How to Avoid Breast Cancer Misdiagnosis

How to avoid BREAST CANCER Misdiagnosis Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the UK. Approx 48,000 ! women develop breast cancer in Britain each year. Eight out of Ten of these women are over the age of 50. However both younger women and men can also develop the disease. Know your Breasts Symptoms of Breast Cancer Breast Cancer carries a number of symptoms, with the most common indicator being a lump in the breast tissue. The earlier the cancer is caught, the less likely it will be to spread to other parts of the body. A change in the size or shape in Change in Discharge from the nipples Lumps or swelling in the armpit Dimpling of the skin on the breasts appearance of the nipples one of the breasts The survival rates for breast cancer after diagnosis are: THE PROGNOSIS FOR BREAST CANCER IS POSITIVE, HOWEVER THE SURVIVAL RATES ARE 95.8% 85.1% 7% DRAMATICALLY REDUCED IF THE DISEASE REMAINS UNTREATED FOR A LONG AMOUNT OF TIME. 1 year 5 years 10 years BREAST CANCER Breast Cancer is often misdiagnosed in its early stages as there are fewer symptoms that doctors often mistake for other conditions. A delay is diagnosis, or a complete misdiagnosis can harm the prognosis of a patient's cancer. 25-50 it's misalagnosis AGE POOR PATHOLOGY Younger women are most at risk of misdiagnosis as doctors often believe that they are too young Failure to properly interpret pathology testing can give false results. to have developed breast cancer. COMMON MISDIAGNOSIS WRONGLY IDENTIFIED AS BENIGN Breast cancer can be misdiagnosed as On occasion a malignant tumour can be mistaken as being benign, thus delaying treatment and allowing the cancer to develop. fibrocystic breast disease. UNNECESSARY TREATMENT Misdiagnosis doesn't exclusively refer to a 'Missed diagnosis,' incidents were the condition is mistaken for another are included under such a reference. For example, someone may be treated for breast cancer, when in fact, they may be suffering from something which requires less invasive treatment, such as a benign The best method of avoiding a misdiagnosis is to Misdiagnosis be breast cancer aware and check your breasts on cyst. a regular basis for any unusual changes. If you notice any of the symptoms, you must contact your GP immediately so you can begin the screening process and treatment, if needed. It is vitally important that you warn your doctor of any symptoms you have been experiencing, whether you think they are important or not, so that they can rule out any other conditions. If you strongly feel you have been given the wrong diagnosis you have every right to challenge your doctor for a second opinion. A ONS Not yaur traditional law firm. Asons Solicitors is a Bolton-based law practice that specialises in medical negligence and industrial disease claims. Asons Solicitors has developed to become a young and dynamic law firm that delivers practical solutions to clients in times of difficulty. www.asons.co.uk preventing