The Diagnosis of 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.

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.

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.

 

Please fill out the form below to see if you have a medical malpractice case.

* Required Fields. * Click on the Disclaimer, below, for Terms PERSONAL INFORMATION
First Name:
Last Name:
E-mail Address:
Address:
City:
State:	-Please Select- Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Puerto Rico Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virgin Islands Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming
Zipcode:
Phone:	()  -
MALPRACTICE INFORMATION
Date when malpractice occurred:	January February March April May June July August September October November December 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 1970 1969 1968 1967 1966 1965 1964 1963 1962 1961 1960 1959 1958 1957 1956 1955 1954 1953 1952 1951 1950 1949 1948 1947 1946 1945 1944 1943 1942 1941 1940 1939 1938 1937 1936 1935 1934 1933 1932 1931 1930 1929 1928 1927 1926 1925 1924 1923 1922 1921 1920 1919 1918 1917 1916 1915 1914 1913 1912 1911 1910 1909 1908 1907 1906 1905 1904 1903 1902
Please describe the injuries suffered:
Please describe the medical malpractice:
Other comments/questions:

---

Source: http://www.uchospitals.edu/specialties/cancer/breast/diagnosis.html