Seattle Cancer Misdiagnosis Attorneys
Failure to diagnose cancer can be disastrous for a patient. Cancer is said to occur when cells function abnormally by dividing and forming more cells without control. When cells continue to form when there is no need for new cells, a mass of excess tissue is formed. This is known as a tumor. A tumor can be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). Cancer cells can also spread to other parts of the body. This process by which a cancer spreads and forms tumors in other parts of the body is known as metastasis.
Some cancers have symptoms or warning signs such as unusual bleeding or discharge, a thickening lump in any part of a body, problems with digestion, difficulty swallowing, change in bowel or bladder habits or a cough that refuses to go away. A biopsy is a method by which a doctor can tell for sure whether a tumor is benign or cancerous. During a biopsy, a part of the tissue is removed and examined under a microscope to detect the presence of cancer cells. The most common treatments for cancer include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation and/or hormone therapy.
When physicians do not order or perform early detection tests, there is a possibility that cancers are not diagnosed. In some cases, results of tests such as mammograms can be misread or misrepresented by a radiologist. When a cancer is not detected in time, it could spread and the consequences for the patient could be fatal. The sooner a cancer is detected the better the patient’s chance of survival. When a doctor fails to diagnose cancer at the early stages or misdiagnoses the disease, the patient may have to go through more pain and suffering than necessary to get cured of the cancer. Most definitely, a patient is more likely to succumb to the cancer when it is not promptly diagnosed.
The most common cancers that doctors fail to diagnose or misdiagnose include:
- Breast cancer
- Colon cancer
- Prostate cancer
- Lung cancer
- Cervical cancer
- Pancreatic cancer
- Leukemia or blood cancer
If you have lost a loved one or have personally suffered unnecessary surgery or painful treatment as a result of cancer misdiagnosis or failure to diagnose cancer, you may be eligible for compensation to cover your past and future medical bills, loss of wages, pain and suffering. Please call a knowledgeable and skilled Washington cancer misdiagnosis attorney at the Bernard Law Firm to get more information about your legal rights and options.
IF YOU, OR A LOVED ONE, HAVE BEEN THE VICTIM OF CANCER MISDIAGNOSIS IN WASHINGTON - CALL TODAY FOR A FREE CONSULTATION!
