According to a survey carried out by the World Health Organization in 2020, about 2.3 million women have been diagnosed with breast cancer globally. And about 700,000 women have died of breast cancer.
As a woman, getting familiar with your breast type is essential. This will enable you to discover changes in your breast early. Most breast cancers were first discovered by the affected women before getting checked by a doctor.
Breast cancer is one of the more prevalent cancers among women; although men are vulnerable to breast cancer, it’s less common among them. Breast cancer has stood as a threat to women over the years. Knowing what signs to look out for when you are suspicious of cancer is important. Here is a list of breast cancer symptoms and how to deal with a misdiagnosis.
Signs to Look Out For at the Early Stage of Breast Cancer
Breast examination should be part of your monthly routine after your menstrual cycle. It enables you to discover when there is a difference in the look and feel of your breast.
Although the signs of breast cancer are not the same for every woman; however, a woman should be on the lookout for strange activities around her breast. But there are common signs you should watch out for.
#1. Swelling of the Breast
Some women experience swelling of one or every part of the breast as a warning sign of breast cancer. Moreover, this sign does not apply to every woman. While some swelling comes with lumps, others don’t have visible lumps. These lumps can be painful or painless. A lump that is hard and has edges can be a cancerous lump. A soft, tissue-like lump can also be cancerous. Swelling of the breast can be on any side of the breast, depending on where the lump is located.
#2. Skin Dimpling and Scaling
For skin dimpling, one part of the skin moves inward, giving it the shape of dimples. Also, when the skin of your breast begins to turn an orange color and develop a scaly appearance, it is a sign that you may have breast cancer. Some other women experience redness in the breast. However, breast cancer can change the color of the breast skin to red or purple. A change in your skin color is a sign that you need to speak with a doctor.
#3. Breast/Nipple Pain and Discharge
All nipple discharge can’t be assumed to be breast cancer. Some nipple discharge could be a result of ovulation, breastfeeding, idiopathic galactorrhea (hormonal imbalances), or infections. You should see the doctor when you discover a clear, yellowish, brownish, or reddish discharge other than breast milk.
#4. Nipple Retraction
The effect of nipple retraction is an inward pull of the nipple. The nipple will begin to turn inward or pull in rather than outward facing. Once you discover that your nipple has begun to take on another shape from its original, seek the necessary help. Also, the nipple can become flaky and thickened as a result of breast cancer.
#5. Swollen Lymph Nodes
Swollen lymph nodes are not a difficult sign to detect. Swollen lymph nodes in breast cancer come as a swelling under the arm and around the collar bones.
All these symptoms must be checked and examined by a specialist with the help of a mammogram. Breast cancer is not contagious but could be hereditary, caused by an environmental factor, a change in diet, or excessive weight gain.
What to Do When Misdiagnosed With Breast Cancer
Most breast cancer cases are better diagnosed through a biopsy. Breast cancers that are in their early stages can be diagnosed through screening tests. However, your doctor may use any of these types of tests to detect your breast cancer to avoid a delayed diagnosis.
- Imaging Scan: Your doctor may use an imaging scan to detect the size of breast cancer and to know if the cells are cancerous. A series of scans and X-rays will be carried out to examine your bones and organs. This will help the doctor determine how much damage the cancerous cell has done to the body.
- Physical Examination: Here, your doctor performs a breast examination by feeling every part of your breast for abnormal lumps, redness, an inverted nipple, and swollen lymph.
- Lab Test: A specialist can conduct laboratory tests to locate cancerous cells. Your doctor collects blood and urine samples to conduct a lab test.
- Biopsy: To carry out a biopsy, your doctor collects a cell sample to detect the type of breast cancer it is. A cancerous cell can be easy to collect as they are not usually orderly and have a rough appearance with edges.
However, in a situation where you have been misdiagnosed after conducting these tests, seek help from a breast cancer malpractice lawyer.
Who are the Breast Cancer Malpractice Lawyers?
Imagine you’ve had a series of mammograms, all of which came back negative, and suddenly the last mammogram came back positive. What happens next? What comes to mind first is “the doctor’s failure to diagnose the breast cancer.” In this situation, you have had a series of misdiagnoses.
However, a sickness not discovered at its early stage can cause more damage to the body. It can spread to other parts and cause them to weaken or untimely lead to death.
Medical professionals who can’t perform their duties properly by diagnosing breast cancer early in clients can be charged for breast cancer misdiagnosis.
What To Do If You Think You’ve Been Misdiagnosed of Breast Cancer
If you’ve been misdiagnosed with breast cancer, whether at an early stage or at stage II, you should file a medical malpractice lawsuit. Frischman and Rizza is a law firm that will help you get medical malpractice claims for every personal injury and medical malpractice case. We are dedicated to our clients and seek compensation on their behalf.
We are committed to getting justice for our clients all over Pennsylvania regarding all medical malpractice cases. We handle issues ranging from auto injuries to medical malpractice and get your medical practitioner to pay the medical bills and get full compensation.
For a free consultation contact us through our helpline at (412) 291-9377.
