Texas woman misdiagnosed with cancer shares experience and its effect on her family

In late 2022, Lisa Monk sought medical attention for suspected kidney stones but was diagnosed with clear cell angiosarcoma, a rare blood type cancer, by doctors in Houston. After undergoing two rounds of chemotherapy, a routine follow-up appointment revealed a misdiagnosis—the hospital had made a grave error. Monk never had cancer; it was a misinterpretation of a mass on her spleen, which was actually blood vessel activity. The mistake led to unnecessary chemotherapy treatments and emotional trauma for Monk and her family. Despite the relief of not having cancer, Monk emphasizes the need for accountability in healthcare to prevent such errors from happening to others. She shared her story on TikTok, highlighting the issue of diagnostic mistakes. Monk and her family are still coping with the aftermath, both physically and emotionally, and she worries about the long-term effects of the unnecessary chemotherapy. This incident underscores the significant impact of diagnostic mistakes in healthcare, with hundreds of thousands of patients in the US affected each year, disproportionately affecting women and minorities.