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

Stewart Eisenberg | | 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.

Stewart Eisenberg | Personal Injury Attorney
Author: Stewart Eisenberg | Personal Injury Attorney

Stewart J. Eisenberg is the founder of Eisenberg Winkler Jeck Schwartz Schoenhaus & Sherry. He has tried over 50 jury trials and has more than 40 years of legal experience representing victims of sex abuse, medical malpractice, and auto defects. He tried a crashworthiness case against Honda for a seatbelt defect. His paralyzed client received a record verdict (at the time) of $55.3 million He was part of the legal team that helped bring about the landmark $2.46 billion Boy Scouts of America sex abuse settlement. His distinctions include being on the Super Lawyers’ list for more than 20 years(Top 100 in Philadelphia and Pennsylvania) and recognized by the Best Lawyers in America in the areas of Medical Malpractice Law, Personal Injury Litigation, and Product Liability Litigation. He graduated cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania before attending Temple University School of Law where he served on the Law Review. He is frequently sought after to lecture other attorneys and has published numerous legal articles. He has also served as a Visiting Lecturer at Temple University, Beasley School of Law for the LLM in Trial Advocacy Program.