Peter Witkowski Breast Cancer Questions

Why Didn’t You Sue Your Doctor?

We chose not to sue because of our spiritual convictions and my desire to devote my emotional energy to my health and family. According to the law firm we contacted and friends within the medical field, I had the makings of a legitimate malpractice lawsuit. Facing a future that contains the real threat of large medical bills, the thought of securing a large settlement appealed to our hearts.

We long for earthly security, but we long even more for the peace produced by a clean conscience. As we weighed the merits of a lawsuit, the Lord kept directing Peter back to 1 Corinthians 6:7 where the Apostle Paul writes, “To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded?” The glory of the Christian comes not from gaining revenge but from following Christ who extended mercy to those who wronged Him. Even if we would have won, we believe it is better to suffer a wrong than to gain vengeance. We prefer the security of Christ over the security of the bank.

In addition, I did not want to expend my limited amounts of energy giving depositions while figuring out treatment plans and caring for our family. A lawsuit at that time felt more like a heavy burden that I did not want to carry.

April Witkowski Breast Cancer Questions

Did You Feel A Lump?

I first felt a lump in my left breast while breast feeding our youngest daughter during the last months of 2018.  The bump slowly began to force my nipple outward, an experience that I had never encountered while breastfeeding my older children. Fearing that I might have breast cancer, I shared my concerns with my OBGYN. He did a physical exam and attributed all my symptoms to a clogged milk duct which should go away with time.  Doubtful of his first diagnosis, I asked him about the lump a second time and received the same reply.  It never went away.

I also began to experience pain in my lower back and left leg in the early months of 2019. While this was not constant, it could prove excruciating.  I fell to the floor in pain on several occasions. Seeking to find a cure for my pain, I underwent an MRI of my lower back. The scan showed tumors in all my bones.  Though I had to undergo a full battery of tests to determine the source and nature of my cancer, I was not surprised to learn that it was indeed metastatic breast cancer. I was diagnosed in May 2019 a week after my youngest daughter’s first birthday.