Woman Searches for Answers
- Personal trainer Paige McKenzie found what she thought was a pimple on her shoulder, and then it started to grow.
- After months of no diagnosis, her doctor told her it was a very rare cancer called Dermatofibrosarcoma Protuberans (DFSP).
- DFSP is often misdiagnosed, due to its rarity. It affects only one to five people out of one million.
Searching for Answers
McKenzie couldn't figure out what was happening. For months, she tried to find answers, and doctors struggled to understand what the growth was. Her first doctor's appointment in March was canceled due to coronavirus lockdown restrictions. So, McKenzie went to a local walk-in care clinic, where she was told the lump was just a cyst, and that she should have it drained. Related: The Sun is Not Your Friend: Most Melanomas are Caused by Sun ExposureAfter going to the emergency room at the hospital, doctors told her that they couldn't drain the mass until they knew what it was. After X-rays, ultrasounds, blood tests, and more they couldn't figure out what it was. Then, she went for a biopsy in August.
Following the biopsy, she was diagnosed with Dermatofibrosarcoma Protuberans (DFSP) in September. In a previous interview with SurvivorNet Dr. Richard Reidel, a medical oncologist at Duke University Cancer Institute, said "DFSP is an extremely rare cancer of the soft tissues." It's part of a large family of cancers collectively known as sarcomas which represent just 1 percent of cancers in adults. He went on to say "It's not uncommon for these to be misdiagnosed as something else, because they are so rare."
Trent Williams, a lineman for the Washington Football Team, also battled DFSP. He said having this cancer "changed my outlook on life."
Treatment and Asking for Help
McKenzie was rendered unable to work due to the pain and she is fundraising to get money for the surgical removal of the lump, which will cost over $10,000 to have removed quickly.
McKenzie is a resident of the UK. So, to have the removal done at a private clinic versus waiting for an open National Health Service (NHS) time slot, she will have to pay out of pocket.
Cancer Misdiagnosis Occurrences
Abnormalities can often go misdiagnosed. Another 28-year-old, a young woman in New Zealand, went to see her doctor about some lumps on her leg, and her doctor told her not to worry. The doctor said the lumps were just fat.
A little over a year later, the woman received an accurate diagnosis of cancer, and the cancer had begun to spread.
Related: What Are Sarcomas? Know the Types and Symptoms of These Rare Cancers
It's important to advocate for yourself when seeing your doctor. You know your body best if something feels off to you, it may well be. You can always seek out a second, third, or fourth opinion, and request additional tests if you still have concerns about what is going on with your body.
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