3 Issues Associated with Delayed Cancer Diagnosis

There are many different types of cancer, and each form of cancer has different symptoms. People may seek medical care for lower back pain or a persistent dry cough. Their physicians have to evaluate their symptoms and determine the underlying cause. Reaching an affirmative diagnosis of cancer is easier now than it ever has been in human history.

There are imaging devices that can identify unusual tissue in the brain or lungs without surgical operations. Biopsies allow physicians to assess cancer tissue and possibly even sequence its genetics. Despite the ability to affirm the presence of cancer, many physicians fail to diagnose people who have cancer. Others misdiagnose cancer patients with a different condition. A doctor might diagnose a cough as a cold and send someone home with an expectorant or a cough suppressant.

A delay in cancer diagnosis could very well be medical malpractice. Particularly if the patient experiences negative consequences, their physician may have failed to meet professional standards. What are some of the most common consequences of failing to diagnose cancer?

1. Increased mortality risk

Often, diagnostic errors related to cancer only come to light after a post-mortem examination. Individuals die, and a forensic pathologist discovers that cancer was the reason. When patients don’t receive the right diagnosis or reasonable support from their physicians, they may stop seeking care, which can have tragic consequences.

2. Reduced treatment options

Many of the most effective cancer treatments specifically work on localized cancers. Once the cancer begins to metastasize or spread to other body parts, more aggressive, systemic treatments are typically necessary. Chemotherapy, radiation and other cancer treatments tend to be more debilitating and expensive. The need to undergo intensive treatment could also prevent the patient from continuing to work.

3. Increased long-term complications

Both the spread of the cancer and the treatment required to address it can lead to long-term medical challenges. Patients who survive late-stage cancer could have medical challenges ranging from increased risk of other forms of cancer because of the treatment plan to mental health challenges. Metastasized cancer can damage tissue and cause chronic pain. Radiation and chemotherapy can affect overall health negatively. When doctors fail to promptly diagnose cancer, their patients often pay the price.

A medical malpractice lawsuit can compensate people for the medical and professional consequences of a delayed cancer diagnosis. Surviving family members may even have grounds for a wrongful death lawsuit in some cases. Seeking justice can give people closure and may change the way that certain professionals or organizations care for patients.