After the sonogram, the hotshot radiologist l...

JKD123

After the sonogram, the hotshot radiologist looked at me and said, “well I have good news and bad news. The good news is you got your mammogram. The bad news is you have cancer. “Just like that. I was so shocked I didn’t know how to react in his presence. But I cried all the way home.

legaljen1969

WOW, that is seldom news the radiologist delivers after a mammogram. The most I have ever gotten out of a radiologist is "There IS something suspicious/concerning/irregular, but I will be reviewing with your doctor to determine the best course of action."

Does your hospital have an ombudsman or patient advocate you can contact about the unkind way you were treated? I mean, I am sure he/she was telling the truth and maybe just is a blunt person. But delivery of a cancer diagnosis in such a cavalier manner is pretty brutal.
I am sorry to hear about your diagnosis period, whether it had been delivered with the kindest approach ever OR by someone with the bedside manner of a brutal dictator.
In the first sentence you say were getting a sonogram, and later the radiologist says your mammogram.
My first thought was whether you were having follow up testing after your mammogram and maybe the radiologist thought you already knew you "might" have cancer.

In any case, we are all here for you to lift you up at the times you feel sad or beaten down.

I am sorry you are having to come to the "c"lub, but I promise we will treat you well. None of us wanted our membership either, but here we all are. And I can tell you this forum is a great source of comfort to me.

Teachergirl

I am so sorry you had to experience that! I had a similar experience on the road to diagnosis. After reading your post, I had to look to see what state you live in! Of course, due to the lump, I knew that I possibly had cancer but I had not seen a breast specialist yet nor had a biopsy. The radiologist came in after the mammogram and ultrasound, shook his head as he looked at me, and said "There is no good news for you today. See a breast specialist" Before I could say anything, the ultrasound technician looked at him and said "That is not your role nor is it an appropriate practice to deliver results like that." When he left, the tech told me that she was reporting him and I did as well.

Without a biopsy to confirm cancer (I have had lumps that looked like cancer on a mammogram and a sonogram and biopsy showed they were not). The radiologist (even though trained to identify breast cancer) was out of line to deliver news in that manner-just my personal opinion. If he thought you may know you possibly had cancer, he could have asked if you had seen a breast specialist, discussed the irregularity in the images, and answered any questions you had. Your statement "the hotshot radiologist" also speaks volumes. I would suggest reporting what happened. If he is good at the technical part of his job they can provide sensitivity training.

I'm keeping you in my prayers for a full recovery to health.

legaljen1969

@Teachergirl. Sensitivity training would definitely be in order. It's amazing how just the way the news is delivered can change how the patient reacts and/or proceeds. I a definitely a "quotes" person so stay with me through this post.

As they say "The speed of the leader is the speed of the gang." Bad news delivered with compassion is often a little easier to take. It can definitely set the tone for almost everything that comes after those first devastating words. The old "A spoon full of sugar makes the medicine go down."

I am a very visual learner. I like to see my images. It just gives me context. The first radiologist who did my biopsy showed me the images, and did a vague "We see something in this area" with a sweeping circle. He was very nice, but a little dismissive. Just before my lumpectomy I had to go back to have a SAVI scout marker placed. That was when I first found out there were "multiple" areas of concern and the radiologist was talking about how to "bracket" the area. It was a different radiologist. I was completely overwhelmed, and he saw that. He asked me if I thought it would make me more of less anxious if he showed me the images. I told him I thought it would probably make me less anxious, so he showed me the images and showed me exactly where he saw issues and explained what he needed to mark for the surgeon. It was all so much more understandable then.

The first radiologist who read my initial mammogram came in, delivered the blow and said "Okay, you can sit here and process all of this. My door is the last one on the right before you leave the radiology wing. Knock on my door before you leave so I know its okay for the next patient to go in. " At first I was unhappy because I felt like I needed more information and he had just walked out. I wanted to knock on his door and say "Thanks for nothing you SOB." When I knocked, he was very nice and said he would be sure my PCM and my proposed care team got all of the information as quickly as possible. He also offered me a new perspective. I am military dependent and get most of my care at the local naval hospital. Their practice is to send a postcard if the results are good and it's basically a "see you next year" card. He told me "You know about the cards. That's how people get good news here. The only time I see our mammogram patients is when there is bad news. It's not fun being the bearer of bad news every day. People associate me with some of the worst news they ever get, and then some of them never see me again since we refer our breast care patients out in town. Then they see me in the grocery store or at WalMart and divert their eyes. I wish I got to give the good news too. I have just learned to give the news and exit because the only "what's next" I know is that I will send the images to the breast care team out in town and then it's out of my hands. No information gets sent to me. Your PCM gets results, but I don't. I do wonder what happens with people and I can check results, but I most often never see the patient again. People just need time to process everything."

I think radiologists have a very clinical job and they are very cut and dried in their approach. Maybe because they are the "bad news bear" so often. I agree they should not be unkind, but sometimes we receive the news with a wounded heart and upset mind and their words pierce us in ways that might not hurt so bad if we knew the news was coming.

Teachergirl

legaljen1969 I have a family member and several friends who are radiologists so I understand the nature of the job. My feeling is that this was not a point of a radiologist being unkind. He may have felt he was lightening the mood using a (poor) form of humor but not being a close friend of the patient, even that was inappropriate. His words were factual but presented in a rude and flip manner. I diagnose children with autism and the first thought is how to present information to parents. Any type of diagnosis changes a person's day, good or bad. Smug, flip, and rude are wrong.

Recognizing that your words will change someone's life he should find an appropriate way to navigate that. The words "hotshot radiologist" conjure an image of a smug know it all (you described his response as cavalier, I agree it was). While we may all have similar paths, the journey we take through cancer is our own. You agreed that sensitivity training was in order and ended defending the person and giving a reason for why we may negatively receive what is said to us rather than how it is said. I was aware that I was facing a positive cancer diagnosis. I did not have a wounded heart nor did I have an upset mind. I had a huge support system of breast cancer survivors in my circle of a friends prior to my diagnosis. I was prepared, positive, and ready to fight. Ignorance of another's feelings when you have to give bad news is something that all medical professionals need to be aware of.

Teachergirl

I am so sorry that you had an experience like that!! Any practitioner that is tasked with delivering news of any diagnosis should have sensitivity training. Being flip and arrogant is not acceptable when your words can have a significant impact on a person's well-being. I had a similar experience when the radiologist told me "There is no good news. See a breast specialist." and he walked away. I will keep you in my prayers for a journey to complete health.

petieagnor

I'm so sorry that techs & some doctors are still treating patients like that. That is how I was treated in '06. I thanked the doctor, got dressed & went home. He didn't know he was the second opinion person. My PCP sent me to a very good surgeon & oncologist. Let us know how you're doing. We're here to support you in any way.