Lung cancer misdiagnosis

Hi I'm new to this but wondered if you could give me some help. Sadly, my best friend and my Mum have both been diagnosed with lung cancer (secondary breast cancer in my friend's case). They were both told they had pneumonia and my Mom was treated with anti-biotics for 6 months even though they clearly didn't work. I kept on asking for a scan. By the time she was correctly diagnosed, the cancer had spread to her spine and she has lost the use of her legs.

These misdiagnosis happened in 2 different authorities (West Mids and Cornwall) have we just been extremely unlucky or is this more common? Does anyone have a similar story?

Thanks

 

  • Hi there, welcome to our forum. My husband has stage 4 lung cancer, started coughing in the September  five X rays in five months and antibiotics, told  he had a chest infection and at one point was sent away by one GP because he'd had too many antibiotics.  Fast forward to the following March  Called by our GP revising scans and within a week we were told he had lung cancer, so no it's not unusual and we live in the North.  It's very sad but you will find a few others have suffered in the same way.  I'm so sorry about what has happened.  Best wishes  Carol

  • Thank you for welcoming me. I'm very sad to hear this has happened to you and your husband. Will never  understand why they don't just offer a scan straight away or at least if antibiotics don't work. I'm not a doctor but a simple Google search shows lung cancer doesn't always show up on an x-ray. 

    Take care, Helen

  • Thank you Helen, still battling two years on!  Carol

  • Hi there,

    This also happened to my Mum. She was diagnosed with Neuropathic pain disorder however actually had lung cancer for three years. She attended numerous pain clinics and had many X rays. By the time they found it (Nov 2004) it had progressed to stage 4 Lung Cancer and had spread to her spine. She passed away in Dec 2004. I believe it was unfortunately total negligence on her GPs part but have now accepted what happened. 
     

    I pray for your Mum and friend. Never give up hope.x