Battling Breast Cancer: Frustrations with Recurring Metastases and Doctor's Care

Laurie I can empathize with you. I told my PC several times that I had pinching in my chest. Which turned out to enlarged lymph nodes plus extensive bone Mets . I do have an excellent oncologist. During one appointment, she asked me if anything hurt. "This will sound funny, but my hair hurts." We did a MRI. Bone Mets had spread to my skull. Find an oncologist you can trust. The first oncologist I saw prescribed oxycodone saying you're going to need it. My pain was a 2. My biggest peeve is there is no test for metastatic BC.

Thx. It's nice to not feel like the only one. I'm in the process of trying to find a new oncologist.

I got metastatic breast cancer 26 years after having had breast cancer and a mastectomy and chemo. Because they never image the mastectomy site they never found the new breast lump before it metastasized to my liver. The meds I am taking are shrinking the lesion little by little. I wrote to Susan Komen about changing that policy. If I had had an image they would have found it. Stay tuned.

Dealing with metastases and feeling unheard by healthcare providers can be incredibly challenging and emotionally draining. Many in this community have faced similar situations where symptoms weren't taken seriously initially, and that frustration is completely valid. Finding an oncologist who listens carefully and takes a more proactive approach to monitoring and treatment can make a significant difference in both care quality and peace of mind - advocating for yourself or seeking a second opinion are always options worth considering.