ALEXANDRIA, Va. (WUSA) -- Jennifer McGihon is an active and health conscious 34-year-old from Northern Virginia. Two years ago when she continued to have abnormal bleeding in between her periods she knew something wasn't right. But Jennifer says she couldn't get her doctor to listen.
"I discussed it with him and because of my age at the time, 32, my lack of family history of breast or ovarian cancer and that I am thin and in shape and that sort of thing. He blew off the symptoms I was discussing."
Jennifer's gynecologist told her it was probably a hormonal problem and put her back on the birth control pills she had stopped taking. But that didn't work either and time kept ticking.
Six months after the bleeding started and she was still bleeding, Jennifer insisted on more elaborate diagnostic tests. The results came back and she was diagnosed with stage 3 ovarian cancer and stage 1 uterine tumor.
Jennifer shares, "There is a feeling of anger with the world but with your practitioner who you rely on to keep you well and take care of problems as soon as they arise."
Jennifer isn't alone. According to the Institute of Medicine, tens of thousands of patients are misdiagnosed every year and most of them are women.
Dr. Wayne Meyer, Internist at Shady Grove Adventist Hospital, says if women are having problems with diagnosis it is usually related to how they are communicating with their physician. "Women will often down play their symptoms, and a physician has to understand that and bring out what the problems really are."
There other disorders often overlooked or missed in women including ovarian cancer, autoimmune diseases like lupus and fibromyalgia, thyroid disease and heart disease.
Dr. Meyer says a lot of it has do with the fact vague symptoms can often mean less serious conditions. But he does say women should be their own health advocates and not feel badly seeking a second opinion.
"I encourage it some people will worry will my doctor feel like I don't trust him or that sort of thing. As far as I am concerned if there is a problem that I haven't figured out I would love to have another opinion," Dr. Meyer says.
Jennifer agrees, "You have to be forceful. If you really know in your gut that it doesn't sound like what they are trying to tell you it sounds like, you need to keep going back or find a new doctor."
Experts say women can better their chances of being heard at their appointments if they come prepared. Have a check list when you go to the doctor so you don't forget anything. List out questions, medications you are taking and any symptoms you are having. Also know the different types of tests; some screenings are more accurate than others and understand the risk and benefits of each last. Always follow up. Don't assume no news is good news. Lab samples can get lost, or the results misplaced. Call and find out what your diagnostics revealed.
There are symptoms women should never ignore:
- Blurred vision. It could mean a neurological problem like a blood clot that could eventually cause a stroke, or a tumor.
- Excessive sweating and trouble breathing. It may be more than anxiety and often one of the first symptoms women report when they're having a heart attack.
- Bloating and constipation. Constant abdominal discomfort could be a sign of Crohn's disease or an ovarian tumor.
Jennifer does say she regrets that both her doctor and she didn't take the symptoms seriously enough six months prior. She is now cancer free and works with the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance and talks to medical students about what not to dismiss in woman's cancers.