Breast Cancer Misdiagnosis – When Is It Considered Medical Negligence?

Breast cancer misdiagnosis occurs when a medical professional fails to correctly identify a patient’s symptoms. Cancer misdiagnosis may occur even where medical professionals adhered to all relevant standards. However, it may also occur due to medical negligence when a doctor, radiographer, or other medical professional fails to meet professional standards. Where a medical professional’s negligence led to your being harmed, you may have grounds to claim compensation.

Key Points

• All medical professionals have a duty of care to patients to provide care and treatment that meets the standards expected of them. Per this, they must adhere to standards, such as those set by the General Medical Council.
• The failure to adhere to such standards could cause unnecessary harm and suffering to patients, making them eligible to claim compensation.
• There are more than 55,000 new incidences of breast cancer annually in the UK.
• Breast cancer screening is offered to women between the ages of 50 and 71.
• A No Win No Fee medical negligence solicitor from Advice could help you claim.

Contact an advisor if you have been harmed by a negligent breast cancer diagnosis or treatment.

• Call 0161 509 2856 and talk to an advisor.
• Speak to us live via our online chat.
• Contact us here.

Jump To A Section

• What Could Cause A Breast Cancer Misdiagnosis?
• Is A Misdiagnosis Of Breast Cancer Common?
• What Can Breast Cancer Be Confused With?
• The Symptoms Of Breast Cancer
• How Should Breast Cancer Be Diagnosed?
• What Are The Impacts Of Misdiagnosed Breast Cancer?
• How Advice Can Help You To Claim
• Learn More

What Could Cause A Breast Cancer Misdiagnosis?

Negligent breast cancer misdiagnosis could be caused by a doctor failing to refer a patient for additional tests, misinterpreting breast ultrasound or mammograms, or overlooking persistent symptoms.

Potential causes could include,

• Failing to carry out an adequate physical examination.
• Misinterpreting imaging test results, such as the results of screening mammograms.
• Biopsy errors, such as taking an insufficient amount of breast tissue, or performing the wrong type of biopsy.
• Failure to refer a patient for testing.
• Delayed diagnosis due to test results being mishandled or lost, tests being improperly carried out, or poor communication between medical professionals.

If you can prove medical negligence led to your breast cancer misdiagnosis, you could have grounds to claim compensation.

Is A Misdiagnosis Of Breast Cancer Common?

Official NHS or Government statistics do not record specific rates of misdiagnosis of breast cancer, however rates of medical negligence claims and local trust investigations do highlight that diagnostic errors do occur.

The UK National Screening Committee highlights that breast cancer screening programs fail to identify 15% – 35% of breast cancers in women. It is important to reiterate that not all instances of missed diagnosis constitute negligence.

A medical negligence solicitor could help you if you suffered avoidable or unnecessary harm due to the failure to correctly diagnose breast cancer.

What Can Breast Cancer Be Confused With?

Breast cancer can be confused with non-cancerous conditions such as cysts, mastitis, and fibroadenomas (breast lumps) which can present with similar symptoms.

Examples of conditions breast cancer can be confused with,

• Fibroadenomas, a solid, smooth non-cancerous lump which is more common in younger women. These can often be picked up during ultrasound or mammogram screening.
• Mastitis, the breast tissue is inflamed, becoming hot, swollen and painful. This occurs where a clogged duct is not relieved.
• Breast cysts, these are fluid-filled sacs which can feel like breast lumps. They may be misdiagnosed as cancer where they are more complex or have an unusual appearance on imaging.
• Papillomas, this can share symptoms with breast cancer, such as nipple discharge and a lump. Breast biopsies may be carried out to remove the papillomas and avoid misdiagnosis.
• Dense breast tissue, this may obscure breast lumps on a mammogram, making them harder to detect.
• Scar tissue, this may look like an abnormal growth on imaging tests, complicating diagnosis.

These are some of the conditions which can be confused with breast cancer. Please contact us if you have been affected by a negligent breast cancer diagnosis.

The Symptoms Of Breast Cancer

The symptoms of breast cancer in women include a lump or swelling in the breast or armpit, changes in the size or shape of the breast, skin changes, and nipple discharge. These symptoms may be present in cases of breast cancer in women or in men.

Further symptoms include,

• Nipple changes, inversions, or rashes.
• Changes in shape and/or size.
• Breast or nipple pain which may be persistent.

The failure to correctly diagnose symptoms can lead to delayed breast cancer treatment, with devastating consequences for a patient. Please talk to an advisor about misdiagnosis claims.

How Should Breast Cancer Be Diagnosed?

Breast cancer should be diagnosed using a combination of clinical examinations, imaging tests (such as mammograms or ultrasounds), and biopsy to confirm the presence of cancerous cells and determine the appropriate treatment pathway.

Cancer diagnosis may be made by,

• Physical examination.
• A mammogram assessment.
• Blood tests.
• Breast tissue biopsy.

It is important to note that these tests can be correctly conducted and your condition still be misdiagnosed. In such cases, you may not have a case to claim for negligent medical care.

What Are The Impacts Of Misdiagnosed Breast Cancer?

The impacts of misdiagnosed breast cancer may lead to delayed diagnosis and treatment, progression of the condition, procedures which would have otherwise been unnecessary, and potentially reduced survival rates.

Early-stage cancer may require shorter periods of treatment using less invasive methods, cause less harm, and ultimately have a higher survival rate.

How Advice Can Help You To Claim

We could help you to claim compensation, provide expert information, assist you in accessing services you need, and connect you to one of our expert solicitors. Our team puts you at the heart of what we do, ensuring that you can place your health and recovery at the forefront of your thoughts.

Our solicitors work under a Conditional Fee Agreement. This allows them to provide their services on a No Win No Fee basis, meaning you do not pay solicitors’ fees in advance, whilst they are working on your case, or if the case fails. If you win, you will be charged a success fee calculated as a legally capped percentage of your compensation. They can also help you by,

• Gathering evidence.
• Filing your claim within the time limit.
• Negotiating with other parties.
• Helping you access support services.

Contact Our Team Of Advisors

Contact our team of advisors to learn more about claims for negligent breast cancer diagnoses.

• Call an advisor on 0161 509 2856.
• Use our online chat.
• Contact us here.

Learn More

Learn more about medical negligence claims.

• Check how to claim for poor care in a hospital.
• Find out about GP negligence claims.
• See what circumstances are classed as medical negligence.

References.

• View information from the NHS on cancer.
• Medical professionals may be registered with the Association of Cancer Physicians.
• View government cancer registration statistics for England.

Please contact us if you need to know more about breast cancer misdiagnosis claims.