Recently, we have featured blog posts highlighting instances of cancer misdiagnosis, including:
- Doctors mistaking cancer for mononucleosis
- A woman’s cancer being misdiagnosed as a migraine 14 times
- Breast cancer misdiagnosis leading to unnecessary breast removal surgery
We trust medical professionals to not make mistakes as devastating as misdiagnosing cancer. However, as the above cases indicate, medical negligence is an issue that we all must guard against. With that in mind, one area where patients can guard against cancer misdiagnosis is during a breast exam.
What Should I Make Sure My Doctor Does Not Miss During a Breast Exam?
WebMD includes a list of what should happen during a breast exam:
- Make sure you are asked detailed questions about your medical history, including your pregnancy and menstrual history.
- Your physician will check your breasts for abnormalities involving symmetry, shape or size. This can include instructing you to undress from the waist up, lean forward, lift your arms above your head and put your hands on your hips.
- During the exam, your skin will be checked for redness, rashes and dimpling.
- Your doctor will have you lay down with your arms behind your head at some point so that he or she can check your breasts and underarms for lumps. In addition, your physician will press the area surrounding your nipples to check for any discharge.
What If My Doctor Misses Signs of Cancer During a Breast Exam?
Victims of cancer misdiagnosis and their families can hold those responsible for their pain and suffering accountable through medical malpractice lawsuits, including recovering financial assistance for hospital bills, loss of income and funeral expenses. In the video below, injury lawyer Stewart Eisenberg discusses a failure to diagnose cancer case that our firm handled.
Our Philadelphia personal injury attorneys have recovered several favorable verdicts and settlements for clients, including $15 million for the family of a child who suffered permanent kidney damage due to medical negligence.
