Misdiagnosis of Cancer

In today's world of mammograms, colonoscopies, MRIs, and blood tests, it still occurs that cancers are missed, and opportunities for early treatment are lost. When a delay in diagnoses occurs, the patient's prognosis or treatment is often dramatically affected, and there is actionable malpractice. Not every delay in diagnosis or misdiagnosis however results in actionable legal damage, but when it does, our lawyers have handled many misdiagnoses of cancer cases over the years and are prepared to assist you in the pursuit of the matter.
Failure to Diagnose Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is one of the most common forms cancer, however if diagnosed and treated in the early stages, the prognoses can be very good. Unfortunately, there are many times when proper diagnosis is not made. Some of the common errors failing to diagnose breast cancer are:
Inappropriate follow up when a mass or other symptom is reported by patient.
Improper reading of the mammogram.
Failure to order a biopsy when a mass is detected.
A delay in treating breast cancer can greatly affect the likelihood of recovery and long term survival. Depending on the stage of cancer and other factors a few months delay can have significant ramification. When breast cancer goes undetected by a physician the cancer is given the opportunity to advance to a more serious stage. This failure to diagnose breast cancer (as with all cancers) increases the risk of harm to the patient. The higher the stage of the cancer, the lower the cure rate. Cancers of more advanced stages have higher recurrence and mortality rates.
Some of the most common signs and symptoms of breast cancer are:
A suspicious mass
Nipple discharge
A painful breast
A reddened breast
If you would like to discuss your legal options, contact us online or call us at (216) 685-9991 to set up a FREE consultation.
Failure to Diagnose Colon Cancer
Colon and rectal cancers are the second most prevalent cancer after lung cancer among men, and the third most prevalent cancer after breast cancer and lung cancer in women. Most colorectal cancers grow slowly over a period of several years, often beginning as small benign growths called polyps. Removing these polyps early, before they become malignant, is an effective means of preventing colorectal cancer.
Colon cancers are usually detected by a test called a colonoscopy where a long flexible tube with a tiny camera lens at the end is inserted into the rectum and followed through the colon to the end at the cecum. If any abnormality is detected, a small piece of bowel lining is cut out and examined under a microscope to see if it is pre-cancer or cancer. Some common symptoms of colon cancer are:
Rectal bleeding
Change in bowel habits
Abdominal discomfort
Unexplained anemia
While these symptoms can have many causes besides cancer your doctor should consider a colonoscopy under many circumstances. If it the cancer is detected early there is a very good chance for recovery. However, the longer the delay in diagnosis the greater the risk of mastitis and the poorer the prognosis.
Malpractice may be committed if your doctor fails to perform a thorough exam or does not inform the patient of the significance of certain symptoms such as rectal bleeding. For, example if the doctor determines your bleeding is result of hemorrhoids, but the bleeding persists after treatment, then a colonoscopy should be prescribed to rule out cancer. In other cases, a patient may never be informed that a symptom could be an indicator of cancer and they leave the doctor's office with a false sense of well-being.
If you would like to discuss your legal options, contact us online or call us at (216) 685-9991 to set up a FREE consultation.
Failure to Diagnose Cervical Cancer
Pap smears are typically the most effective way to screen for cervical cancer . Pre-invasive lesions of the cervix can be detected through this test and provide an early opportunity for treatment. The American Cancer Society recommends that a Pap smear be obtained every 3 years after 2 negative Pap smears were obtained at yearly intervals. Many gynecologists recommend yearly Pap smears. Pap smears are read by laboratories, and it is important to examine old Pap smears to find out of they were properly read by the evaluator. Obviously, appropriate physical examination is also an important part of the cancer screening process.
The Pap smear test
The Pap smear is a microscopic examination of cells sampled from the uterine cervix surface and sometimes the vaginal wall, which is performed to detect precancerous change and cancer. The cervix is the lower part of the uterus that opens into the vagina. The Pap test can tell if you have an infection, abnormal (unhealthy) cells, or cancer. After the sample is taken, it is prepared for microscopic evaluation in the laboratory. Analysis of the cells is extremely helpful in diagnosing cancer at an early stage. This process is referred to as a cytological examination. Cytology is the study of the structure, function, behavior, growth, and reproduction of cells and cell components. Examining the cervical tissue at the microscopic level provides a great opportunity for early treatment.
Testing Errors
Unfortunately, the detection of these pre-cancerous cells, as well as the diagnosis of cervical cancer, is occasionally delayed by physicians, laboratories and other medical personnel who, through inappropriate or deficient care, fail to properly administer the PAP smear. They might also fail to properly test the specimen or inadequately or improperly analyze test results.
In many cases the pap smears are read inaccurately. Thereafter, symptoms develop including irregular bleeding and unusual vaginal discharge, and cancer is then diagnosed. However, by the time these symptoms appear the cancer may develop or progress to a latter stage. This makes the treatment more invasive and decreases the likelihood of recovery.
At The Skolnick Law Firm, LLC we retain the appropriate experts to review the testing procedures. In particular, the slides are reviewed, which often reveals there were pre-cancerous or cancerous cells on the slides previously determined to be normal.
If you would like to discuss your legal options, contact us online or call us at (216) 685-9991 to set up a FREE consultation.
Medical Malpractice Links
Birth And Brain Injuries
Misdiagnosis Of Cancer
Surgical Errors
Medication Errors
Stroke Misdiagnosis
Hospital Infections
Other Medical Malpractice