The Importance of Properly Diagnosing Cancer in Pregnant Women

A recent Huffington Post article discusses several important factors regarding pregnant women and cancer. It tells the story of one pregnant woman whose primary care doctor informed her that the small, hard mass she felt in her breast was most likely a blocked milk duct. However, when the lump proceeded to grow five months into her pregnancy, the woman’s obstetrician ordered a needle biopsy and determined that it was cancer.

Because every pregnancy presents physical changes, the symptoms that a pregnant woman presents with must be recognized, investigated and not outwardly be dismissed as normal.

Cancer of any type is estimated to be found in 1 in 1,000 pregnancies. According to the article, breast cancer, as well as cervical cancer, thyroid cancer, melanoma, and lymphoma, are on the rise in the pregnant patient population – and that may be related to women having children later in their childbearing years. A breast cancer oncologist from MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston states in the article that a woman’s chances of developing cancer increases as she ages.

Pregnancy may not be a reason to defer treatment. In one study, it was found that women who were pregnant while getting care for breast cancer did as well as, and in some incidents, better than, women who weren’t pregnant while getting treatment. A maternal-fetal medicine specialist from Cooper University Hospital in Camden, New Jersey states in the article that it is fairly safe to treat a pregnant woman with chemotherapy after the first trimester, although the risk of such treatment must be discussed in detail with the patient.

As New Jersey delayed cancer diagnosis attorneys, we understand how important it is for individuals who have been untimely diagnosed with cancer at later stages to receive effective legal counsel and representation. At Blume Forte, our lawyers have decades of experience handling meritorious claims of this nature. Call 973-845-4421 for a no-cost consultation.

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