In the United States, breast cancer is rampant. Every year, 182,000 women and 1,600 men develop breast cancer, leading to more than 43,000 fatalities. Even survivors often undergo severe mastectomy operations, chemotherapy and radiation treatments. However, if diagnosed is made early, breast cancer has a very high survival rate, and a minor surgery can often remove the malignant tissue.
Mammograms are an especially effective early screening technique in diagnosing breast cancer. The National Cancer Institute and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommend a mammogram every one or two years for women over 40, but nearly 13 million women over 40 have never had one. Even if you do engage in diagnostic preventative care, however, many doctors misdiagnose a lump as benign or fail to do a biopsy that would confirm a breast cancer diagnosis.
Misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis of breast cancer by a doctor or other medical professional can mean the difference between a quick and simple surgery and death. If you are suffering from a long, painful treatment for breast cancer, or have lost a loved one because of breast cancer, you should consider discussing your case with a skilled Pennsylvania medical malpractice lawyer.
At Richards & Richards, LLP, our Pittsburgh medical malpractice attorneys and staff can determine whether cancer misdiagnosis or a failure to diagnose contributed to the severity of breast cancer. One of our medical malpractice attorneys, Veronica Richards, is also a registered nurse, and has more than 25 years of experience analyzing doctor negligence issues. She knows both the legal system and medicine. She knows what questions to ask to quickly determine whether you or your loved one is the victim of medical malpractice in Pennsylvania.
Please contact a Pennsylvania cancer misdiagnosis lawyer via email or call us at 412-261-2620 for a free evaluation of your medical malpractice or wrongful death case. From our main office located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania we are happy to help anyone throughout Pennsylvania who thinks they may have suffered unnecessarily from an incorrect breast cancer diagnosis or another medical mistake. If you cannot make it to our Pittsburgh, PA office, our medical malpractice lawyers can come to you.