Breast Cancer Awareness

For the past twenty five years, October has been recognized as Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  Efforts to increase awareness and raise funds for research include everything from Facebook memes to athletic events (shameless plug: join me for the Trek Bikes Breast Cancer Awareness Ride on October 9).  Although early detection has reduced mortality rates, data suggest that at least 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer.  Mothers, wives, sisters and daughters are all at risk.

Since there is no cure, successful treatment depends on early detection and prompt medical intervention.  Women should regularly perform self-examinations and get regular medical check-ups.  Most physicians are attentive, especially if there are attendant risk factors such as age or family history.  Some doctors, however, will rely solely on preliminary studies or dismiss complaints--especially among young women.  If this happens, breast cancer diagnosis can be missed, and the results of the delay can be devastating.

There are a number of circumstances where breast cancer can be missed.  For instance, when a woman discovers a lump on examination, reports it to her doctor, who then orders a mammogram that comes back negative.  Some doctors will incorrectly advise their patient that all is well.  But not all breast cancers are detected on mammography.  The standard of care for medical professionals requires additional clinical follow-up where there is a palpable mass and a negative mammogram.  The standard of care requires an ultrasound, and if that mass still persists, a biopsy.

Another scenario was discussed recently in the New York Times, where doctors regularly misdiagnose a type of breast cancer called ductal carcinoma in situ, or D.C.I.S., particularly in its earliest stages. According to the article, "17 percent of D.C.I.S. cases identified by a commonly used needle biopsy may be misdiagnosed."  Recent research reveals that women with dense breast tissue are at higher risk for D.C.I.S., requiring further vigilance.

Patients and their families must be their own advocates.  The stakes are too high, and women deserve to have their health carefully addressed.  As a medical malpractice attorney, I've seen far too many cases where women have presented to their physicians with complaints of breast lumps, only to have these concerns dismissed because they're "too young" to get cancer or because of a negative mammogram.  These cases have resulted in women having to undergo radical treatment that could have been avoided if the cancer had been detected sooner.  Most tragically, in some cases, the cancer wins and families lose their wives and mothers to the devastating disease.

During this month of increased awareness, take control of your health care.  Recommendations for getting good professional care are available HERE.  They include talking candidly with your doctor; following up with any recommended testing, and if necessary, getting a second opinion.

If you reported your concerns to a doctor, and he or she ignored them until it was too late, you may have a claim for medical malpractice.  You should contact a lawyer that will hold the doctor accountable.