Failure to Diagnose Cancer FAQ’s

A: A delay in diagnosis of cancer occurs when the cancer could have been detected at an earlier stage, and a physician or other healthcare provider failed to timely perform a test, or, perform another procedure, like a biopsy, that could have resulted in an early diagnosis. The failure to diagnose is also a form of medical negligence that results when a physician or other medical provider fails to properly diagnose a patient, based upon symptoms, complaints and test results that consequently prolongs the diagnosis of a patient’s actual cancer. In both cases, the patient may be harmed as a result of being diagnosed at a later stage, which often carries with it more invasive and complex treatment, and possibly a worse prognosis.

A: Cancer is an aggressive affliction that can quickly spread throughout the human body by contact with other tissue and organs, and through the blood and lymphatic system. If you are misdiagnosed, or, if your cancer diagnosis was delayed, you can lose valuable time that could have significantly improved your chances of full recovery. Misdiagnosing cancer can also result in additional treatment and complications that may have not been necessary with an earlier diagnosis.

A: There are a number of precautionary procedures that should be taken in order to determine if cancer is a potential cause of a patient’s symptoms and complaints. First of all, it is important that physicians ask the proper preliminary questions, such as those pertaining to medical history and lifestyle habits (e.g., whether or not you smoke or are you exposed to other potentially harmful carcinogens). Next, it is important that proper and adequate physical examinations and medical tests are administered, based upon the client’ history, complaints and symptoms, to help determine the true underlying causes of potentially detrimental medical conditions. The most serious potential causes of a patient’s symptoms and complaints, such as cancer, must be considered first by the doctor in coming up with his/her differential diagnosis. Finally, it is important that your physician treats your potential for possibly having a malignancy with the utmost efficiency in order to come to a quick and accurate conclusion regarding your diagnosis.

A: It very well could have. Medical malpractice, specifically the failure to diagnose cancer, is a problem that, unfortunately, affects a large number of people every year. With cancer in particular, it is very important that the disease be detected early enough to increase the chances of a cure, and decrease the chances of spread (metastases). Early detection has been proven to save lives.

A: First of all, it is important to remember that you are not alone in your struggle against potentially negligent medical care providers. At Blume Forte, our New Jersey personal injury attorneys will examine the details of your records and determine exactly whose negligence, if any, played a factor in delaying necessary medical care and treatment. Our skilled lawyers will seek to hold responsible parties accountable for their actions and omissions, and will seek a monetary recovery from them to assist you with medical bills, necessary treatment, and all other losses and harm associated with a delayed diagnosis.