin with.
Just a few days ago I had the stitches snipped and my surgeon said because the tumor was so large and the sentinel (first) lymph node is slightly compromised that I need to have 4 to 6 months of chemotherapy and then another 6 months of radiation.
My question is this: Is the MD/Radiologist liable for malpractice because she missed the cancerous growth all those months ago?
Personally I think if it had been correctly diagnosed in November the tumor wouldn't have had the chance to have grown so large and the few cancerous cells in the lymph node might not have appeared. And I might not have had to go through the hell of chemotherapy which I will have to now.
Thank you in advance for your opinions.