Breast cancer has different levels of severity, called stages. There are five stages, from 0 to IV. Each higher stage typically equates to a progressively worse prognosis for the patient. Determining the stage of breast cancer is done after diagnosis and can be done through many different medical tests and procedures.

Ways that doctors determine the extent of breast cancer include chest x-rays, breast MRIs, bone scans, computed tomography (CT) scans, and positron emission tomography (PET) scans. According to the American Cancer Society , there are other tests which may aid in the staging of breast cancer. These include extensive mammography and ultrasound tests. It should be noted that blood tests may also be incorporated into the staging process to further examine your overall health and even pinpoint parts of the body that the cancer has spread to.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with breast cancer in Georgia and you feel that a doctor’s error caused a late discovery of the disease, please contact an experienced Atlanta medical malpractice and breast cancer attorney at the Dover Law Firm at 770-518-1133 to schedule a free consultation. The Dover Law Firm also has many free resources available to you upon request, such as our book, I Have Cancer…Should It Have Been Caught Earlier?.