CPR Takes On Failure to Diagnose Cancer Lawsuits

Breast cancer is an increasingly common disease affecting about 240,000 women and 2,100 men in the U.S. each year, according to the CDC. But the 5-year survival rate is high when breast cancer is diagnosed early: 100% for a patient with a Stage 0 or I diagnosis and 93% at Stage II. Sadly, once breast cancer develops to Stage IV, that rate drops to 22%.

Early symptoms — including breast or nipple swelling, dimpling, redness, scaliness, or discharge — may be dismissed as an infection, rash, allergic reaction, or other innocuous health condition, leading to a failed diagnosis.

Pleural plaques involve hardening of the tissue around the lungs and diaphragm. While there are generally no symptoms, masses associated with the disease may show up in x-rays.

Prostate cancer is the second most common type of cancer to affect men, with 161,360 new cases diagnosed each year, according to The American Cancer Society. Symptoms include erectile dysfunction, blood in urine, pain in the hips and spine, loss of bladder or bowel control, and weakness and numbness in the legs and feet — ailments that resemble a number of different conditions, including kidney disease. The survival rate for prostate cancer is nearly 100 percent when caught early, but quickly dips the longer it spreads throughout the body.

Colon cancer affects about 95,500 new patients every year, and it is the second most common cause of cancer deaths when numbers for men and women are combined. Characterized by stomach pain, bloody stools, cramping, diarrhea, constipation, and unintended weight loss, this cancer is commonly misdiagnosed because it shares symptoms with a number of other conditions, like colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, and food intolerances. Once the cancer has spread to other parts of the body, the relative 5-year survival rate is only 11 percent.

There are different types of lung cancer, including non-small cell, small cell, and lung carcinoid tumor. All types may be misdiagnosed because their early symptoms mimic a common cold or respiratory infection, including hoarseness of the throat, shortness of breath, weakness, fatigue, persistent cough, and chest pain. Sometimes, coughing up blood accompanies these symptoms. According to the American Lung Association, the 5-year survival rate when lung cancer is localized is about 56 percent, but only 16 percent of cases receive early-stage diagnosis.

The American Cancer Society estimates that about 13,960 new cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed annually. When detected early, the 5-year survival rate for cervical cancer is 90+ percent, but many women dismiss early symptoms as normal — or ask their doctors about them, who may do the same. Once the cancer has invaded nearby tissues, symptoms include abnormal vaginal bleeding, discharge, and painful intercourse.

Ovarian cancer is one of the deadliest cancer types among women. Symptoms — including bloating, pelvic pain, frequent urination, back pain, fatigue, menstrual cycle changes, weight loss, and constipation — may vary by patient and resemble other less-serious health conditions.