Alarming News About Breast Cancer Misdiagnosis
When you are dealing with any type of disease or illness, the sooner you identify the problem the better. When the disease you are confronted with is cancer, early detection can mean the difference between life and death. Public awareness has increased dramatically when it comes to finding and treating breast cancer, and many women now follow doctor’s instructions when it comes to doing self-assessments to detects lumps or changes that could indicate problems. Unfortunately, new studies indicate that the medical community itself may be dropping the ball when it comes to doing their part in detecting and treating this deadly disease. Medical malpractice cases involving misdiagnosis have become all too common, as diagnostic errors result in serious and life threatening consequences for patients. The following are facts you need to be aware of regarding breast cancer, as well as what the latest research indicates is a problem in detecting this disease before it causes irreparable harm.
Breast Cancer Facts
According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF), one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point in their lives. Breast cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed and deadliest cancers in women and it impacts men as well, with over 400 men each year dying from the disease. Breast cancer occurs as the result of malignant, cancerous cells forming in the breast tissues, which can then spread to outside tissues and organs. Breast cancer is treatable, and there are close to three million breast cancer survivors living today in the United States. The key is early detection and treatment. To protect yourself, the NBCF recommends the following:
- Know the warning signs and symptoms of breast cancer
- Perform breast self-exams, as instructed by your doctor
- Get periodic clinical breast exams from a healthcare professional
- Have a mammogram performed, will can detect potentially dangerous lumps or masses
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Misdiagnosis of Breast Cancer
While an early detection plan is important in detecting breast cancer in its early stages, recent research suggests the medical community is failing to do their part in helping patients uncover and treat their disease. According to NBC News Today, a 2015 medical study indicates that doctors and pathologists may be failing to catch precancerous conditions before they become a more serious and potentially life threatening problem. The report states that roughly 1.6 million biopsies are performed each year as the result of suspicions based on mammogram results. In roughly 50 percent of these biopsies, doctors and pathologists failed to identify abnormal, precancerous cells. If undetected, these cells can grow and turn into actual cancer, spreading to other tissues. Identifying these cells early is often the key to preventing more advanced stages of breast cancer, thereby preventing potentially drastic surgical procedures as well as a disease that could become life threatening.
Let Us Help You
If you or someone you care about has suffered an injury or illness as the result of a medical misdiagnosis, contact our experienced South Carolina medical malpractice attorney right away. At Anastopoulo Law Firm we can advise you on how to hold medical providers responsible for their errors, while assisting you in getting the compensation you deserve. With offices in Charleston and throughout South Carolina, we will fight aggressively for your rights, and hold responsible parties accountable. Call us today for a free consultation.
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