Here goes my angry rant about what happened to me today. I went to the doctor for my annual exam… yep, lots of fun for me. Now, If that is too much information for you, then go ahead and stop reading now.
Since my last exam I have been having a problem that I brought up back then, and to this day the problem has only gotten worse… so, making sure to leave nothing out, I came prepared for this exam with a list of symptoms that I have been experiencing regarding this problem. The symptoms that I have are all very low level symptoms for a rare type of breast cancer called Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC). I am 99% sure that I DO NOT have breast cancer, but if the symptoms are there… I am going to be a bit concerned and I want someone that can help me to know about it. There is one symptom that I DO have that is NOT listed for IBC and that is a random sharp pain just below the area that is irritated. And one reason I know it is NOT IBC is because the irritated area comes and goes… What does worry me is that the frequency of these symptoms occurring is increasing and the time of no irritation is few and far between.
***Ladies, if you have never heard of IBC, PLEASE check it out by visiting the links I have provided at the end of this blog. It is a silent killer. Usually, by the time it is diagnosed it is already too late.***
Perhaps the thing I did wrong at this visit was to mention that I thought the symptoms looked like this type of breast cancer. I imagine that when a doctor hears the patient diagnose themselves, they roll their eyes to begin with… I mean, who are you with all these years of training to diagnose yourself? Regardless, I need to be taken care of. Above all else, I want serious action to be taken in order to solve this problem. In fact, getting this problem dealt with was my primary mission for this exam. Second, I wanted to discuss long term birth control options, and then finally of course, I was there for the annual exam. We spent more time talking about birth control than ANYTHING ELSE!!!
During our very brief discussion about my problem, I felt like he was ready to jump out of his seat and run out the door. Before he even spoke to me it seemed like he already had his mind made up that he was going to prescribe this cream regardless. Before the exam started I had to complete a survey that he would receive. There I mentioned the problem and the symptoms that I have. He said that if I had IBC back in December 2008 and no treatment steps were taken, then I would be dead already. Gee… that was oh so comforting. Then he asked me a few questions that maybe could have shed some light as to why I have this problem and my answer to everything was, no. No. NO! Eventually, he started giving me this sideways glance like I was lying to him.
Finally, the biggest slap in the face was when he took this very patronizing tone and asked me how old I am. Because someone my age could not possibly have breast cancer! The youngest person that I read about that had Inflammatory Breast Cancer was diagnosed and died at the age of 16! I have already had a bone tumor removed from my knee and pre-cancerous cells removed by surgery from my cervix. Cancer is also common in my family, SO DON’T DARE TRY TO MAKE ME FEEL LIKE I DON’T KNOW WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT DUE TO MY AGE!
His final word on the matter is that if this cream he prescribed does not help, then I should see a dermatologist. I think I will schedule that appointment tomorrow…
Anyone that knows how long it took and how many doctors I had to see before it was finally diagnosed that I had a bone tumor, will think that this bouncing back and forth between doctors sounds familiar… Unfortunately, IF worse case scenario something is terribly wrong and I am actually showing early stages of IBC, at this rate I may be one foot in the grave too late for it to be treated.
I really know what you mean. Doctors seem to loose their “bedside manner with time” I have an excellent female doctor right now, but have gone through so many “bad” doctors to get to this one. Keep searching, you will find a compassionate, validating doctor.