Doctor Missed Woman's Cancer 20 Times

Hey all,

I want to share with you this article that a friend of mine forwarded to me; a story I hear much too often. A woman in England’s ovarian cancer was misdiagnosed even after going to the doctor 20 times. TWENTY TIMES!

Cancer Schmancer addresses this very issue and it shows all the more how important it is to take control of your body! Women with gynecologic cancers are very often misdiagnosed for benign illnesses. We must educate ourselves on the early warning signs of cancer and be proactive in our own health care. As medical consumers, we cannot worry about insulting our primary physicians. It’s your life, it’s your body, so get a second opinion if you aren’t receiving the undivided attention you deserve. It’s an absolute must!

So read the following article and spread the word. Together, we can work together to ensure all women learn how to take control of their bodies so no more of these stories are told. Stage 1 is the cure!

Be well,

Fran

Doctor Missed Woman's Cancer 20 Times
(March 4) - A British woman says her ovarian cancer was misdiagnosed even after she visited her doctor 20 times complaining of symptoms ranging from severe stomach pain to loss of bladder control, according to London’s Daily Mail.

One simple test would have found that Sue Edwards, of Nottinghamshire, England, had a mass in her stomach — a growth that eventually became so large it wouldn’t fit on the ultrasound screen, the newspaper reported.

Experts say about a third of women with ovarian cancer have a mass that would be easily detectable by a pelvic exam. Over the period of a year, Edwards said she suffered from a range of symptoms that included fever, diarrhea, stomach pain, swelling, exhaustion and loss of bladder control. She went to see her doctor on 20 different occasions, but was told the symptoms were likely due to sinus infection and the fact she was overweight, the Daily Mail said.

The mass was only caught when a student doctor asked if she could examine Edwards as part of her training — and felt the large mass. The student doctor sent Edwards straight to the hospital. A few days later, the mass was removed. Tests found the growth was cancerous, but luckily, the cancer had not spread to other organs. The Mail said Edwards’ cancer is in remission following 4 1/2 months of chemotherapy.

“I am hopeful, but realistic about my chances of long-term survival,” she told the newspaper.

Ovarian cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death among women in the United States, according to Johns Hopkins Pathology. It is sometimes called “the silent killer” because many times there are no symptoms until the disease has progressed to an advanced stage.

Early detection of ovarian cancer offers a 90 percent cure rate, but about 75 percent of ovarian cancer cases will have spread to the abdomen by the time they are detected. In those cases, the chance of five-year survival drops to less than 25 percent. In addition to a pelvic exam, a blood test or ultrasound scan also can help detect the cancer early.

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