|
It's not unusual to be misdiagnosed
Ewing's Sarcoma and it's family of tumors is one of the most commonly misdiagnosed childhood cancers. Pain and swelling can be misdirected to strains, bone growth or trauma. Ewing's Sarcoma can also be misdiagnosed as osteosarcoma or other bone disease. A main reason for misdiagnosis is the uninformed medical community. Because Ewing's Sarcoma and PNET are so rare, many primary care providers and pediatricians have never seen, let alone diagnosed Ewing's Sarcoma. If something doesn't feel right get a second opinion. Here is Heidi's story of being misdiagnosed:
In early October 2004 Heidi found a small "spider-bite" sized lump on her right lower back. She went to the student health center at the college, where the dermatologist brushed it off as a CLOGGED PORE, but to get it checked out at a local dermatologist. The doctor refered her to an office, and in November she had her appointment. At this office, a Physician's Assistant evaluated the lump (which at this time had grown to a "nickle" sized mass,) and determined that it was just a CYST that would drain naturally, and that Heidi wouldn't want to remove it because it could leave and unsightly scar. Heidi opted to have it removed, and the appointment was set to late January. The mass continued to swell and grow at an alarming rate. At this point Heidi went to a third dematologist who also said it was a CYST, and that he would try to remove it then in the office. Upon inserting his scalpel, the tumor started to bleed and ooze. The doctor then decided instead of removing it, to insert a 12 inch antibiotic strip, that would be removed one inch each day for twelve days. This was done because the doctor felt that the CYST was very infected. Heidi was to return in a month. In January Heidi returned, at this time the tumor was the size of a "silver dollar." The doctor started removing the tumor, under local anestetics, and immediately he knew something was wrong. He silently removed 99% of the tumor, and sent it off to pathology. The doctor knew the tumor was cancerous, but being a dermatologist he had never seen this type of cancer. The slide was sent to two pathologist before it was determined Heidi had Ewing's Sarcoma PNET.
|
