Failure to Timely Diagnose Cancer

According to the CDC, 2 million Americans will be diagnosed with some type of cancer this year. Tragically, an unknown number will suffer from a failure to timely diagnose cancer, resulting in additional medical costs, increased suffering, and a higher risk of death.

Cancer is a disease that demands and requires prompt diagnosis and treatment. Even the slightest delay in diagnosis can have life-altering consequences and cause irreversible damage to your health. When a delayed cancer diagnosis results from medical malpractice, you are entitled to hold all responsible parties to full account. The delayed cancer diagnosis lawyers at Mandell, Boisclair & Mandell are here to help. 

If you have been injured or a loved one has died following a delayed diagnosis, our Providence medical malpractice lawyers want to talk to you about your rights and options. Call Mandell, Boisclair & Mandall at (401) 273-8330 to schedule a FREE consultation and learn more.

Most Commonly Misdiagnosed Cancers

The CDC reports that breast cancer accounts for the largest number of cancer diagnoses for women. Men have a higher instance of prostate cancer, which is the second most commonly diagnosed form of cancer in the United States. 

In addition to prostate and breast cancer, other cancers that are misdiagnosed are:

• Lung Cancer
• Colon and Rectal Cancer
• Melanoma and Other Skin Cancer
• Bladder Cancer
• Uterine Cancer
• Lymphoma

To prevent a delayed diagnosis of cancer, proper testing, and diagnoses should be utilized as soon as symptoms are reported. When a medical provider fails to order tests, listen to patient concerns, or properly evaluate symptoms, serious and even fatal consequences can follow. 

If you or someone you love is harmed in this way, you are entitled to seek justice through legal action. The experienced Providence delayed diagnosis attorneys at our firm have the experience necessary to investigate failure to timely diagnose cancer claims and build compelling cases.

The Consequences of a Delayed Cancer Diagnosis

A misdiagnosed or delayed diagnosis of cancer can have profound and far-reaching effects, not only on your physical health but also on your emotional well-being and overall quality of life. 

Loss of Vital Treatment Time

Early detection of cancer can mean more treatment options and less aggressive therapy. A delay in diagnosis means missing this crucial window. This can lead to more limited and more severe treatment options, affecting prognosis and leading to more suffering during treatment.

Need for More Aggressive Treatments Later On

If cancer is diagnosed at a more advanced stage, it often requires more aggressive treatments such as extensive surgery, higher doses of chemotherapy, or more invasive radiation therapy. These treatments can be more taxing on your body, leading to more severe side effects and a longer recovery period. The overall quality of life during treatment can be significantly reduced as well.

Decreased Chances of Survival

The stage at which cancer is diagnosed is directly linked to survival rates. Generally speaking, the later the diagnosis, the higher the mortality rate. A study published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) found that, for every month a diagnosis is delayed, there is a 10% increase in the risk of death. 

Emotional and Psychological Trauma

The realization that a cancer diagnosis was delayed or misdiagnosed can lead to feelings of anger, betrayal, depression, and anxiety. Trust in the healthcare system may be eroded, impacting your ability to cope with the diagnosis and treatment, as well as your overall mental health. Family relationships may also be strained, and the emotional toll can linger long after physical recovery.

Financial Strain

More advanced and aggressive treatments can be more expensive. Additionally, there may be costs associated with seeking additional medical opinions or switching medical providers. The financial burden can add to the stress and anxiety, further affecting overall well-being and recovery.

Damages You May be Entitled To

When there is a failure to timely diagnose cancer, several terrible complications might arise. Some of these will have establishable costs, but the worth of others may be more subjective. During your free case review with one of our Providence cancer misdiagnosis lawyers, we will carefully review the details of your case, assess how your delayed diagnosis has and will continue to impact your life, and help you determine the actual worth of your claim.

Following a delayed cancer diagnosis, our attorneys can help you seek compensation for:

• Bodily Injury. Injury that results from undiagnosed and untreated cancer.
• Emotional Distress. Beyond physical pain, misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis often leads to anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions.
• Physical Pain. A delayed diagnosis can result in additional symptoms, prolonged physical discomfort, and potentially permanent and irreversible physical limitations.
• Current and Future Medical Expenses. This includes additional surgeries, treatments, or therapies made necessary by the delayed diagnosis.
• Lost Wages and Diminished Earning Capacity. This includes wages lost during initial recovery, as well as those lost due to future procedures or new complications brought about by the missed diagnosis.

Failure to timely diagnose cancer lawsuits fall under the medical malpractice umbrella. These claims can be extremely difficult to prove and even more challenging to litigate. Having an experienced and skilled legal team on your side is one of the best ways to ensure your rights are protected. 

Mandell, Boisclair & Mandell is here to listen and ready to help. Reach out today for a free consultation and learn more.

How Our Providence Delayed Diagnosis Lawyers Can Help

The delayed cancer diagnosis lawyers at Mandell, Boisclair & Mandell have been helping victims of medical malpractice for more than forty-five years. In addition to having a registered nurse on staff, our attorneys have focused their practice on medical negligence cases, including breast cancer misdiagnosis and other failure to diagnose claims. 

Attentive and thorough, we know how to conduct investigations into missed diagnosis claims to determine how they happened and if anyone is liable. We are prepared to work tirelessly to build a comprehensive case on your behalf, ensuring we can fight for the total compensation you are due.

Our delayed diagnosis lawyers are both skilled negotiators and accomplished trial lawyers. We are here to review your claim, discuss your options, and help you determine how best to move forward.  

Contact Us For a FREE Case Review

If you or a loved one has suffered the consequences of a failure to timely diagnose cancer, contact Mandell, Boisclair & Mandell to schedule a complimentary case review. We fight for people harmed through medical malpractice throughout Rhode Island and Massachusetts.