There are some types of cancers that are more prone to misdiagnosis than others. Yet despite this awareness, some medical professionals still fail to diagnose these potentially fatal cancers in their early stages when treatments can be more successful. Below are some of the most commonly misdiagnosed cancers:
- Lung Cancer – sometimes health care providers misdiagnose lung cancer as other respiratory conditions such as bronchitis or tuberculosis. This is especially common with cases involving non-smokers, because they are not typically a high risk group;
- Cervical Cancer – the survival rates for cervical cancer are high, especially when the cancer is detected early. A yearly pap smear is the easiest way to test for cervical cancer, but in the event it goes undiagnosed and untreated, infertility or death may result.
- Colon Cancer – while having a proper colonoscopy can accurately detect colon cancer, sometimes colon cancer is misdiagnosed as other digestive disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome. Moreover, if a colon cancer diagnosis is delayed, an open abdominal surgery may become necessary; and
- Esophageal Cancer – the symptoms of esophageal cancer are unique and can be easily distinguished, yet they are often ignored. These include difficulty swallowing, a chronic cough and weight loss
A cancer that has been detected and diagnosed early will typically respond better to treatments. Additionally, the treatments available may be less invasion or severe.When doctors fail to diagnose cancer, either through misinterpreting test results or by failing to even order those tests when certain symptoms are present, they may be held liable for any additional injury and suffering they cause you. You can learn more about filing a medical malpractice claim for a failure to diagnose cancer by visiting our article library. When to Contact a Chicago Medical Malpractice LawyerIf you suffered injuries due to a physician’s negligence such as a failure to diagnose a serious medical condition like cancer, then a Chicago medical malpractice attorney from the Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle, P.C. can help you file a medical malpractice claim. Contact us today for a no-cost case evaluation – 312-263-1080.
