Medical Malpractice Lawyers

Is Overdiagnosis Reason Enough to Call a Cancer Misdiagnosis Attorney in Cleveland?

A new study links mammograms to overdiagnosis of cancer. In the experience of our Cleveland cancer misdiagnosis attorney, overdiagnosis can in some ways be just as dangerous as misdiagnosis.The study linked routine mammogram screening to over-diagnosis of non-aggressive tumors, identifying tumors unlikely to be fatal without curbing the diagnosis of advanced cancer stages.

Better safe than sorry, right? Actually, no.

“Overdiagnosis means that healthy women get unnecessary breast cancer diagnoses,” Dr. Karsten Juhl Jorgensen, lead scientist in the study, told Fox News. “A breast cancer diagnosis is a life-changing event for the woman and her family, with substantial implications for their quality of life. It also leads to overtreatment with surgery, radiotherapy and sometimes chemotherapy – we know these treatments have serious, sometimes lethal, consequences.”

No Link for Advanced Cases

The study compared screening results over a single time period of two regions of Denmark. One offered biennial mammography for women aged 50 to 69, and one that didn’t. The study examined data on more than 1.4 million Danish women aged 35 to 84 from 1980 to 2010. Screening wasn’t linked to a lower incidence of advanced cancer cases.

So should women just forgo mammogram screening? Not exactly. The researchers suggested that would depend on age and family history. At best, however, results would be better taken with a grain of salt.

If you feel you may have been overdiagnosed, you might consider talking to one of our cancer misdiagnosis attorneys in Cleveland. We offer free consultations..