FAILURE TO DIAGNOSE CANCER
Medical treatment and the survival rate of cancer
have improved over the years. Thus, the failure to timely diagnose
cancer is a serious problem. Since a patient's chances of survival are
inextricably linked to the size and location of the cancer when it is
discovered the more important it is to timely diagnose cancer. The
failure to timely diagnose cancer may mean that the patient must undergo
more rigorous and painful treatment than would otherwise have been
necessary if the cancer had been timely diagnosed.
Failure to diagnose cancer can occur because of a
number of medical mistakes such as not paying attention to certain
warning signs, failing to refer to the appropriate specialists, failing
to refer for appropriate diagnostic testing. Below are examples of how a
doctor may have failed to timely diagnose cancer.
Cervical:
A type of cancer easily detectable by smear tests. The survival rates
are quite high if detected in early stages, but errors in screening and
misinterpretation of results can cause a failure to diagnose cancer that
may lead to infertility or death.
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Esophageal:
The distinct symptoms and contributing risk factors should prevent
competent doctors from a failure to diagnose cancer of the esophagus, as
patients have difficulty in the throat, swallowing, a chronic cough, and
generally experience severe weight loss.
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Colon:
A failure to diagnose cancer of the colon usually relates to the
failure to properly evaluate and respond to complaints of rectal
bleeding, weight loss, the inability to go to the bathroom even though
the patient feels the need. Colon cancer is the second leading cause of
death in cancer patients.
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Breast:
Responds well to early treatment, but can remain undetected for
lengthy amounts of time. A failure to diagnose cancer of the breast
tissue can result in serious delays in starting treatment, sometimes
causing the loss of one or both breasts, or the death of the patient.
Carcinoma of the breast is associated with more claims for negligence
than any other form of disease.
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Prostate:
Prostate cancer usually has an excellent recovery
rate if detected early on.
Chemotherapy, radiation and concomitant hair loss and nausea may be
avoided if the cancer is timely diagnosed. However, the failure to
timely diagnose cancer may mean that you are entitled to compensation
for pain, suffering and/or wrongful death.
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