Fighting The Fight Against Breast Cancer
By: Cohen, Placitella & Roth @ Mar 14, 2016
Breast cancer has touched the lives of millions. Compelling stories such as these, written by scores of people affected by the disease highlight just how far reaching breast cancer really is. Breast cancer is insidious and indiscriminate, it does not discriminate based on age, ethnicity, or even gender. It is important for those afflicted with breast cancer to understand that they are not alone and to seek support. In fact, having a strong support system goes a long way in keeping up the fight. Reading about courageous battles and the accompanying struggles with diagnosis, treatment, and recovery is certainly an inspiration and gives hope that cancer can be beaten.
Early Diagnosis Is Key – The American Cancer Society’s Guidelines For Early Diagnosis Of Breast Cancer
The medical profession has come a long way in diagnosing and treating cancer. In fact, more patients than ever are surviving cancer. But there is still no cure and every year cancer impacts the lives of millions. Although there is no vaccine or guaranteed cure, early diagnosis and prompt treatment of cancer undoubtedly makes a significant difference in the ultimate success of each individual patient’s battle. The American Cancer Society’s Chief Cancer Control Officer notes that new research has allowed more effective mammogram screening for breast cancer. Indeed, a number of new studies have been performed and reports published about mammogram screening and the advantages and disadvantages of using it as a diagnostic tool. This research led to the development of new guidelines for breast cancer screening, which in general recommend that most women should begin to have mammograms once per year at age 45 and then every other year once they reach the age of 55. The guidelines also recommend that women who want to begin screening as early as 40 years old or continue with yearly screenings after 55 should be permitted to do so. Additionally, women at a higher risk for breast cancer should have earlier and more frequent screening, according to the new guidelines.
When Early Diagnosis Is Not Made
Unfortunately, some patients can suffer setbacks from the very beginning when a medical professional fails to properly diagnose the disease. In these types of cases, the patient goes for periods of time without knowing they have the disease as the cancer continues to spread and grow. Failures to properly diagnose cancer can be caused by a variety of reasons, including:
- Faulty or incorrect testing and screening practices;
- Failure to follow up on test results or to provide referrals;
- Mistakes in judgment about symptoms;
- Inadequate testing;
- Inaccurate assessment or interpretation of test results;
- Lab errors; and
- Failure to consider that cancer is a possibility.
If You Have Fallen Victim Of A Failure To Diagnose Cancer, Contact Cohen, Placitella & Roth, P.C.
The attorneys at Cohen, Placitella & Roth, P.C. are experienced professionals who have handled a wide range of cases in which a cancer patient’s case was seriously affected and worsened due to a failure to diagnose cancer. If you or a loved one has suffered due to a failure to diagnose cancer, contact us online or by phone at 866.236.4230 to schedule your free consultation. Our caring and compassionate attorneys will work with you to determine whether errors were made and how to recover for those errors. Put your trust in Cohen, Placitella & Roth, P.C. to help you get the full recovery you deserve.
