JACKSONVILLE — What started as a medical reassurance has turned into a nightmare for 32-year-old Army veteran Tanisha Crisp, who says she was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer in January after a mass at the Jacksonville VA was earlier labeled “probably benign.” Crisp says the same radiologist who tried to put her at ease after an April mammogram later found cancer in that same breast. She has filed a formal complaint, hired an attorney and is now in weekly treatment while friends and family work to raise money to help cover mounting medical bills.
Timeline, according to records and an exclusive interview
According to Action News Jax, Crisp first landed in the Mayo Clinic emergency room in February 2025 with chest pain. A CT scan flagged an abnormal lymph node, and VA records acknowledged the finding but, according to the station, treated it as nothing to worry about. The station reports that Crisp kept pushing for more tests and eventually had an April mammogram that her medical records described as “probably benign.” She returned to the emergency room in January with breast pain and bloody discharge, and a subsequent biopsy showed stage 3 disease. “I didn’t want to believe it was cancer because I was so young,” Crisp told the station.
How “probably benign” findings are handled
Per the American College of Radiology, a BI-RADS 3, or “probably benign,” result usually means the chance of cancer is low. Instead of jumping straight to a biopsy, the standard playbook is short-interval follow up imaging, often at six months. The Radiological Society of North America notes that most BI-RADS 3 findings stay benign on later scans, although a small portion are eventually upgraded, which is why that closer surveillance is built into the guidelines. The goal is to avoid unnecessary procedures while still catching the handful of cancers that show up on follow up.
VA response and legal steps
Action News Jax reports that Crisp has submitted a formal complaint and brought on an attorney. When the station asked the VA for comment, the agency declined, citing pending litigation. The outlet also reports that a VA claim to add the cancer diagnosis to Crisp’s disability status was denied, leaving her uncertain about what support she will receive as she undergoes treatment. Crisp told reporters she was especially frustrated that she did not receive an apology or explanation from the clinician who later diagnosed the cancer.
Fundraiser and short-term needs
In the meantime, friends have turned to crowdfunding. A GoFundMe effort lists Rachel Schorr and Tanya Lee as organizers and shows roughly $2,300 raised toward a $20,000 goal to help cover treatments, surgeries and time away from work. The GoFundMe story, launched in February 2026, describes Crisp as an Army veteran and mother and says the fund is meant to help while she goes through weekly therapy and procedures. Their campaign is one more example of how community fundraising has become a stopgap for patients trying to manage high out-of-pocket costs while they also navigate formal benefits systems.
What this means for patients
Research has found that follow up care for BI-RADS 3 findings is not always consistent, particularly for younger patients or those dealing with scheduling challenges or financial strain. Delays in that surveillance have been linked to higher odds of a later-stage diagnosis, according to a recent analysis. Current evidence and expert guidelines underline that “probably benign” is not the same as no risk at all. Crisp says she hopes her experience will push other patients to keep asking questions and seeking answers if their symptoms do not improve. For now, she is concentrating on her own treatment and urging other women to trust their instincts when something feels off.
