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Failure to Diagnose Cancer

Unnecessary Cancer Tests IdentifiedPosted on 4/19/2012
Could What Happened to a NY Breast Cancer Victim Happen in Georgia?Posted on 3/2/2012
Young Adult Cancer Death Rate Has Not Fallen as it Has for Other AgesPosted on 1/28/2012
Pediatric Failure to Diagnose Cancer Case to Move ForwardPosted on 1/25/2012
Avoiding Cancer Deaths: UGA Researchers Share Exciting Cancer NewsPosted on 1/16/2012

How can doctors tell if a second cancer was caused by my breast cancer?

A: According to the National Cancer Institute, metastasis is the process by which cancer spreads from the place of origin to other parts of the body. Advanced stages of breast cancer can spread to any number of different tissues and organs, where a secondary cancer can begin to develop. Secondary cancers are specifically cancers caused by the metastasis of a pre-existing cancer. However, it is possible for someone with cancer to develop an entirely separate cancer, one that has no connection to the original disease. How can medical professionals differentiate between the two, and know when one cancer causes another?

When cancers spread, cells gradually break off of the tumor and then disperse to nearby tissues or organs. If the cells reach the bloodstream or lymphatic system, then spreading to distant tissues and organs becomes much more likely. If breast cancer in an advanced stage spreads to a distant part of the body, doctors can tell if the cancer originated there or in the breast.

This is done by examining cancerous cells microscopically. For example, if the breast cancer were to spread to the liver, the cells which make up the tumor in the liver would be cancerous breast cells. If the cancerous cells from the liver resemble liver cells, it is likely that the liver cancer is an entirely separate entity from the breast cancer, and would not be classified as a secondary cancer.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with breast cancer in Georgia and feel your doctor failed to diagnose your disease in a timely fashion, please request a copy of our free book, I Have Cancer…Should It Have Been Caught Earlier? or our special report, Breast Cancer: The Risks, the Signs, Diagnosis and Treatment. You can also contact an experienced Atlanta medical malpractice and breast cancer lawyer at the Dover Law Firm at 770-518-1133 to schedule a free consultation to discuss your situation.

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