Delayed Diagnosis of Breast Cancer

What to do After Delayed Diagnosis of Breast Cancer

Women who develop breast cancer can benefit significantly from early detection. A failure to diagnose breast cancer can have serious or fatal consequences. Unfortunately, the delayed diagnosis of breast cancer is not uncommon. In fact, the failure to timely diagnose breast cancer is the most common type of medical malpractice claim.

Common Physical Errors

There are many factors that can contribute to a failure to diagnose breast cancer, including:

  • Failure to perform a mammogram
  • Failure to order an ultrasound
  • Failure to order a biopsy
  • Failure to perform an MRI
  • Misread mammogram, ultrasound, biopsy or MRI results
  • Failure to properly perform a biopsy procedure
  • Failure to follow-up with a patient

Doctors should carefully question their patients to determine if they have a history of breast cancer in their family. If a doctor notices a lump in a woman’s breast during the course of an examination, he or she must take appropriate steps to test for the possibility of breast cancer. Since a mammogram may fail to detect the presence of cancer, an ultrasound should be ordered when a lump or other significant warning sign is detected. Where appropriate, a biopsy should be ordered.

While a failure to order appropriate tests often account for a delayed diagnosis of breast cancer, a delayed diagnosis is sometimes the result of a failure to properly read the results of a test that has been ordered, including a mammogram, ultrasound or biopsy.

If you or a loved one has been injured due to a delayed diagnosis of breast cancer, contact us at RGLZ. We represent clients throughout New York City and Long Island in a wide range of medical malpractice claims. Our attorneys are committed to vigorously pursuing full compensation on behalf of people who have been injured due to the negligence of physicians and other medical professionals.

We Can Help You Get to a Better Place

Since 1968, our firm has represented thousands of injured clients. We have a strong record of results in personal injury and medical malpractice cases, including numerous million and multimillion-dollar verdicts and settlements. Our sterling reputation for legal knowledge and practice covers you from the moment we take your case. Throughout the course of your case, we will work closely with you to provide the highly personalized, responsive and accessible representation you need.

Contact Us

To schedule a free consultation with one of our attorneys, call 866-639-5567. We promise that we’ll provide you with an honest and straightforward look at your case. Let our legal team make justice work for you.

  • Doctor advises patient x

Lavern’s Law | Date of Discovery Bill

It's named after a woman, Lavern Wilkinson, who died in 2013 of treatable lung cancer. Her radiologist noticed a suspicious mass in 2010, but Lavern was never told. When she went back more than 2½ later for a chronic cough, she was told she had cancer, that it had spread, and that it was terminal.