How Can a Delayed Cancer Diagnosis Affect a Patient’s Treatment?

When you go to the doctor with a variety of symptoms, it is the doctor’s responsibility to provide an accurate diagnosis based on the evidence. Unfortunately, the symptoms of cancer often mimic other illnesses. This can lead to a misdiagnosis before finding out what is actually happening.

Reasons for Misdiagnosis

Some doctors may not take all necessary steps to get an accurate diagnosis, therefore missing clear indications of cancer. Some reasons that you may get a misdiagnosis include:

• Failure to complete a thorough examination
• Failure to consider patient’s medical history
• Failure to notice early warning signs of cancer
• Failure to provide the accurate screenings
• Incorrect reading of lab reports or scans
• Communication errors

These are all avoidable when doctors follow proper medical procedures and provide the appropriate standard of care.

Consequences of Delayed Treatment

Delaying cancer treatment gives the cancer time to metastasize. This means that the cancer will continue to grow and spread because no treatments are targeting it. By the time the cancer is diagnosed, it may be significantly larger and more difficult to treat.

In addition to the cancer being more difficult to treat, delayed treatment can lead to:

• Severe physical pain
• Premature death
• More costly, invasive treatment
• Disfigurement
• Amputation of limbs

False Diagnosis

False diagnosis differs from misdiagnosis in that false diagnosis occurs when someone is treated for cancer who does not have it. In these situations, people go through unnecessary, painful cancer treatments.

Suffered from Medical Malpractice? We’re Here to Help

The key to a positive outcome with cancer is early detection and treatment. When physicians misdiagnose cancer as other illnesses, they give time for the cancer to grow and cause further, potentially irreversible harm. While most doctors aim to provide the best possible care for their patients, unfortunately there are some who may skip steps and overlook key markers and details that can lead to a proper diagnosis.

If you were misdiagnosed prior to receiving a cancer diagnosis, Grossman Roth Yaffa Cohen can help. Our team has the experience and resources needed to protect your rights against large hospitals and their insurers. Give us a call at today so we can discuss the specifics of your case.