What You Should Know About Cancer Misdiagnosis

As many of us know, receiving a diagnosis of cancer can be devastating. However, when a doctor mistakes the disease for another condition and performs a cancer misdiagnosis, the damage can be far worse. Experts agree that early detection and treatment saves lives. When a cancer diagnosis is delayed, the disease may progress so far that treatment is no longer effective.

Unfortunately, cancer misdiagnosis occurs more often than most people imagine. Accurate statistics are hard to find because most misdiagnosed patients never report their doctors’ errors or file malpractice claims. However, researchers found 88% of patients who visited Mayo Clinic for a second opinion had been incorrectly diagnosed. These patients received completely new or revised diagnoses and treatment plans, which probably saved their lives.

But what about the thousands of other people who don’t find out they have cancer until it’s too late? Here’s what you need to know about cancer misdiagnosis in Illinois.

What types of cancer are most commonly misdiagnosed?

While doctors can misdiagnose almost any kind of cancer, certain types are more prone to mistakes than others. Some cancers have symptoms that are associated with other conditions. Other cancers are so rare that doctors may not recognize them.

The following types of cancer are more commonly misdiagnosed:

• Lung cancer, often mistaken for tuberculosis (TB) or other respiratory illnesses
• Breast cancer
• Colorectal cancer
• Upper gastrointestinal cancer (UGI)
• Pancreatic cancer
• Mesothelioma, which can mimic other diseases
• Rare forms of cancer, such as childhood thyroid cancer

Why do cancer misdiagnoses happen?

There are many reasons a doctor may misdiagnose a patient who has cancer. 

Here are some of the more common causes of cancer misdiagnoses:

• A doctor fails to perform lung cancer tests on a non-smoking patient. 
• A patient’s symptoms may mimic those associated with another disease.
• A technician administers a test incorrectly.
• A lab employee records the wrong results.
• A doctor fails to take a complete medical history, which would have revealed a family pattern of colorectal cancer.
• A doctor fails to recommend routine cancer screening tests such as mammograms or colonoscopies.
• A doctor fails to refer a patient to a specialist for further testing or biopsy.

Does a cancer misdiagnosis always constitute medical malpractice?

As with most areas of the law, there are few “always” or “never” situations. Not every cancer misdiagnosis is the result of malpractice.

Malpractice is determined by comparison with other physicians

In Illinois, a doctor’s actions are compared to other physicians in the same specialty and geographic area. The standard is whether another doctor would have done the same thing under similar circumstances. If another physician would have acted otherwise or made a different diagnosis, there may be grounds for a malpractice claim.

Patients typically suffer substantial damages from a cancer misdiagnosis

When a doctor fails to diagnose cancer, a patient (and their family) can suffer tremendous harm, including premature death. There may be monetary damages such as medical bills and home care, as well as damages for pain and suffering.

Therefore, it’s wise to consult a medical malpractice lawyer if you believe you were a victim of medical negligence.

What can patients do to help avoid a cancer misdiagnosis?

Here are a few things patients can do to help their physicians make more accurate diagnoses:

• Provide all of your doctor(s) with your complete medical records and history, including medications
• Describe your symptoms accurately
• Don’t be afraid to ask questions
• If in doubt, get a second opinion

Despite these precautions, physicians do misdiagnose cancer cases, and their patients suffer harm as a result. If this has happened to you or a loved one, call us immediately. Our experienced medical malpractice lawyers will fight to win the compensation you and your family deserves.

Medical malpractice law is complicated, but finding the right lawyer is simple.

Call 1-800-MALPRACTICE today for a free, no-obligation consultation.

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Sources:

• https://www.upi.com/Health_News/2017/04/04/Study-finds-more-than-20-percent-of-patients-are-misdiagnosed/7911491312817/
• https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinic-researchers-demonstrate-value-of-second-opinions/
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4476431/
• https://www.cancer.org/latest-news/rare-cancers-present-unique-challenges.html
• https://www.webmd.com/cancer/features/get-right-diagnosis#1