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Previous Survivor Stories
Reading, PA
Patricia Langiotti was diagnosed with invasive
ductal carcinoma four years ago. Recently, Pat
spoke at
the PBCC's traveling photo exhibit "67 Women - 67 Counties: Facing Breast Cancer
in Pennsylvania" at Reading Area Community College, and her remarks hit home
with a large portion of the crowd. She has an important message and mission to
share. Here are excerpts from her
remarks.
The year 2000 wasn't such a great year for me. I got one piece of bad news after
the other. Yes, it was
cancer. No, I didn't have clear margins on the first surgery . . . I would need
more surgery. Yes, it's in my
lymph nodes. I needed chemotherapy,
but couldn't begin treatment because of wound healing problems. And then, I had
to discontinue chemo sooner than planned because of serious side effects.
Everyone
stresses prevention and the importance of early detection through annual
exams and
mammograms. It's clearly an
important message. BUT - I wish we could take it one step further and make that
message way more effective by lobbying not just for mammograms, but for improving
the entire process associated with mammography, for making the annual exam and
mammogram a much more effective diagnostic opportunity and not just a routine
process that screens the masses and misses so many early stage breast cancers.
"Women
must be allowed to communicate their concerns
and to ensure that the doctor who will be reading
their mammogram films hears those concerns.
Two or three minutes with the radiologist might
have spared me all this."
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Unfortunately, my own breast cancer diagnosis
was missed. It was missed in spite of the fact that
I have
a high-risk family history, that I'm an outspoken, articulate professional, and
that I kept a careful and diligent watch over myself, never missing an annual
exam.
I went to my doctor with a serious concern about
a funny feeling, a thickening in my left breast.
Not a
lump - an area that just felt different and not normal. I shared this information
with the technician who performed my mammogram. In fact, we had an extensive
discussion about my family history and my breast cancer risk. Unfortunately,
there was no place on her form for much of that very important information to
be recorded, so it was not written down or shared with the radiologist who would
subsequently review my mammogram films. And, like almost everyone who goes for
a mammogram, I never had the opportunity to speak with that doctor or for him
to examine me.
Several months later, I was referred to a local
cancer center for further
evaluation, had a biopsy, and was told
my "funny feeling" was indeed breast cancer.
If I had been allowed to speak with
the radiologist and had he personally
heard my concerns, I'm confident that my outcome would have been very different
because I am certain he would have ordered additional studies right on the spot.
If that had happened, I might have had a simple lumpectomy instead of a bilateral
mastectomy. My cancer might have been caught and removed before it spread to
my lymph nodes. I might have avoided chemotherapy . . . and all of the extreme
side effects. I would not have needed two reconstruction surgeries or suffered
through almost a year of painful tissue expansion. And I probably would not have
had a prophylactic hysterectomy to remove my ovaries. Two or three minutes with
the radiologist might have spared me all this.
Women must be allowed to communicate
their concerns and to ensure that the doctor who will be reading
their mammogram films hears those concerns. And
the doctors who review mammogram films must be
required to talk with and examine patients who voice special
concerns. With that small and seemingly simple change,
the annual mammogram could become much more
than a mass production screening exercise.
An improved process
for early detection would result in many breasts - and many lives being saved. It may be too late
for me - but it's not too late for others . . . our daughters and granddaughters
and our younger women friends.
Pat currently serves as Chairman of the Board
for the Berks County Chamber of Commerce, she is President of
Creative Management Concepts, and she is a registered
professional management consultant. For a copy
of Pat's remarks in full,
email Heather Hibshman at
heather@pabreastcancer.org. |
