Failure to Diagnose Breast Cancer and What It Means to You

Cancer is a word that typically strikes fear in most people. It’s an unfortunate reality and for women, breast cancer is a serious diagnosis that affects many each year. Yet, with early diagnosis, breast cancer can be relatively easy to overcome and ultimately survive.

For this reason, screening is crucially important for women so that a diagnosis can be made early on and treatment can begin immediately.

A failure to diagnose breast cancer is a serious issue. Failing to detect and treat breast cancer can have a drastic effect on your chance for survival and also your quality of life due to more rigid and strenuous treatment plans. Medical bills, lost income along with pain and suffering are just a few areas where someone’s life can be impacted beyond the reality of breast cancer itself.

There are many reasons for a failed diagnosis, including:

• Failure to perform a breast exam and/or mammograms.
• Misreading mammogram test results
• Failure to identify existing lump during breast exam
• Not following up on an abnormal mammogram
• Not performing a biopsy
• Lack of communication between various insurance providers and care providers.
• Misinformation provided by patients to care providers.

The simple fact is that patients go to their doctor to get expert medical attention and should expect to receive quality care, regardless of whether or not you have insurance. Many times if you don’t have the insurance or have minimal insurance, the proper tests are not always ordered to discover your cancer.

How to Protect Yourself

The best thing you should do is to protect yourself. Women (and men) should know not only their own medical history but also the medical history of their immediate family. A close family member, such as a parent, who was diagnosed with breast cancer means that you have a higher risk of developing the same cancer.

You should also perform regular ‘self checks,’ paying close attention to lumps, swelling, rashes or redness. Speak with a doctor or find a resource, like this one, to learn more.

You should also seek a second opinion if you suspect there is something wrong and you are not satisfied with the medical attention you received. Remember, early detection can mean the difference between life and death- getting a second opinion is worth the effort and additional expense.

If you are not satisfied with the treatment from your doctor or have developed cancer after bringing a lump to the attention of your doctor and your symptoms were never addressed you may be able to file a lawsuit for a delay in diagnosis against your doctor.

The law office of Murray L. Greenfield and Associates has been representing clients who have suffered from a failure to diagnose an illness for decades. We take each case seriously and will be happy to review your case to determine if legal action can be taken. For a free consultation, contact our office today to speak with one of our experienced attorneys.