What Should I Make Sure My Doctor Looks for During a Breast Exam?

Daniel Jeck | | Cancer Misdiagnosis Articles
Senior woman in hospital

Recently, we have featured blog posts highlighting instances of cancer misdiagnosis, including:

We trust medical professionals to not make mistakes as devastating as misdiagnosing cancer. However, as the above cases indicate, medical negligence is an issue that we all must guard against. With that in mind, one area where patients can guard against cancer misdiagnosis is during a breast exam.

What Should I Make Sure My Doctor Does Not Miss During a Breast Exam?

WebMD includes a list of what should happen during a breast exam:

  • Make sure you are asked detailed questions about your medical history, including your pregnancy and menstrual history.
  • Your physician will check your breasts for abnormalities involving symmetry, shape or size. This can include instructing you to undress from the waist up, lean forward, lift your arms above your head and put your hands on your hips.
  • During the exam, your skin will be checked for redness, rashes and dimpling.
  • Your doctor will have you lay down with your arms behind your head at some point so that he or she can check your breasts and underarms for lumps. In addition, your physician will press the area surrounding your nipples to check for any discharge.

What If My Doctor Misses Signs of Cancer During a Breast Exam?

Victims of cancer misdiagnosis and their families can hold those responsible for their pain and suffering accountable through medical malpractice lawsuits, including recovering financial assistance for hospital bills, loss of income and funeral expenses. In the video below, injury lawyer Stewart Eisenberg discusses a failure to diagnose cancer case that our firm handled.

Our Philadelphia personal injury attorneys have recovered several favorable verdicts and settlements for clients, including $15 million for the family of a child who suffered permanent kidney damage due to medical negligence.

Daniel Jeck | Personal Injury Attorney
Author: Daniel Jeck | Personal Injury Attorney

With over 33 years of courtroom experience, shareholder and senior litigator at Eisenberg Winkler Jeck Schwartz Schoenhaus & Sherry, Daniel Jeck knows what it takes to win big. He has successfully litigated and tried complex medical malpractice and other catastrophic injury cases, including construction accidents, and products liability cases to verdict for over three decades. He has had a multitude of six, seven and eight figure verdicts and settlements dating back to the early 1990’s. Mr. Jeck is also leader of the Plaintiff’s trial bar in Philadelphia and Pennsylvania, is active in legislative efforts across the Commonwealth to keep our courts open and fair to all and is a recent president of the Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association. A Pennsylvania native born in Philadelphia, he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Pennsylvania State University and his J.D. from Temple University School of Law. Mr. Jeck focuses his practice on complex medical malpractice and catastrophic personal injury cases. He continues to personally handle and tries cases in state and federal courts in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York.