Published Aug 5, 2020

Doctors Said Mom Had COVID-19; By the Time they Realized it was Cancer it was Too Late

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One of the most valuable pieces of advice cancer survivors have shared with SurvivorNet is to listen to your body, because you know it better than anyone. For one young mom, insisting something was wrong just wasn’t enough, as doctors kept blaming COVID-19. They were wrong.

Beth Pattison, a 27-year-old breast cancer survivor, visited her doctor in March due to a cough she had been experiencing for unknown reasons. Her physician stated that the cough was likely due to COVID-19, as cases were spreading. However, Pattison still wanted answers so she consulted with an oncologist about her symptoms who ended up reiterating that it was likely COVID-19.

Pattison’s symptoms didn’t change, her unexplained and persistent cough continued, and after receiving a negative COVID-19 test, she was admitted to the hospital on June 8th for, what doctors believed, pneumonia. She underwent a number of tests, and after a week, doctors found Pattison had ovarian, lung, and breast cancer. She passed away on June 27th.

“If there’s one thing Beth can leave as her legacy it’s that people who have had a previous diagnosis of cancer are checked for it first before other causes are looked at,” Beth’s father says. “Let’s make sure the horrible disease hasn’t come back. Get tested now. That’s all we’re asking.”

Dr. Elizabeth Comen says it’s important cancer screenings continue amid COVID-19

Advice From Survivors: “Listen To Your Body”

When it comes to recognizing possible symptoms of cancer, it’s important to advocate for yourself and push your doctor for answers. Lisa Mitchell had all the symptoms of ovarian cancer back pain, bloating, and irregular bleeding but her doctor kept brushing her off and saying she was “too young” to be diagnosed. However, Lisa insisted her doctor continue looking, and it turned out she had stage 3c ovarian cancer.

Lisa’s experience made her realize how important it is to advocate for yourself as a patient, especially since many people may not push for more answers because they want their doctor to like them.

“It’s very possible that had I not been persistent with the doctors and getting someone to listen to me, that I would not be here right now,” Lisa says. “Don't be afraid to advocate for yourself. You know your body; listen to it. Follow your intuition. I'm doing great, I'm a 6-year survivor, and I'm thriving.”

Ovarian cancer survivor Lisa Mitchell on the importance of advocating for yourself

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