Although self breast exams (SBEs) can be beneficial if done correctly and regularly, using them as the sole detection technique for breast cancer is not recommended. Self breast exams often are done incorrectly, which can lead some to feel they are safe even when cancer is actually developing. Even when SBEs are performed correctly, it’s possible a cancerous lump might not be noticed until the disease is in its advanced stages.

However, if self breast exams are performed regularly in addition to other screening methods, such as mammography, the likelihood of detecting breast cancer in its early stages is much higher. Mammography, for instance, can detect breast cancer in its earliest stages before any symptoms begin to appear. Breast cancer is much easier to treat before it reaches advanced stages of development.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with breast cancer in Georgia and feel it was discovered late due to a doctor’s error, please request a copy of our free book, I Have Cancer…Should It Have Been Caught Earlier?, and contact an experienced Atlanta medical malpractice attorney at the Dover Law Firm at 770-518-1133 to learn more about your legal options.