Failure to Diagnose Cases and Misdiagnosis Cases

Failure to diagnose cases and misdiagnosis cases frequently involve the failure to diagnose cancer or a misdiagnosis of cancer.

The early detection of cancer is critical for successful treatment, increased survival rates, and the quality of life for patients who have cancer. The preventable progression of cancer due to a delayed diagnosis or misdiagnosis endangers the patient and results in more radical treatment, including increased dosages of radiation and chemotherapy which are painful and can cause other problems to the patient. The patient suffers unnecessarily for the avoidable mistake of the medical provider had there been proper detection of the cancer in its early stages. The types of cancer which frequently fail to be diagnosed or are misdiagnosed include Breast cancer, Brain cancer, Lung cancer, Ovarian cancer, Cervical cancer, Melanoma, Thoracic cancer, Prostate cancer, Colon cancer, Rectal cancer, and Pancreatic cancer.

Many types of cancer are can be successfully treated with a proper and early diagnosis. When detected in its early stages, there are particular forms of cancer that may respond well to early treatment, including Breast Cancer, Lung Cancer, Prostate Cancer, Colon Cancer, Ovarian Cancer, Cervical Cancer, Testicular Cancer, and Kidney Cancer.

The leading reasons that Doctors fail to diagnose Cancer or misdiagnose the Cancer include: 1. a failure to identify an obvious lump during an examination; 2. misdiagnosing a tumor as benign; 3. mistaking a tumor for an infection; 4. failing to recognize the common symptoms of the type of cancer; 5. failing to order diagnostic tests such as x-rays, CT scans, and MRI’s; 6. failing to properly order, read or evaluate test results, such as Mammograms, Biopsies, Pap Smears, and MRI’s; 7. failing to order additional tests and treatment; and 8. failing to follow up on test results with the patient.