Pathologists whose work was analyzed for a recently published study often failed to properly diagnose early, non-invasive breast cancer in biopsy tissue samples. The results of the study underscore the importance of getting a second opinion after a breast cancer diagnosis, according to the study’s authors.
HealthDay News reports that researchers gave 240 breast biopsy tissue samples to a panel of three experts. The experts reached a consensus diagnosis for each one.
The same samples were then presented to a group of 115 volunteer pathologists. The diagnoses they reached were then compared to those of the experts.
Although the experts and volunteers generally agreed on diagnoses of invasive breast cancer – or cancer that has spread into surrounding tissue – they disagreed in a large number of cases involving non-invasive breast cancer.
According to HealthDay:
- The volunteers failed to identify 13 percent of cases involving ductal carcinoma in situ, or DCIS. org describes DCIS as a type of breast cancer that has not spread beyond the milk duct into surrounding tissue. It may eventually become invasive.
- The volunteers also failed to identify 35 percent of cases involving atypia. The Mayo Clinic describes atypia as a condition that can develop into invasive or noninvasive breast cancer. It is considered to be a “precancerous” condition.
These results indicate that women may face a very real risk of a missed or delayed diagnosis of breast cancer. Additional study results also revealed the risk of receiving a “false-positive” diagnosis of breast cancer.
For instance, in 13 percent of the cases, women who were healthy and cancer-free were diagnosed as having either invasive breast cancer or of facing an increased risk of cancer, HealthDay reports. In 17 percent of the cases, a woman with atypia was diagnosed with cancer.
Getting a Second Opinion Is Crucial
As an official from the American Cancer Society told HealthDay, it is never unreasonable for a woman to ask for second interpretation of a biopsy sample.
After all, before you make the important decision to undergo or not undergo treatment for breast cancer, such as a mastectomy or radiation therapy, you need to make sure your decision is fully informed.
Like other forms of cancer, the consequences can be dire when diagnosis of breast cancer is missed or delayed. For instance, if invasive breast cancer is misdiagnosed as atypia, the cancer may spread to nearby tissue, organs or bones while the cancer is not being addressed.
The National Cancer Institute reports that the five-year survival rate for breast cancer is 100 percent. However, the survival rate drops significantly as the cancer becomes invasive. For instance, the five-year survival rate of Stage 2 breast cancer is 93 percent. If the cancer reaches Stage 4, the rate is only 22 percent.
If you suspect that you or a loved one has suffered a missed or delayed diagnosis of breast cancer, get legal help without delay. The experience medical malpractice lawyers of Powers & Santola, LLP, are available to help you in Albany, Syracuse or anywhere else in New York State. Call or contact us online today to receive an immediate, free and confidential consultation.
