Colon Cancer Failed Diagnosis
The large intestine, or colon, is located at the bottom of your digestive system. Both men and women may be diagnosed with colon cancer (or colorectal cancer), and it is the third most common cancer in the U.S. not counting skin cancers. It is also the third and second leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S. amongst women and men, respectively.
A person’s best chances for surviving colon cancer are to catch the cancer early on. The longer the cancer is given to spread, the more dangerous it becomes.
How Colon Cancer is Diagnosed
The signs and symptoms of colon cancer may resemble other conditions, such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), and as a result, a patient may wait weeks or months before scheduling an appointment with their doctor. Even then, a doctor may misdiagnose the cancer, thinking that diarrhea, constipation, and abdominal pain that the patient is suffering are the result of something less serious.
When a patient gives a doctor their full list of symptoms, and perhaps even before (in some cases, the cancer has no symptoms), the doctor should order a screening exam. During a screening for colon cancer, a complete report the patient’s symptoms and medical history should be recorded, and blood tests to check for cancer markers should be ordered. Again, early detection is key for treatment.
When a Doctor Fails to Diagnose Colon Cancer
Unfortunately, not all doctors exercise the level of care that patients deserve. A doctor may fail to recommend a screening for a patient, and colon cancer may go undetected. When symptoms persist, a doctor may fail to order tests, ask for a second opinion from another doctor, or refer the patient to a specialist. All of these choices can have catastrophic consequences for the patient, leading to the cancer’s spread through the body. The result: the need for intensive cancer treatment, including chemotherapy. In some cases, the patient may suffer pain, incur medical expenses, and even die as a result of the doctor’s incompetence.
You Have a Right to Seek Damages
If your doctor failed to diagnose your colon cancer and you have suffered losses as a result, including medical expenses, pain, suffering, and inability to work, and more, you have a right to seek damages for this harm by filing a medical malpractice claim. Your claim will allege that the doctor breached the standard of care owed to you by failing to act in a reasonable manner – that which another physician in the same position would do – to diagnose your cancer and start treatment immediately.
We Are Here for You
At the law offices of Cohen, Placitella & Roth, P.C., our Philadelphia delayed cancer diagnosis attorneys want to help you. We are knowledgeable in medical malpractice law, and understand what it takes to successfully pursue a claim.
If you are a victim of a failed diagnosis, please contact us today. You can contact us online by filling out the form on our website, or call our offices directly.
