Woman, 26, Thought To Be ‘Too Young’ For Cancer Says Bleeding Nipple & Lump Were Dismissed As ‘Hormones.’ It Was Stage Breast Cancer— Avoiding Misdiagnosis

Bailey grew worried about her breast health when she found blood on her left nipple after a shower, but a doctor told her the following day that she possibly had a “hormonal imbalance.”

When she noticed a small lump in her same breast just days later, a followup visit with her doctor led her to be told there was “no cause for concern,” the Daily Mail reports.

She was later told at a breast clinic her symptoms were likely stemming from a blocked milk duct or that the lump was a cyst.

After having her symptoms dismissed, Bailey continued pushing for answers and underwent a biopsy to be sure.

The biopsy discovered precancerous cells in her milk ducts and throughout her breast, which led to her stage zero breast cancer diagnosis.

Bailey, who ultimately chose to get her left breast surgically removed, explained, “Since I’ve been diagnosed, I haven’t felt any type of way about it. I sort of mentally checked out.

“When you hear that word ‘cancer,’ you instantly think death and I’m going to have no hair.”

As for getting a mastectomy, Bailey said, “It really put my mind at ease because everything has been scooped out and I know they haven’t missed anything.

‘When I got diagnosed, my perspective on life changed. Things like your body image become so minor.”

Now she’s urging, “Anyone can get cancer. If there’s anything unusual in your body, you’re well within your rights to ask for a referral.

“When people aren’t taking you seriously, it adds to the stress. I’m lucky that I actually had symptoms and it was caught this early. I never thought at the age of 26, I would have one breast, but I’m proof it can happen to anybody.’

Stage Zero Breast Cancer

Stage zero breast cancer refers to Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS). DCIS are abnormal cells that line the duct in a breast. A normal breast is made up of lots of ducts (these ducts carry milk to the nipple in a woman who is lactating).

Learning About Stage Zero Breast Cancer (DCIS)

DCIS is not an invasive cancer, meaning it hasn’t spread outside the milk duct and it cannot invade other parts of the breast. In some instances, if left untreated, doctors believe that DCIS can evolve into a more invasive breast cancer. This is why historically, the standard treatment for DCIS is to remove it surgically and in some instances offer radiation as well.

However, many doctors aren’t sure if even that is necessary for DCIS, because it may or may not turn into cancer.

And in an effort to reduce the fear around the earliest stage breast cancer we want you to understand the definition and the debate around treatment.

Two important facts about DCIS breast cancer are:

• It doesn’t spread to other parts of the body.
• The risk of death is essentially zero.

RELATED: Why Active Surveillance is Being Studied for Stage Zero Breast Cancer

As for the debate, some doctors don’t consider it cancer, but rather a collection of abnormal cells or a pre-cancer, which is why some women opt for a watch-and-wait approach.

Others may recommend the surgery route which usually involves a lumpectomy and potentially radiation as well. This somewhat more aggressive treatment (which is the standard protocol at major cancer centers) does have side effects, and potentially, long-term effects.

Dr. Elizabeth Comen Explains The Main Aspects Of Early-stage Breast Cancer

Less commonly, doctors and their patients will decide on more aggressive approaches depending on the amount of DCIS in the breast and a woman’s specific risk factors for future breast cancer. One reason some doctors may want to remove DCIS is if a biopsy reveals any evidence that a more invasive breast cancer could be present.

Meanwhile, a large study, known as the COMET study, is now in the works, looking at the benefit of active surveillance versus standard treatment.

This kind of study will help doctors determine whether doing less may be just as effective as doing more. In the meantime, the options are worth weighing depending on your individual diagnosis and concerns.

Considering a Mastectomy or Double Mastectomy

A double mastectomy is when both breasts are removed to get rid of cancer. The procedure may also be performed as a preventative measure for women who are at a very high risk of developing breast cancer.

Following the procedure, some women may choose to have their breasts reconstructed and have implants put in, while others don’t have reconstruction at all.

“A double mastectomy typically takes about two hours for the cancer part of the operation, the removing of the tissue,” Dr. Elisa Port, Chief of Breast Surgery at Mount Sinai Health System, told SurvivorNet in an earlier interview. “The real length, the total length of the surgery, can often depend on what type of reconstruction [a patient] has.”

When Should You Consider a Mastectomy?

Dr. Port notes that these days, most women do opt to have some sort of reconstruction. The length of these surgeries can vary a great deal. When implants are used, the procedure can take two to three hours (so the total surgery time would be around five hours). There is also the option to take one’s own tissue (usually from the belly area) and transfer it into the breast area, but this is a much longer procedure.

“When you take tissue from another part of the body and transfer it to fill in the empty space where the breasts are, this is a very long operation,” Dr. Port says. “It can take anywhere from six to 12 hours because it’s really like having a tummy tuck and then transferring the tissue and grafting the tissue, connecting the vessels, so those tissues have blood flow to live in.”

The Importance of Advocating for Yourself

Standing up for yourself is important. If you feel that you’re being dismissed or mistreated by a doctor. Getting a second opinion is crucial if something doesn’t feel right. Experts tell SurvivorNet that no one knows your body better than you, so if you feel like something is wrong, keep pushing for answers.

Dr. Zuri Murrell, a colorectal surgeon at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, previously told SurvivorNet that sometimes, patients need to be pushy.

Be Pushy, Be Your Own Advocate… Don’t Settle

“From a doctor’s perspective, every problem should have a diagnosis, a treatment, a plan for follow-up, and a plan for what happens next if the treatment doesn’t work,” Dr. Murrell said.

And as a patient, “If you don’t feel like each of these four things has been accomplished, just ask! Even if it requires multiple visits or seeing additional providers for a second opinion, always be your own advocate.”

Ultimately, patients advocating for their health can lead to better patient outcomes. This is especially important when you find your doctor has misdiagnosed your symptoms.

A component of advocating for yourself in healthcare includes going back to the doctor multiple times and even getting multiple opinions.

Dr. Steven Rosenberg is the National Cancer Institute Chief of Surgery, and he previously told SurvivorNet about the advantages of getting input from multiple doctors.

Cancer research legend urges patients to get multiple opinions.

“If I had any advice for you following a cancer diagnosis, it would be, first, to seek out multiple opinions as to the best care. Because finding a doctor who is up to the latest of information is important,” Dr. Rosenberg said.

Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff

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