Medical professionals have many tools at their disposal today to detect cancer and other illnesses. Early diagnosis can be crucial in treating cancer, as it allows doctors to treat the condition before it gets worse.
One of the most common forms of cancer to affect women is breast cancer. Women are encouraged to do regular self exams and have mammograms to help recognize possible signs of cancer.
For many other forms of cancer detection, doctors use magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI. For breast cancer detection however, MRI is often met with uncertain results. That does not mean that it should completely dismissed however, as there are many benefits that could come from a breast MRI, depending upon several factors of the patient and possible victim.
It may show a palpable mass that is not originally visible through a mammography or ultrasound. It may help evaluate a lesion, especially for younger women who traditionally have denser breast tissue. It may also help identify cancer cells in an underarm lymph node which otherwise may have been overlooked or unnoticed through a traditional mammogram. It is also recommended for women who have silicone breast implants which may otherwise impede one’s ability to recognize lumps through a self-exam. If a negligent physician fails to diagnose breast, or any form of cancer, a patient may be entitled to compensation. Failing to detect cancer could lead to a very serious illness or even death, and it is important that negligent doctors are held responsible for medical malpractice if they fail to diagnose cancer or any disease. One may want to speak with a legal professional if such a situation exists and it is believed that a doctor has failed to diagnose any disease.
Source: Breastcancer.org, “Breast MRI for Diagnosis and Monitoring,” accessed, Feb. 13, 2017
