A $850,000 settlement in a Queens County medical malpractice action alleging that the defendant gynecologist departed from accepted practice in failing to timely and properly diagnose the plaintiff’s breast cancer.   Plaintiff argued that as a result of the defendant’s failure to refer the plaintiff to a breast surgeon for further investigation, the cancer advanced in stage and required extensive treatment including a mastectomy.  The defendant argued that the plaintiff’s symptoms were more dermatologic in nature and that the plaintiff did not return to the defendant’s office until after additional symptoms developed.  Plaintiff contended that she had the same symptoms from the time of the initial visit at issue.