Propecia Lawyer

by admin on February 7th, 2012

According to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (the UK’s equivalent of the FDA), there were three reported cases of Propecia side effects involving male breast cancer through 2009. If you were diagnosed with breast cancer or erectile dysfunction after taking this medication please contact us for a free consultation from a Propecia lawyer. There were also fifty cases linked to Proscar. While the two medications are prescribed to treat different conditions – male pattern hair loss and benign prostatic hyperplasia, respectively – both contain the same active ingredient: finasteride. Side effects from this drug have resulted in Propecia lawsuit claims in the U.S. and a Propecia class action lawsuit in Canada.

One of the main tests used to detect the presence of cancer cells is a biopsy. There are several ways to perform it, each of which we’ll describe below. Because male breast cancer is a life-threatening disease that can spread quickly, it should be diagnosed and treated as early as possible to increase the patient’s chance of survival.

What Is A Biopsy?

A biopsy is a procedure during a tissue sample is removed from the patient’s body. The sample is taken from an area that has displayed an abnormality on previous tests (i.e. mammogram, ultrasound, etc.). It is examined in a lab, and can reveal whether the abnormal tissue contains cancer cells. The results of a biopsy can also be used to determine the type of breast cancer that is present.

Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy

This is the least invasive method for withdrawing a tissue sample. It is done using a needle that is inserted directly into the targeted site. Fluid is taken from the area (called aspiration), and studied under a microscope.

Watery fluid typically means the abnormality is a cyst, which is seldom cancerous. Small pieces of tissue in the fluid confirm the presence of a solid mass. When the doctor is unable to determine whether the abnormality contains cancer cells, other biopsy techniques are performed.

Core Needle Biopsy

This type of biopsy is similar to fine needle aspiration (FNS). The difference is that it is done with a much larger needle. Rather than merely withdrawing fluid, a segment of solid tissue is extracted. The tissue is examined in a laboratory for evidence of cancer cells.

The advantage of a core needle biopsy (CNB) is that its results are more accurate than those provided by FNS. The downside is that the size of the needle makes the test uncomfortable. A local anesthetic is used to minimize pain.

Stereotactic Biopsy

When a lump is detected with ultrasound or mammography, but cannot be felt during a breast exam, a stereotactic biopsy can be done. This is essentially a combination of CNB with an imaging study to pinpoint the location of the mass. In some cases, a tiny piece of metal may be planted near the lump so it can be easily found if the tissue sample proves to contain cancer cells.

Surgical Biopsy

Tissue from a suspicious lump can be surgically removed in two ways. The first method is called an excisional biopsy. It involves the removal of the entire lump along with a small perimeter of healthy tissue. In most cases, this approach is used for masses that are smaller than an inch in diameter.

The second method is called an incisional biopsy. Here, only a portion of the mass is removed for examination; the surgeon cuts into it, and extracts a slice. This approach is used for larger lumps that are more difficult to remove in their entirety.

A surgical biopsy is, by far, the most accurate biopsy technique for diagnosing male breast cancer. If the cancer cells have not spread past the lump, an excisional biopsy may be the only form of treatment needed. The drawback is that it is invasive, leaving scar tissue and requiring stitches.

Though Propecia side effects in men involving breast cancer is rare, it is also life-threatening. This is especially the case since the disease is usually diagnosed in men after it has spread past the breast tissue. If you used this hair loss pill, and were later diagnosed with breast cancer or erectile dysfunction, you may be able to file a claim for compensation. Contact an experienced Propecia lawyer to discuss your case. There is a limited time for filing a Propecia lawsuit. Please contact us at your earliest convenience. We are currently representing men throughout the United States in bringing individual claims.