Doc Missed That Young Mom’s Breast Cancer Returned in Her Lungs – They Gave Her Antibiotics for Cough Instead

On Dec. 23, 2017, she was given the “all-clear,” The Birmingham Live reported.

Powers is married and has a young son. After undergoing chemotherapy and surgery she kept up with routine scans and checkups for five years.

As she neared her five-year point, she developed a persistent cough and generally wasn’t feeling like herself. She went to the hospital to get her nagging cough checked out. She was given a CT scan and the doctor described her results as “clear.”

The mother of one was then sent home with antibiotics.

However, when Powers went for a checkup with her regular breast surgeon, that doctor noticed that the scans previously described as “clear” actually showed shadows across her lungs and liver.

Her doctor went on to tell her the cancer had returned and spread to other parts of the body.

“For them to have missed it when I flagged as an oncology patient, you think they would have noticed something on the lungs,” Powers said.

The diagnosis was more devastating for Powers because just as she reached the finish line of her cancer journey, she knew it wasn’t over after all.

“Your risk of cancer returning is supposed to reduce as the years go on and I rang the bell to show five years clear in December 2022,” she said.

After her new diagnosis, Power began chemotherapy to treat her metastatic cancer earlier this year.

WATCH: When Breast Cancer Spreads.

Understanding Metastatic Breast Cancer

Stage 4 or metastatic breast cancer, is the hardest type of cancer to treat, according to SurvivorNet experts. Metastatic means the cancer has spread beyond the breast to other parts of the body.

Fortunately, new treatments have improved the outlook for stage 4 breast cancer, according to the leading medical experts SurvivorNet consulted. These new treatments are increasing the lifespan of women with metastatic disease.

For women with HER2-positive breast cancer, meaning they have high levels of a protein called HER2 on the surface of their cancer cells, targeted treatments are available. The drugs trastuzumab (Herceptin) and pertuzumab (Perjeta) have transformed the outlook for some women with late-stage breast cancers.

These therapies, which are often combined with chemotherapy, are very effective at controlling breast cancer once it has spread.

Another big advancement has come in the treatment of triple-negative breast cancer. This has historically been one of the most aggressive forms of breast cancer to treat because it lacks any of the main drivers of breast cancer – the estrogen receptor, the progesterone receptor, and the HER2 receptor.

In addition to chemotherapy, immunotherapy is also used to treat triple-negative breast cancer. In studies, this new therapy has been shown to extend the lives of women with this type of cancer.

For postmenopausal women with hormone-receptor-positive and HER2-negative breast cancers, a newer class of drugs called CDK4/6 inhibitors are available. These drugs have been shown to improve survival in some women with metastatic cancer.

Coping With a Diagnosis

Powers’ stunned reaction to her cancer diagnosis is normal. Coping with a diagnosis involves a range of emotions from anger to sadness and everything in between.

Sarah Stapleton, a licensed clinical social worker, encourages cancer warriors and their families to be “patient with your emotions.”

“It’s also important that you understand how you communicate with your providers, but also with your loved ones,” Stapleton said.

“We can’t always assume that people know what we need at a given time, and there are going to be times when you don’t want to speak about your diagnosis and you don’t want to speak about cancer,” Stapleton continued.

Psychiatrist Dr. Lori Plutchik explained to SurvivorNet some tips for cancer warriors and their caregivers for managing emotions after a diagnosis. She emphasized getting extra support from loved ones.

“Some people don’t need to go outside of their family and friend circle. They feel like they have enough support there,” Dr. Plutchik said.

“But for people who feel like they need a little bit more, it is important to reach out to a mental health professional,” Dr. Plutchik added.

“Patients who have just been diagnosed with cancer sometimes wonder how they are going to handle the diagnosis of the cancer in social situations. How much information they should share and with whom they should share the information…everybody is different,” Dr. Plutchik said.

Ultimately it comes down to what feels right. Loved ones supporting a cancer warrior are encouraged to respect the wishes of the cancer patient when it comes to disclosing their diagnosis.

Luckily for Powers, she has a support group including her family and close friends Jamie-Ann Edwards, Gemma, Jo, and Sarah. Powers’ friends started a GoFundMe to help her with medical bills or family outings with her son and husband.

Advocating for Yourself

Everyone should be their own biggest advocate, especially when it comes to their health. This skill becomes even more important when you sense your doctor might be dismissing your symptoms.

By advocating for yourself, you can make sure that your doctor sees you as an individual and doesn’t fall back on assumptions.

Dr. Zuri Murrell from Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles urges patients to push back when they feel that something is off.

“The truth is you have to be in tune with your body, and you realize that you are not the statistic,” Dr. Murrell told SurvivorNet. “That’s why it’s important for you to actually educate yourself and be your own health care advocate.”

Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.

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