American Cancer Society: Guide to Breast Cancer
One key risk area for medical malpractice is breast cancer.American Cancer Society suggests specific warning signs:
The most common sign of breast cancer is a new lump or mass. A painless, hard mass that has irregular edges is more likely to be cancerous, but some cancers are tender, soft, and rounded. For this reason, it is important that any new breast mass or lump be checked by a health care professional experienced in diagnosing breast diseases.
Other possible signs of breast cancer include:
* swelling of all or part of a breast (even if no distinct lump is felt)
* skin irritation or dimpling
* breast or nipple pain
* nipple retraction (turning inward)
* redness, scaliness, or thickening of the nipple or breast skin
* a discharge other than breast milk
Sometimes a breast cancer can spread to underarm lymph nodes and cause a lump or swelling there, even before the original tumor in the breast tissue is large enough to be felt.