October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and one campaign aim is to ensure every woman has access to the screenings she needs and the support she deserves.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women and the risk increases with age; it mostly affects women over 50 who have been through the menopause. Although rare, men can also get it.
- There are around 56,000 new cases of breast cancer diagnoses in the UK each year
- There is a 76% survival rate of 10 years or more
- Around 11,500 deaths result from breast cancer each year
Breast cancer can cause a number of signs and symptoms and you should see your GP if you notice any change to your breast that is new or unusual for you.
What are the symptoms of breast cancer?
- A new lump, thickening or swelling in the breast, upper chest or armpit
- A change to the skin, such as puckering or dimpling
- A change in the colour of the breast – the breast may look red or inflamed
- A nipple change, for example it has become pulled in (inverted)
- Rash, crusting or flaky skin around the nipple
- Unusual liquid (discharge) from either nipple including blood
- Changes in size and shape of the breast
Also be aware of pain in any area of your breast or armpit that is there all or almost all of the time.
How to check your breasts
It is important that you regularly check your whole breast area, including up to your collarbone and armpits. Checking includes:
- Touching your breasts to see if you can feel anything new or unusual
- Looking for changes and whether anything looks different for you
- Checking any new or unusual changes with your GP
What you should expect from your GP and NHS if you suspect you have breast cancer
If you suspect that you have breast cancer you should see your GP as soon as possible. Your GP will need to see you and will perform an examination. If they feel that you require further assessment due to your symptoms, then you will be referred to a specialist breast cancer clinic.
If your GP suspects cancer an urgent referral should be made. In England, an urgent referral means that you should see a specialist within two weeks, this ensures that you are seen by a specialist as quickly as possible.
Attending this appointment within two weeks is extremely important as this will allow you to benefit from early reassurance that cancer has not been diagnosed or receive an early diagnosis and receive early access to treatment.
As a solicitor who deals with delays in diagnosing cancer, I understand that it can be normal to feel anxious or worried however the vast majority of people who are seen at a breast clinic will not have breast cancer but it is important to get your symptoms checked and ensure you have been fully assessed.
An appointment at the breast clinic can take several hours whilst all the tests are carried out. You will usually have your breasts examined followed by one or more of the following tests:
Mammograms and ultrasound scans:
Once you have been referred to a specialist breast unit by your GP you will probably be encouraged to attend for a mammogram, which is an x-ray to examine the breast for diagnosis and screening.
The aim of mammography is the early detection of breast cancer. You may also need an ultrasound scan. If you are under the age of 35 you may be recommended to only have a breast ultrasound scan due to younger women having denser breasts, which means a mammogram is not as effective in detecting breast cancer. Ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to produce an image of the inside of your breasts, showing any lumps or abnormalities.
Biopsy:
A biopsy is a medical procedure that involves taking a small sample of body tissue so it can be examined further under a microscope. The sample will be taken from your breast and tested to see if it is cancerous. Sometimes you may also need a scan and a needle test on your lymph nodes in your armpit to see whether these have also been affected.
Your pathway to treatment if you are diagnosed with breast cancer
When breast cancer is diagnosed, your doctor will give it a stage. This will describe the size of the cancer and how far it has spread and is used to predict the outlook.
The main treatments for breast cancer are:
- Surgery
- Chemotherapy
- Radiotherapy
- Hormone therapy
- Targeted therapy
The treatment will depend on the type of breast cancer you have. If you require surgery this will usually be followed by chemotherapy or radiotherapy or in some cases hormone or targeted therapies.
Medical negligence and delay in diagnosing and treating breast cancer
We understand how distressing a diagnosis of cancer can be especially if this could have been diagnosed sooner. Should you or a loved one have suffered a delay in diagnosing breast cancer or if the cancer was misdiagnosed you may be entitled to make a medical negligence compensation claim.
Delays are often seen within the health care system by GPs and the NHS in arranging appointments, scheduling diagnostic tests and patients receiving a definitive diagnosis and treatments or therapy.
The aim of early detection is to diagnose and treat breast cancer patients at an early stage when the prognosis for long term survival is at its best.
Read more: Delayed Cancer Diagnosis Claims
Delays in cancer diagnosis and treatment are unacceptable and they are also a breach of duty of care.
Sadly, due to the pandemic, waiting times for a cancer diagnosis and treatment have increased and it is likely many more people will have symptoms diagnosed late.
Making a medical negligence claim
No matter how high the standards of care and treatment in our health services, things can sometimes go wrong.
Medical negligence occurs if you receive substandard treatment by a medical professional, it can also happen if you are misdiagnosed, receive the wrong treatment, or a mistake is made during surgery.
If you or a loved one have been the victim of hospital negligence and wish to make an NHS negligence claim, our expert medical negligence solicitors are here for you. For a free consultation about your claim, get in touch today.
