Mark Taubert’s article (I thought I should always be positive with my patients – until I found out how damaging that can be, 19 June) struck a chord with me. My wife had what we thought was successful treatment for breast cancer in 2015-16. In 2020, she visited her GP complaining of lower back pain, only for it to be dismissed as muscular. Two months later, she collapsed, and an MRI scan showed she had tumours in her spine that had caused the lower lumbar region to fracture.
She was put in touch with a WhatsApp group of about a dozen women who had the same diagnosis. During her four months as a member of the group before she died, others joined, and some also died.
It seems implausible that women who have had breast cancer are not routinely screened for spinal secondaries, particularly if they complain of back pain. They should certainly not be dismissed as only suffering from muscular pain. If spinal tumours are recognised early, my understanding is that there can be a better outcome. I hope that doctors who recognise this potential progression of cancer will put pressure on their peers to act accordingly.
Ian Clegg
Nottingham
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