Breast cancer misdiagnosis can lead to delayed treatment and devastating patient outcomes when malignant conditions are not quickly identified. Breast cancer is a common form of cancer that every woman (and man) needs to be aware of. The statistics are staggering: 1 in 8 women – or about 12% - will develop breast cancer during her life. Today, there are more than 2.9 million breast cancer survivors in America, according to BreastCancer dot com. However, it's the second highest cause of cancer deaths, immediately following lung cancer. Breast cancer or any clinical symptoms to point to the disease must be taken seriously and treated swiftly and thoroughly by doctors, nurses, and other clinicians. Failure to do so can be the basis of a breast cancer misdiagnosis and the beginning of a medical malpractice claim.



Understanding breast cancer misdiagnosis

There are a number of contexts in which breast cancer misdiagnosis can occur. One is when a doctor fails to identify clinical symptoms that might indicate the presence of breast cancer such as:

• a mass;
• discharge from the nipples;
• breast pain or regional chest pain;
• reddening or other changes to the skin of the breast;
• edema;

These symptoms alone, in combination, or in the presences of other issues may all be indicative of a malignancy. Failure to identify these symptoms, the failure to conduct recommended testing during annual exams, the inaccurate reading of test results, failure to recommend further testing, and a failure to identify the increased risk factors of breast cancer can all contribute to a situation of misdiagnosis, delayed treatments, and poor patient outcomes. Another less common but equally tragic cause of breast cancer is gender based; while the majority of patients are women, breast cancer can also affect men.

Identifying the factors for increased breast cancer risk

In addition to correctly identifying and testing for breast cancer when clinical symptoms appear and during routine exams, it's important for medical care providers to recognize that a number of factors can raise a person's risk of breast cancer and act accordingly:

• Gender: women are 100 times more likely to develop breast cancer, although it does affect men as well.
• Age: breast cancer can impact patients of any age but risk increases dramatically after age 55.
• Genetics: a close relative with breast cancer such as a parent, sibling, or child indicates a two to three times greater risk of development the disease than the general public.
• Endocrine factors: a number of endocrine factors – from late-onset menstruation to never having children, as well as the prolonged use of synthetic hormones may increase the occurrence of breast cancer.
• Dietary and lifestyle factors: individuals who consume large amounts of animal products, are overweight, or largely sedentary may be at a higher risk for developing breast cancer.

What to do if your cancer was misdiagnosed

If you or a loved one experienced a breast cancer misdiagnosis, it's important that you seek legal counsel. You may be eligible for financial compensation that can help you manage expensive treatment costs and other expenses you incurred, as well as compensate you for pain and suffering. An experienced malpractice attorney will be able to review your case, consult with leading experts in breast cancer care, and determine if you have the basis of a malpractice claim. Contact an attorney in your area today to arrange for a confidential consultation.

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