Texas Cancer Misdiagnosis: Doctors Often Miss Signs and Symptoms

This week we have been discussing how exactly cancer misdiagnosis happens – and how we can work to prevent future doctor mistakes and hospital errors. While some cancer misdiagnosis cases originate in the lab or with a pathologist, a shocking number happen during an exam in your doctor’s office, when your physician misses a red flag, common sign, or telling symptom.

Study: one out of three cancers missed at first exam by a doctor.

Just how likely is it that your family doctor does not catch your cancer at your first appointment? A recent study conducted in Great Britain found that one out of three cases weren’t caught when cancer patients first reported symptoms to their doctors. In fact, two out of ten had to visit their doctor three times before being tested for cancer or referred to a specialist, and seven percent needed five visits before their complaints were taken seriously.

The consequences of delayed diagnosis and misdiagnosis.

In many of the cases studied, patients who visited their family doctors with signs and symptoms of cancer were misdiagnosed with minor ailments – and treated for those ailments instead of subjected to further testing. During this time, patients lost valuable time in which their cancer could have been treated and in many cases, patients had their disease spread or worsen while the cancer went undetected.

Texas cancer misdiagnosis attorney.

While many people associate Texas medical malpractice with surgical errors, other forms of malpractice, such as cancer misdiagnosis, can be just as harmful and deadly. If you have been a victim of this type of negligence, you may wish to consult with a lawyer. Contact the Rasansky Law Firm today to learn more about your case.