Delayed Diagnosis

We have labelled this as a top 2 issue, as the focus group we had at the Survivor Conference in 07 revealed it was 1 of 2 major issues for YA’s with cancer… i was surprised as for me it didn’t apply, with acute leukemia there isn’t much waiting though I did have a short time frame where I didn’t feel well before diagnosis.  but it was months and months and it was full of docs telling me I’m crazy.

This video really brings me back to one of my survivor buddies, who did have that experience.  Mark Cuss, a retreater of YACC’s went to his doc for 6 months to get a lump checked on his testicle.  After continually being dismissed Mark finally got the attention he needed, but by that time his cancer had spread significantly.  He died a few months after joining us at one of our retreats.

Mark is one of the reasons YACC launched “Touch Yourself, Trust Yourself” last year, to raise awareness of self-exams and remind YA’s that this simple skill is something we can all do and it may save your life one day.

http://www.touchyourselftrustyourself.ca

I had a delayed diagnosis only because Cancer was never even considered. Doctors don’t think 33 year olds get Cancer. I was experiencing a lot of headaches and sinus pressure and I was told six times in 8 months that I had a sinus infection. I was antibiotics for 8 months and because I kept on going to a walk in clinic, I saw different doctors, nobody questioned why I kept showing up. One day at work I passed out briefly and blacked out. I knew then that I had cancer (As a child I used to think I was going to get cancer). About a week later I started feeling really swollen nodes in my neck and I went to the same clinic, I got the same doctor as the time before and he sent me to a surgeon the next day. She diagnosed me on the spot with Lymphoma. After that things went really quickly. It turns out the sinus pressure and migraines were from the nodes cutting off oxygen to my brain. I switched Doctors and I started all my treatments 3 weeks later.

Oh man; do I hear that! :o
I had cervical/endometrial adenocarcinoma last year but was misdiagnosed for 8 months as having fibroids/uterine cysts/heavy periods/endometriosis (even though I’d had an endometrial ablation to treat that a few months before! ).
I guess my Dr. figured healthy, active 30-something women don’t get cancer! Gah; so by the time I was diagnosed, I was at Stage 2b and had to endure horrible Chemo/Radiotherapy instead of just getting a hysterectomy :(.
Late diagnoses are such a huge problem for YAs :(.