Does anyone have experience or know of a core biopsy being wrongly diagnosed?

Hi Sharpie6 It does sound like you've been through the mill a bit. It must be worrying for you. But well done you for reading your notes and finding the problem. That just shows how important it is for all of us to be on top of what's happening. 

Can biopsies be wrong? I'd imagine any procedure can be wrong, but the error rate would be pretty low. However, a biopsy is taking a sample of tissue and then the pathologist looks at the cells in that sample. It is possible for suspicious areas to be partly ok and partly cancerous. The main thing though is that your surgeon is on to it and that means they can treat both lumps if the second does turn out to be cancerous.

I have tagged Carolyn28 as she had a bad time with misdiagnosis and she may have more to say.

Wishing you all the best.

Hi Lynn

Thank you so much for your reply.  It's always a great support when you lovely ladies talk sense and share.

I'm not a worrier but the mistake made on the 13th December has really sowed a seed of doubt and of course, it's the fear of the unknown and the uncertainty of what lies ahead that affects us all.

Anyway, on Monday I finally start my treatment along with lots of others no doubt - wishing you well Lynn and everyone else out in the MC community.

Sharpie6 x

hi  

I had a terrible time

routine mammogram missed a tumour in 2012, even though i'd had loads of mammograms because my boobs were lumpy and dense.

paid for  private screen but it was all highly suspicious so I was advised to go back into NHS for MRI

biopsy only showed DCIS or non life threatening non urgent pre cancerous cells.

MRI report was done twice, first by private guy, who picked up the 2nd lesion,  and then by the Royal Marsden in London, the 'top' cancer hospital, who didn't. 

Surgeon marked up boob and I took the trouble to point out the 2nd lesion which was now an obvious lump in my chest, not even obscured by boob 

post op discovered that the surgeon had missed the 2nd tumour completely. 

post op histopathology showed Her2+++ and then everything suddenly became very urgent indeed as I was sent for staging scans that I was told I wouldn't need and then on to oncology 

so yes, a catalogue of errors from top professionals 

only here today because I made a fuss and raised a complaint 

Carolyn

xx

Thank you.

Good gracious Carolyn, what a terrible experience to go through, I'm so glad you did battle and came through.  It's been a steep learning curve for me and made me questions every step.  I think when it's our lives in their hands, we need to take control and ask questions - keep them on their toes.  I'd rather be known as a pest and get the best care, than be too accepting and not be here.

Best wishes

Sharpie6 x

Hi.  I’m new on here but a year post mastectomy.  Sorry you’ve had a tough time and well done for being so perceptive.  I always tried to be an advocate for my own health and asked lots of questions which weren’t always welcome.  My situation was sort of similar to yours in that initially I was told my biopsy showed a tiny 1mm area of IDC with low grade DCIS and I was booked for a lumpectomy.  I was told that it was so tiny they were amazed the pathologist found it.

Jump to 2 days before my surgery and I get a call from the hospital saying they had found further areas of concern and my surgery was cancelled.  It really floored me, especially as I’d had loads of mammograms and ultrasound.  How could anything have been missed.  After more biopsies it was more low grade DCIS and I went on to have the mastectomy.  

Post surgery pathology showed that the invasive was 10mm not 1mm, and whilst this is still small, it’s still a big discrepancy.  I asked for all my images to be looked at again at another hospital for a second opinion which thankfully came to the same conclusions.  

Sadly mistakes can and do happen.  Biopsies seem to be pretty accurate initially to show grade and type but there is still a lot of uncertainty until the post op results come in.

I also know someone diagnosed with lobular whose MRI scan showed the lesion to be very large when in fact it was quite small meaning an unecessary mastectomy took place.  Very shocking.  It’s certainly not always welcome but keep asking questions and don’t hesitate to ask for a second opinion if you have any doubts.

Wishing you all the best.

Frances

Hello, I know where your coming ! Had a mastectomy in November, recurrent bc cancer. I was only 35 when i under went lumpectomy and radiography, complicated with a thrombosis in the arm pit. But firstly was given the wrong results, registrar confused me with someone with same fore name.. But I'm 60 now and moving forward, recovering from mastectomy, sorry but that doubt will always stay with you, but stay strong and move on.

My love and thoughts are with you!!