Early detection is crucial to successfully fighting breast cancer, as a delayed diagnosis can greatly diminish the chances of survival.
At Kline & Specter, PC, we understand how distressing it can be when a doctor’s medical negligence leads to serious injury or even death to you or a loved one. With more than 50 lawyers, five of whom are also doctors, the most of any law firm in the nation, we can help with breast cancer cases. Our Breast Cancer Side Effects Lawsuit Attorneys have won numerous major verdicts and settlements in cancer cases.
What Compensation Is Available for Breast Cancer Negligence Cases?
Breast Cancer Case Study No. 1: Tom Kline proved that a clerical error between a doctor and a company that provided mammography services allowed a patient’s breast cancer to go undetected for eight months. A Lehigh County jury found both defendants to be negligent in failing to diagnose breast cancer and awarded the patient $33.1 million. She eventually died. (See the Welteroth Case)
Breast Cancer Case Study No. 2: In a wrongful death case, a Montgomery County jury awarded $3 million to the estate of a woman—survived by her husband and four children—who died of breast cancer after a doctor misread her mammogram, missing key signs of carcinoma. (Lackman)
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How Common is Breast Cancer?
Breast cancer is second only to skin cancer among the most common female cancers in the United States. According to the American Cancer Society, there are about 230,000 new cases annually, with about 40,000 deaths. A woman’s breast cancer risk approximately doubles if she has a first-degree relative (offspring, sibling or parent) who had been diagnosed with breast cancer. The five-year relative survival rate for a woman with breast cancer is 88 percent if treated in Stage I of the disease. That survival rate plummets to 15 percent if treated in Stage IV.
What Are The Signs of Breast Cancer?
Symptoms of breast cancer may include:
- Changes to the skin over the breast, such as dimpling
- Formation of a breast lump or thickening (or increased density) that feels unlike the surrounding tissue
- Alteration in size, shape or general appearance of the breast
- Bloody discharge from the nipple
- A newly inverted nipple
- Redness, discoloration or “pitting” of the skin over the breast (like the skin of an orange)
- Peeling, scaling or flaking of the areola (pigmented area of skin surrounding the nipple)
What Treatment or Prevention Options Are Available for Breast Cancer?
According to the Mayo Clinic, survival rates for breast cancer are linked directly to early detection, which can greatly help reduce the need for therapeutic treatments and minimize pain and suffering. Starting at 20, women should conduct monthly breast self-exams and begin scheduling physician performed clinical breast exams at least every three years. At 40, women should receive clinical breast exams and screening mammograms annually, along with continuing their own monthly breast self-exams. There are various tests and procedures commonly used by doctors to diagnose breast cancer, including breast ultrasounds, mammograms, biopsies, and MRIs. Along with these measures, women can reduce their breast cancer risk by leading a physically active lifestyle, maintaining a healthy weight and drinking less alcohol.
There is also a wide array of treatments available for those suffering from breast cancer. They can include surgery (lumpectomy, mastectomy or lymph node dissection), radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy or targeted drugs. You may feel overwhelmed as you make difficult decisions regarding your treatment. Many women opt to seek a second opinion from a breast care specialist when considering treatment options.
Schedule A Medical Negligence Consultation With Our Breas Cancer Attorneys
If a doctor’s medical negligence when dealing with breast cancer has led to serious injury or death to you or a loved one, contact a breast cancer attorney today for a free evaluation of your case. We represent clients like you in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Delaware and nationwide.