Breast Cancer Misdiagnosis
Breast Cancer
I would like to thank you again for the speedy and sensitive way in which you have dealt with this matter. I would have no hesitation in recommending your firm to anyone in the future.
Pamela, Castleford Breast cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer found in women. 1 in 9 women will develop the disease and it generally affects women over 50.
Types of Breast Cancer
There are different types of breast cancer which can be classed as invasive and non-invasive depending on their ability to spread to surrounding tissues.
The most common type of non invasive cancer is ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). Early diagnosis of this cancer will generally mean that the cancer will be completely removed.
The most common type of invasive breast cancer is known as invasive ductal carcinoma. In these cases cancer cells are found in both the ducts and in the breast tissue. These cells are also able to metastasize and spread to other parts of the body.
Causes of Breast Cancer
The causes of breast cancer are not yet completely known but there are a number of factors which are said to increase the risk. For example, the majority of women diagnosed with breast cancer are over 50 years of age; also women whose mother, sister or daughter have developed breast cancer have a 50% greater chance of developing the disease. Other risk factors include obesity, diet and not breast feeding.
Breast Cancer Tests
If changes are evident on a mammogram or a woman finds a lump in her breast, a number of tests can be done to determine whether the lump is cancerous or not. These can include fine needle aspiration, MRI scan and a biopsy.
Breast Cancer Treatment
If breast cancer is diagnosed then treatment is usually started with surgery. This may be by way of lumpectomy (removal of the lump) or a mastectomy (where the whole of the affected breast is removed). Commonly the lymph glands in the armpit are also removed at the same time. Surgery may then be followed by chemotherapy, radiotherapy or hormone treatment.
Breast Cancer Misdiagnosis
Unfortunately there are times when breast cancer can be misdiagnosed and remain undiagnosed. We have represented clients in cases where GPs following an examination of patients have failed to refer them on for further tests, and where needle aspirations, MRI scans and biopsy results have been misinterpreted or even mixed-up with other patients' results. Unfortunately a delay in treatment for breast cancer can be debilitating and can lead to an unnecessary mastectomy or even death.
We have also represented clients where they have been misdiagnosed with the wrong type of breast cancer. Aggressive types of breast cancer require more radical forms of treatments which can have catastrophic side-effects. We have represented clients who have had a less aggressive form of breast cancer and who have undergone extensive treatment unnecessarily.
There are also circumstances where patients have undergone the psychological trauma of coming to terms with being told they have breast cancer and even undergoing treatment when they have been wrongly diagnosed. This can happen when patients' results are mixed up or misinterpreted. In some instances clients have lost years of their lives undergoing chemotherapy and in some instances clients have lost their breast/s unnecessarily.
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