Lawsuits for Failure to Diagnose Breast Cancer
What does the process for a diagnosis of breast cancer involve? There are several steps in the process. The most common means of diagnosing breast cancer involve a mammogram and a biopsy. These procedures take all the guesswork out of the diagnosis since they can determine whether or not cancer is present with stunning accuracy. However, there are steps that can be taken prior to these procedures.
A self examination for breast cancer is the most common starting point for a diagnosis. Obviously, someone without a formal medical background will be limited in their assessment. So, a self examination is not a definitive examination. It is simply a starting point where one tries to discover anything out of the ordinary that might indicate the presence of cancer. This involves both looking and feeling for lumps or other out of the ordinary signs.
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Breast Cancer Lawsuit
The next step would be to undergo a formal breast cancer screening with your doctor. Essentially, the doctor will examine the breast area in the same way a self examination is performed. However, the critical and knowledgeable eye of the doctor will pick up on nuances that someone lacking a medical background will be unable to detect.
Some may wonder if it is necessary to go to a cancer specialist or a general practitioner for an initial cancer screening. The ultimate answer to the question lies with the patient. Some may feel comfortable with their primary care physician while other would prefer a referral to a specialist. It is safe to say, however, that if one is extremely concerned over the accuracy of the diagnosis it may be best to seek the opinion of a specialist. This will significantly raise the likelihood of a completely accurate diagnosis.
Afterwards, it may finally be time to move on to a mammogram which is similar to an X-ray. Just as an X-ray examines bones for possible fractures or breaks, a mammogram will present a picture of potential abnormalities or growths in the breast tissue. A mammogram alone can not ascertain breast cancer, but it can locate unusual growths. There are other methods of locating growths including a breast ultrasound or a breast MRI. Of course, in order to truly diagnose cancer, one needs to examine the tissue. This is where a biopsy is helpful. More on breast cancer diagnosis and misdiagnosis.
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Breast Cancer Lawyer
When a growth is discovered, there are a number of ways to examine whether or not the growth is benign or cancerous. One way to do this is with a biopsy. A biopsy involves the removal and examination of suspect tissue to determine whether or not cancer cells are present. If it is not cancerous, then there is little to worry about. However, if the growth is determined to be cancerous then further complex medical treatment will be necessary.
