A Critical Conversation About Women’s Health and Mammogram Reliance

I have always heard, “Facts don’t lie.” Not only is this statement not true, it is disheartening to many women who rely on their medical team to have their best interests at heart and not to rely solely on mammograms.

My cancer journey started in July of 2022 when I noticed what appeared to be a scab on my nipple area. It didn’t alarm me until the throbbing pain began. Since I was faithful in getting my yearly mammograms but was heading to Paris, I put my doctor’s visit off until September.

I made an appointment with my OBGYN doctor of 20 years. I told her that I was having discharge and pain in my left breast. After examining me, she immediately arrived at the conclusion that my symptoms were not an indication of cancer, prescribed some cream, and was about to send me on my way, until I insisted on another mammogram and an ultrasound. She was hesitant because of my previous mammogram 6 months prior, which was clear.

I went to get the mammogram, and the nurse at the radiology department said that my test was clear. I jumped for joy—until I immediately realized that my breast was still throbbing. I asked about the ultrasound. She said their doctor stated that I didn’t need one, which I didn’t understand, since 2 tests were ordered. This is when things started going south on me.

I tried calling my doctor of 20 years, no return calls or response to my e-mails, not even from the nurse. This went on for about a month. I even went to her office and talked to the receptionist. I don’t know if she was supposed to share this information, but she said, “The doctor hasn’t even opened any of your e-mails.” I broke down right in the office and asked that I get my medical records. This is when I felt as though my medical team was treating me like a hypochondriac. I didn’t realize that the doctor had so much power in stopping a test. (After all, “Facts don’t lie.”)

I didn’t care what the mammogram results were, I just knew that my breast was throbbing, I had scab-like symptoms, and now I was beginning to see small drops of blood. I knew that I was in trouble; worse yet, no one would listen. Talk about feeling hopeless! So I tried on my own to make an appointment at the radiology office. I don’t know if my records were flagged, but the nurse was really rude and stated, “You are going to have to pay for this test out of your pocket since our doctor said that you don’t need another test.”

I began praying, tears rolled down my face, and I couldn’t believe it. Here I am, working for the medical system for 20 years and being treated like a step-child. So I asked my friend if she could recommend another doctor. This is when I met the doctor whom I called my angel. He just listened and really couldn’t believe what he was hearing. I will never forget his words. “I can’t believe that these doctors sent you on your way. Do they not know that mammograms are not going to show everything, and besides, you are not child-bearing age, your breast should not be discharging.”

He immediately ordered several more tests, including another mammogram, ultrasound, and blood- work. Even after the mammogram and ultrasound were completed at a different radiology office, their doctor pretty much said the same thing—that nothing was wrong and suggested that I stop drinking coffee. Wow! Talk about kicking me to the curb. Again, that doctor was relying on the mammogram. After all, “Facts don’t lie.”

I had another follow-up appointment with my new doctor, and he stated that all of the tests had come back negative. But I will never forget the perplexed look on his face—all 7 tests came back negative.... I could hear in the back of my mind, “Girl, you are at the end of your rope,” but I knew that I had to keep pushing because the symptoms were getting worse. This doctor wasn’t satisfied with the results and didn’t want to give up on me. He asked if he could send me to one more place, and I agreed. I went to an oncologist; he told me what he suspected, but the only way to be sure was to do a biopsy.

Two months later, I was sitting in his office, alone, wondering why everyone else came in pairs of twos. I was the last patient in the office, and the oncologist told me the dreaded news—you have cancer! (Paget’s disease of the nipple.)

My first response was anger, and I said, “I knew something was wrong with me; they wouldn’t listen.” The oncologist was very caring and allowed me to vent. God only knows how many times he has informed women of this dreaded news. He shared with me what the next steps would be.

OK, now it’s time to move forward with surgery, right? Not so fast. I now needed another mammogram of the right breast to make sure the cancer hadn’t spread, so I am back at square one, trying to get another mammogram, ironically at the same place where the previous doctor said that there was nothing wrong with me. Since I had a new doctor, they put me on schedule for the mammogram; unfortunately, it was about 5 months out. Again, I didn’t understand, because I have never seen the mammogram office back up with patients.

Feeling frustrated again, I called my pastor. She would not let it go and said, “You can’t afford to wait 5 months, keep trying!”

It was God that reminded me that He is in control. It was then that I realized that I was also scheduled for a mammogram at a different office and called there; they set me up within 2 days. My surgeon had to make sure that the cancer hadn’t spread.

All I could do was think about the countless women who work at Walmart or McDonald’s, or women that fall through the cracks—and hearing their doctors say, “If only you had come in earlier.” I felt that I had to do something, though my previous doctor still declined to see me. I sat in the car and wrote her a long note, not because I was angry, but because she never took the time to pick up the phone and call me. And I didn’t want any other women to experience what I went through.

Four months later, after surgery, I had the partial mastectomy, and another biopsy to make sure the cancer hadn’t spread. I received 33 rounds of radiation. I wasn’t afraid of going through this, I was more afraid of what was going to happen to my 83-year-old mom; who would care for her? To God be the Glory, I am cancer free and stage 0. Mom, still to this day, is not aware of my diagnosis. And all my gratitude to my new doctor who just wasn’t satisfied with all 7 tests coming back negative and knew that facts are not concrete, no matter what the results said.

Paget’s is difficult to diagnose, will rarely show up on a mammogram, and is sometimes misdiagnosed as eczema. In fact, if you have dense breasts, be aware.

I would like to say to all the females out there, listen to your body. If you believe that something just isn’t right, just keep going until you find that one doctor who will listen. Pray and never give up because we are greater together.