Breast cancer is a serious concern for all women, with over 180,000 new cases being diagnosed in the U.S. each year. With proper prevention and early detection, remission and survival rates for women can increase significantly. However, when breast cancer advances beyond early stages due to a medical misdiagnosis, women can face a serious situation that could have otherwise been avoided.
If you or a loved one suffered injury due to breast cancer misdiagnosis in Fort Washington, our dedicated cancer misdiagnosis attorneys can help. We take cases all across Pennsylvania and are ready to assist you. You can reach out today to learn more about your options.
How Is Breast Cancer Diagnosed?
Breast cancer is usually first suspected when a mammogram reveals an abnormality, or a medical professional feels a lump. Anything suspicious requires follow-up testing and should be taken seriously by doctors. If further mammograms or imaging do not rule out cancer, biopsies can test tissue samples from the breast. When a biopsy finds cancer, further testing is done to ensure the cancer has not metastasized or spread to lymph nodes. When doctors take quick action, a woman’s chances of recovery improve.
However, delays in diagnosing breast cancer can significantly increase the risk of cancer spreading to other areas of the body. Our Fort Washington attorneys can help hold negligent medical professionals accountable for harm they cause through breast cancer misdiagnosis.
Common Medical Mistakes Leading to Breast Cancer Misdiagnosis
Generally, misdiagnosis of breast cancer involves a false positive or false negative, or preventable delays in diagnosing cancer. Common medical errors involved in breast cancer misdiagnosis involve:
- Improper reading or reporting of mammograms
- Failure to follow up on suspicious findings
- Failure to recommend routine mammogram screenings
- Failure to order mammograms for high-risk women
- Failure to perform breast examinations
- Failure to refer for surgery when indicated
- Failure to coordinate with other health care providers for treatment
- Disregarding symptoms due to a woman’s age (breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among women ages 20-49)
- Ignoring a patient’s risk factors for breast cancer
Tragically, breast cancer misdiagnosis can allow cancer to spread untreated and shorten the time available for treatment. When cancer misdiagnosis requires a legal response, it is essential to seek help from our Fort Washington attorneys experienced with handling breast cancer misdiagnosis claims with compassion.
Common Injuries Associated With Breast Cancer Misdiagnosis
Breast cancer misdiagnosis can lead to a wide range of potential injuries. For example, women might suffer:
- Severe physical pain
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Higher costs of medical treatment
- Lost wages due to the need for more treatment
- Treatment that is more invasive and painful
- Long-term or permanent disability
- Loss of breasts, lymph nodes, or other organs
- Premature death
At minimum, breast cancer patients in Fort Washington face longer recovery times after a misdiagnosis. At worst, patients might suffer a potentially avoidable death if they were not properly diagnosed due to medical negligence. Our dedicated lawyers can investigate a breast cancer misdiagnosis case and pursue justice for anyone involved.
Contact Our Fort Washington Breast Cancer Misdiagnosis Attorneys
Delayed treatment due to misdiagnosis can lead to increased medical costs, lost income, disability, and even wrongful death. Breast cancer patients and their families should not have to bear the costs of medical mistakes. Our medical malpractice lawyers can seek compensation for past and future medical bills, lost income, lost enjoyment of life, long-term disability, pain and suffering, loss of companionship, and more.
These are delicate cases that require support from a Fort Washington lawyer experienced with breast cancer misdiagnosis claims. Friedman Schuman Layser is here to help. Contact our dedicated legal team today to discuss your case and learn about your options.