3 ms·

This makes me doubt the reliability of cancer diagnosis: >They were understandably terrified, but neurologists who read the radiology report seemed unconcerned

This makes me doubt the reliability of cancer diagnosis: >They were understandably terrified, but neurologists who read the radiology report seemed unconcerned, explaining that such masses were common among women, and suggested Scott have it checked again in a year. Yet at the end of the article they say >if she had waited six months, she would have had severe, and possibly permanent, degradation of her sight.

emcrazyone 12y ago
You should doubt everything when it comes to your life. Question everything and leave no stone un-turned. I know this first hand. Doctors, very smart, just don't know everything. You really have to bone up on whatever is ailing you and really shop the knowledge base that is out there.
kitbrennan 12y ago
It's important to remember that this article is probably simplifying the doctor's advice. I imagine the neurologist ended with: "However, please come back immediately if you feel worse or notice any other symptoms." Obviously that 'may' have been a critical delay, and therefore Scott and her husband were certainly right in hindsight to be proactive about Scott's health.
alexholehouse 12y ago
> explaining that such masses were common among women, and suggested Scott have it checked again in a year. I know this sounds insane, but menigiomas (which I'd guess is what the neurologist suspected it was) are almost always benign and shockingly common - many post-mortems find these guys just kind of hanging out in/around the brain. The corollary is that any kind of cranial surgery has enormous risks. Point being, if a doctor sees what appears to be a (surprisingly) common event on a chart, they're not going to necessarily recommend further action other than observation UNLESS there's a change to the patient (which, as kitbrennan pointed out, almost certainly accompanied the "get it checked again in a year").

emcrazyone 12y ago

You should doubt everything when it comes to your life. Question everything and leave no stone un-turned. I know this first hand. Doctors, very smart, just don't know everything. You really have to bone up on whatever is ailing you and really shop the knowledge base that is out there.

kitbrennan 12y ago

It's important to remember that this article is probably simplifying the doctor's advice. I imagine the neurologist ended with: "However, please come back immediately if you feel worse or notice any other symptoms." Obviously that 'may' have been a critical delay, and therefore Scott and her husband were certainly right in hindsight to be proactive about Scott's health.

alexholehouse 12y ago

> explaining that such masses were common among women, and suggested Scott have it checked again in a year. I know this sounds insane, but menigiomas (which I'd guess is what the neurologist suspected it was) are almost always benign and shockingly common - many post-mortems find these guys just kind of hanging out in/around the brain. The corollary is that any kind of cranial surgery has enormous risks. Point being, if a doctor sees what appears to be a (surprisingly) common event on a chart, they're not going to necessarily recommend further action other than observation UNLESS there's a change to the patient (which, as kitbrennan pointed out, almost certainly accompanied the "get it checked again in a year").