| Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer | | | | Breast cancer treatment and prognosis |
| deaths in women. Every year, more than 40,000 | | | | Cancer specialists associate a statistic called the 5 |
| women die in the U.S. from breast cancer. Early | | | | year survival rate with each stage of the cancer. This |
| detection with routine breast cancer screening | | | | statistic reflects, for each stage, the percentage of |
| followed immediately with appropriate treatment | | | | women who will survive 5 years or more after a |
| could prevent many of these deaths. A doctor's | | | | diagnosis with that particular stage. |
| failure to recommend routine breast cancer screening | | | | For Stage 0, treatment options include a breast |
| to their female patients and to follow up on abnormal | | | | conserving surgery (lumpectomy or partial |
| test results may constitute medical malpractice. | | | | mastectomy) with sentinel lymph node biopsy or |
| Screening for breast cancer | | | | lymph node dissection and radiation therapy, |
| Cancer specialists generally recommend that a doctor | | | | mastectomy (for women at high risk a bilateral |
| should order a yearly mammogram and conduct a | | | | prophylactic mastectomy may be an option), and/or |
| yearly clinical breast examination on all female patients | | | | hormone therapy (such as Tamoxifen or an |
| age 40 or older, even if the patient has no family | | | | aromatase inhibitor). The 5-year survival rate is nearly |
| history of breast cancer and has no symptoms. A | | | | 100% for Stage 0. |
| doctor should perform a breast examination every 3 | | | | For Stage I, treatment options include a lumpectomy |
| years for female patients in their 20s and 30s. If a | | | | (breast conserving surgery) with sentinel lymph node |
| patient is at moderate (15%-20%) lifetime risk the | | | | biopsy or lymph node dissection and radiation, |
| doctor should discuss the option of adding a yearly | | | | mastectomy, and chemotherapy and/or hormone |
| MRI as part of the screening process. For patients at | | | | therapy. The 5-year survival rate is also nearly 100% |
| high (>20%) lifetime risk, the doctor should add a | | | | for Stage 1. |
| yearly MRI to the screening process. The lifetime risk | | | | For Stage II, treatment options include breast |
| is assessed based on such factors as family history, | | | | conserving surgery (a lumpectomy or modified |
| the presence of gene mutations, characteristics of | | | | mastectomy) with sentinel lymph node biopsy or |
| the breast, and personal medical history. | | | | lymph node dissection and radiation, mastectomy, |
| The clinical breast examination determines whether | | | | and chemotherapy and/or hormone therapy. The |
| there are any palpable lumps or other abnormality in | | | | 5-year survival rate is 92% for Stage IIA and 81% |
| the breast that could indicate the presence of cancer. | | | | for Stage IIB. |
| The mammogram and MRI use imaging technology to | | | | For Stage IIIA, the treatment options remain the |
| identify changes or masses in the breast that may | | | | same as for Stage II. The relative 5-year survival |
| not detectable from a clinical breast examination. | | | | rate is 67% for Stage IIIA |
| Should an abnormality be found, a biopsy (sampling of | | | | For Stages IIIB and IIIC, treatment options vary |
| breast tissue) is then performed to rule out or | | | | depending on whether the cancer is operable. |
| confirm the presence of cancer. | | | | Chemotherapy is often the initial treatment in order |
| The progression of the breast cancer is tracked | | | | to attempt to reduce the size of the tumor. If the |
| through stages | | | | tumor is operable, then treatment options may |
| Once breast cancer is diagnosed, the cancer's | | | | include breast conserving surgery (a lumpectomy or |
| progression is categorized using a five-level staging | | | | modified mastectomy) or mastectomy with sentinel |
| system: | | | | lymph node biopsy or lymph node dissection, |
| - Stage 0 (Also known as Carcinoma In Situ): There | | | | radiation, and chemotherapy and/or hormone therapy. |
| are 2 types - (1) Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) | | | | If the cancer is inoperable, the 5-year survival rate is |
| which is a noninvasive condition which involves the | | | | 54% for Stage IIIB. |
| presence of abnormal cells confined to the lining of | | | | For Stage IV, treatment normally consists of |
| the breast duct, and (2) Lobular carcinoma in situ | | | | radiation therapy, hormone therapy and/or systemic |
| (LCIS) which involves the presence of abnormal cells | | | | chemotherapy, Tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy, |
| in the lobules of the breast. | | | | radiation therapy, surgery and medications to relieve |
| - Stage I: The tumor is less than 2 cm and has not | | | | pain, and clinical trials. The 5-year survival rate drops |
| spread outside the breast. | | | | to approximately 20%. |
| - Stage IIA: Either (1) no tumor is found in the breast | | | | Failure to screen for breast cancer may constitute |
| but cancer is found in at least one of the axillary | | | | medical malpractice |
| lymph nodes (the lymph nodes under the arm), (2) | | | | Unfortunately, even though the statistics make it |
| the tumor is 2 cm or smaller and has spread to the | | | | very clear that early detection through breast cancer |
| axillary lymph nodes, or (3) the tumor is between 2 | | | | screening saves lives, there are still doctors who fail |
| cm and 5 cm and has not spread to the axillary | | | | to screen female patients for breast cancer. They fail |
| lymph nodes. | | | | to perform breast examinations and fail to order |
| - Stage IIB: Either (1) the tumor is between 2 cm and | | | | mammograms. And some doctors ignore abnormal |
| 5 cm and has spread to the axillary lymph nodes, or | | | | breast examination results and even abnormal |
| (2) the tumor is larger than 5 cm and has not spread | | | | mammograms results. By the time the cancer is |
| to the axillary lymph nodes. | | | | discovered - often because the patient sees a |
| - Stage IIIA:Either (1) no tumor is found in the breast | | | | different doctor who finally conducts a clinical breast |
| but cancer is found in axillary lymph nodes that are | | | | examination or orders a mammogram, or the patient |
| attached to each other or to other structures, or | | | | starts to feel back pain or other symptoms - the |
| cancer may be found in lymph nodes near the | | | | breast cancer has already advanced to a Stage III or |
| breastbone, (2) the tumor is 2 cm or smaller and the | | | | even a Stage IV. The prognosis is now much |
| cancer has spread to axillary lymph nodes that are | | | | different for this woman than it would have been |
| attached to each other or to other structures, or | | | | had the breast cancer been detected early through |
| cancer may have spread to lymph nodes near the | | | | routine breast cancer screening. As a result of the |
| breastbone, (3) the tumor is larger than 2 | | | | failure on the part of the doctor to advise a female |
| centimeters but not larger than 5 centimeters and | | | | patient to undergo routine screening, or to follow up |
| the cancer has spread to axillary lymph nodes that | | | | on an abnormal mammogram or MRI result, the |
| are attached to each other or to other structures, or | | | | breast cancer is now much more advanced and the |
| the cancer may have spread to lymph nodes near | | | | woman has suffered a "loss of chance" of a better |
| the breastbone, or (4) the tumor is larger than 5 | | | | recovery. In other words, she now has a reduced |
| centimeters and the cancer has spread to axillary | | | | chance of surviving the breast cancer. |
| lymph nodes that may be attached to each other or | | | | Contact a Lawyer Today |
| to other structures, or cancer may have spread to | | | | If you or a family member suffered a delay in the |
| lymph nodes near the breastbone. | | | | diagnosis of breast cancer due to a doctor's failure to |
| - Stage IIIB:The tumor may be any size and the | | | | recommend routine screening or to follow up on |
| cancer (1) has spread to the chest wall and/or the | | | | abnormal breast examination or mammogram results, |
| skin of the breast, or (2) may have spread to axillary | | | | you need to contact a lawyer immediately. |
| lymph nodes that may be attached to each other or | | | | This article is for informational purposes only and is |
| to other structures, or cancer may have spread to | | | | not intended to be legal or medical advice. You should |
| lymph nodes near the breastbone. | | | | not act, or refrain from acting, based upon any |
| - Stage IIIC:The cancer is operable if it is detected | | | | information at this web site without seeking |
| (1) in ten or more axillary lymph nodes, (2) is found in | | | | professional legal counsel. A competent lawyer with |
| lymph nodes below the collarbone, or (3) is found in | | | | experience in medical malpractice can assist you in |
| axillary lymph nodes and in lymph nodes near the | | | | determining whether you may have a claim for a |
| breastbone. The cancer is inoperable if it has spread | | | | delay in the diagnosis of breast cancer due to a |
| to the lymph nodes above the collarbone. | | | | failure on the part of the doctor to offer breast |
| - Stage IV: The cancer has spread to other organs in | | | | cancer screening. There is a time limit in cases like |
| the body, usually the bones, lungs, liver, or brain. | | | | these so do not wait to call. |