Fran Drescher underwent a radical hysterectomy because of uterine cancer after being misdiagnosed by 8 doctors over a 2-year period. Michael Douglas developed stage 4 throat cancer after being misdiagnosed for months. These are not isolated cases.
After seeing a breast surgical oncologist for 3 minutes for an annual exam, Ms. T, a cancer-free savionaire was told that she needed to continue with her annual mammograms. When she questioned the doctor about also getting a breast ultrasound since she has dense breasts, the doctor told her that it was not necessary. Ms. T questioned the doctor’s judgment because she read and had been told by other doctors that mammograms are not as effective on dense breasts; therefore, they should be done in conjunction with ultrasounds. Ms. T, like any other savionaire, doesn’t want cancer, but she wants to be proactive if there is a possibility of cancer. When Ms. T goes for her annual mammogram, she will ask the radiologist his opinion on the matter, and she will continue to drink her Healthy Breasts Smoothies.
Unfortunately, the way the medical community works, you can put 100 doctors in one room and half will say one thing, while the other half will say the complete opposite. Keep in mind that this is the same community that tells women not to do breast self-exams.
Savionaires, your body is your body, and doctors are not gods. Every time you go to the doctor, you may want to document when a doctor counters an opinion you have, just in case of a lawsuit. Remember, malpractice insurance exists because doctors are sometimes wrong.
Thema’s Tip: Men, go to Work Happy Now to read about how the author lost one of his testicles because of a misdiagnosis.