Search
 

How Can a Hormone Receptor Test Affect My Breast Cancer Diagnosis? 

 Posted on January 28, 2022 in Medical Malpractice

Chicago Cancer Misdiagnosis LawyerWhether due to suspicious results on a routine mammogram or a patient finding a lump in their breast, breast tissue biopsies may be warranted to determine whether breast cancer is present. After breast tissue is removed, it is sent to a laboratory and tested. If breast cancer is present, the breast cancer cells may be tested further to determine the specific type of cancer and potential treatment options. 

Breast tissue is regularly tested for the presence of certain proteins that allow estrogen and progesterone to attach to special receptors in breast tissue cells, stimulating cancer growth. 

If a breast tissue sample does have these estrogen and progesterone receptors, the cancer will be deemed hormone receptor-positive. Understanding what it means to have breast tissue that is hormone receptor-positive is important if you believe you may have suffered from a breast cancer misdiagnosis or negligent treatment from your Illinois healthcare provider. 

What is an Estrogen or Progesterone Receptor? 

Receptors are special proteins that human cells use to attach to substances that are naturally present in our blood. Estrogen and progesterone are hormones that regulate many parts of the bodies of men and women alike. Although these hormones are not harmful in and of themselves, in the case of estrogen and progesterone receptors, certain cancer cells will be stimulated to grow when they “receive,” or attach to, estrogen and progesterone. 

The most common test used to determine whether estrogen or progesterone receptors are present is called an immunohistochemistry (HCR) test. When breast cancer cells have estrogen receptors, they are considered ER-positive or ER+. When breast cancer cells have progesterone receptors, they are considered PR-positive or PR+. The presence of ER+, PR+, or both indicates a hormone receptor-positive diagnosis. 

What Are the Treatment Options for a Hormone Receptor-Positive Cancer? 

Although individual treatment options are unique and depend on your doctors and your personal preferences, hormone-receptor-positive cancers can often be treated with special drugs that reduce the amount of estrogen and progesterone your body creates. Because hormone-receptor-positive cancers are very common in aggressive breast cancers, it is important for tissue to be tested and a plan of action created quickly. 

Call a Chicago, IL Breast Cancer Misdiagnosis Lawyer

When a general practitioner, radiologist, or oncologist fails to provide the necessary standard of care for patients with breast cancer, a misdiagnosis, delayed diagnosis, or mistreatment may result. If you believe you or your loved one experienced one or more of these issues, you may be a victim of medical malpractice and may be entitled to compensation. To learn more, call an experienced Chicago, IL breast cancer misdiagnosis attorney with Winters Salzetta O'Brien & Richardson, LLC. We have helped many clients obtain significant compensation for their injuries and suffering and we will handle your case with the seriousness and care it deserves. Call us today to schedule a free case review at 312-236-6324

 

Sources: 

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/breast-cancer/in-depth/breast-cancer/art-20045654 

https://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/diagnosis/hormone_status

Share this post:
American Association of Justice American Board of Trial Advocates Illinois State Bar Association Illinois Trial Lawyers Association
Back to Top