The Genetic Breast Cancer Test, which is now the widely used genetic testing method to establish breast cancer risk, was recently reported to miss detecting certain mutations that could cause the disease. The test is intended to find mutations termed as BRCA1 and BRCA2 in the genetic make-up of a potential cancer patient. However, the University of Washington came out with a new study that revealed the test as having missed the identification of these mutations among an estimated 12 percent of patients that were found to have breast cancer. These patients came from families that have quite a number of breast or ovarian cancer cases among its members. Experts advised women from these types of families to take preventive measures, or go through more thorough testing if no mutation was found in their genes.

The study, which was published in The Journal of the American Medical Association, has caused concern among many patients considered as having high risks of getting breast or ovarian cancer, who might have gotten negative results that were false. The study also served as additional pressure to its manufacturer to provide a more accurate testing method.

The Myriad Genetics Company, based in Salt Lake City, Utah, is the maker of the Genetic Breast Cancer Test. The company carries most of the patents for genetic testing, which makes it hard for a competitor with a possibly superior test to go into the US market. Myriad Genetics was even one of those that stated that five to ten percent of white women in the United States that have breast cancer got the disease from inherited mutations in the BRCA genes. The monopoly that the company has over this type of genetic testing, though, has caused a great controversy, as there are a number of geneticists who believe that Myriad has caused the snail's pace on the development of better methods for testing breast cancer risk.

It is possible that you or a loved one is among those who received a false negative result when you took the genetic breast cancer test. If this is the case, it is best that you contact a lawyer now. You are entitled to seek compensation for the pain and the mental anguish that you went through as a result of the false negative result you got from the test. Your lawyer will help you file a personal injury claim against the responsible parties. He will be the one to represent you in bringing your case to the attention of the manufacturer of the genetic breast cancer test. If the company will offer an amount of money for the settlement of your case, then it is your lawyer's role to advise you of that. If you and your lawyer deem the amount as not enough, then your lawyer will prepare for the more lengthy court litigation, which may prove to be to your benefit, as he will work towards getting the maximum compensation for you. He will also seek for punitive damages for all the losses that you have incurred. These damage payments are for the loss of the health that you could have had retained if you had been given accurate results, because then you could have taken measures that prevented the development of the cancer in your body.

You don't have to worry about money when it comes to seeking this kind of legal assistance. There are many lawyers who extend the initial consultation for free and will work under a contingency basis. This usually means that your lawyer will not charge you for the services he rendered on your case until it has been won and your compensation received. A percentage of the total amount of your compensation is the usual attorney fee for this type of arrangement. Also, be mindful to contact a lawyer as soon as you find out that you are afflicted with cancer. This is because there are time limitations for the filing of personal injury claims. Usually a victim is given two years after the injuries are sustained to file a claim.