Connecticut Breast Cancer Malpractice Attorney
If you or a loved one has experienced a misdiagnosed breast cancer, then you should not hesitate to obtain qualified legal representation.
There are various tools which are necessary to make a proper diagnosis of breast cancer, including self-examination, mammography, and biopsy procedures. While self-examinations can be performed at home, patients rely on their doctors to perform the regular and necessary testing to detect breast cancer early. The sooner cancer is detected, the better the patient’s chances of survival.
A breast cancer diagnosis is one of the most frightening experiences a patient may face. It is recommended that women obtain a baseline mammogram in their late thirties and then annual mammograms after the age of 40. Men should also be screened for breast cancer; although the disease is more common in women, both sexes may suffer from it.
Early detection is critical in the treatment of breast cancer. Breast cancer is usually diagnosed via a mammogram, which may show very small deposits of calcium known as micro-calcifications. Any suspicious finding on mammogram should be biopsied to evaluate whether breast cancer is present. A common type of biopsy is the needle aspiration method, which is usually performed in conjunction with a breast ultrasound. Other types of biopsies are conducted by removing larger amounts of tissue, such as a lumpectomy. The only way to be completely sure about whether or not a malignancy is present is to physically test the tissue removed from the body.
According to the Centers for Disease and Control, approximately 40,598 women in the United States died from breast cancer in 2010. Women who have a family history of breast cancer are particularly vulnerable. However, this type of cancer can strike anyone. Some other risk factors for breast cancer include early onset of menstruation, late menopause, and the absence of pregnancy. By far the most common form of breast cancer is “ductal carcinoma.” This “ductal” type of cancer concerns the growth of cancer cells within the milk producing ducts of the breast.
Diagnosing the extent of breast cancer is imperative and will to a large degree depend upon the size of the tumor(s), any involvement of lymph node(s) and the existence of growth factor(s).
It is most disturbing that frequently mammograms can be misinterpreted and a diagnosis of breast cancer may be missed. Also, there are times when a biopsy of tissue from the breast is misread as not having cancer when, in fact, it is cancerous. Or your breast cancer may be diagnosed properly, but the treatment ordered by your physician for the breast cancer may be insufficient or not in accordance with proper medical guidelines. In these cases, your doctor or treatment facility may have performed their duties negligently, and you may potentially have a cause of action for medical malpractice.
If you feel you or a loved one has been wronged in the diagnosis and/or treatment for breast cancer, then you should contact the breast cancer injury lawyers at Kocian Law Group.