| "Doctor, I have this lump in my right breast...right | | | | get a second opinion. Certainly if the lump gets |
| here. I think it's grown over the last month. What do | | | | bigger, you must follow up with a specialist in order |
| you think?" | | | | to properly evaluate it. Keep in mind that certain |
| This is usually how a case starts. How it finishes | | | | tests, such as sonograms and mammograms have |
| depends on many factors. Here's what I mean... | | | | something called "false-positives" and |
| When a patient has a specific complaint, the doctor is | | | | "false-negatives." This means that no test is perfect |
| obligated to examine the lump and make a clinical | | | | and even though a mammogram shows your breast |
| evaluation. The doctor should have already taken a | | | | as "normal" there is a slight possibility that the reading |
| thorough history to learn whether any blood relative | | | | is wrong. That's why you must be extremely vigilant |
| had any type of cancer- especially breast cancer. It | | | | about the lump and must insist on following it up with |
| will be important for the doctor to know whether | | | | your doctor and possibly a breast surgeon as well. |
| your breasts are usually cystic (have many lumps | | | | The most common kind of mistakes and errors that |
| naturally) or whether this is an isolated and new | | | | medical malpractice lawyers see in breast cancer |
| finding. It is also important to know if you're also | | | | cases is the failure to recognize a tumor on an x-ray |
| having your period, as that can sometimes | | | | or mammogram. The failure by a doctor to recognize |
| exacerbate normally cystic breasts. | | | | an obvious tumor represents a departure from good |
| There are many options available to the doctor at | | | | medical practice. The question then becomes how |
| this point. They can simply tell you to watch and | | | | has the delay in diagnosis affected your injuries? |
| observe the lump to see if it gets bigger. They can | | | | Here's what I mean. |
| refer you to a breast surgeon for an evaluation and | | | | As a result of the delay has your cancer spread to |
| possible needle biopsy or a lumpectomy. They can | | | | other parts of your body? If it had been timely |
| send you for x-rays, a sonogram and/or a | | | | diagnosed, was it small and isolated to a small part of |
| mammogram. Depending upon what choices the | | | | your breast? |
| doctor makes will determine what your next step will | | | | Now when your cancer has finally been detected, has |
| be as far as evaluating your lump. | | | | it spread beyond your breast and entered your |
| Many women will choose to immediately see the | | | | lymph nodes? The cancer doctors have different |
| breast surgeon. The breast surgeon will perform a | | | | terms used to "Stage" a cancer. Stage 1, 2, 3, 4. |
| physical examination of your breasts while sitting up, | | | | Stage 1 is usually a localized cancer that is amenable |
| and also lying down. In some cases the surgeon will | | | | to getting rid of it entirely with surgery. Stage 4 |
| want to try and put a needle into your breast, in the | | | | typically means it has spread throughout your body |
| area where your lump is. This will help the surgeon | | | | and your treatment options, if any, may be |
| determine if the lump is solid, is a fluid-filled cyst, or | | | | extremely limited. |
| something else entirely. Depending upon where the | | | | From a lawyer's standpoint, it is important to know |
| needle is placed a surgeon can sometimes get tissue | | | | what additional injuries you suffered as a result of |
| or fluid to send to a lab for evaluation under a | | | | any delay in diagnosis. In other words, how would |
| microscope. | | | | your condition have been different today, compared |
| The bottom line here is that if you feel a lump in | | | | to what it is now, had you been properly and timely |
| your breast, do not let a doctor dismiss it without | | | | diagnosed. That's the key to beginning to establish |
| getting tests to evaluate it, and it might be wise to | | | | your damages in a potential case. |